How to repair a rip in a Leather seat?

Leather furniture can be an attractive investment for your home. Leather seats in your car also take a beating but look great for a long time. Leather is durable and can last if you take good care of it. Over time, leather can begin to look worn and can crack if care has not been taken. It can also tear due to accident and age. To prevent your leather seating from appearing shabby, repair tears yourself. This can help save your expensive furniture.

1. Clean off the surface of the leather seat being repaired. Remove all traces of dirt and oil so the area to be repaired is uniform. You can purchase a good leather cleaner at most large department stores. Leather cleaner also is available at auto repair stores. Use a vacuum to get into the hard-to-reach spaces and then use a towel or dust cloth to gently go over the surface of the seat. This will ensure there are no traces of dust and dirt.

2. Use a piece of 1,000-grit sandpaper to gently rub the edges of the tear. This should be done before using any repair kit. Using sandpaper will help smooth out any edges and keep the repair looking natural. Do not omit this step. If you do not sand the leather first, you will not end up with smooth-feeling leather. The leather will be rough, which will make it susceptible to further damage.

3. Match the repair kit color to the color of the seating you wish to repair. You may have to mix colors to get the perfect match. Apply the liquid leather repair compound to the seat. Use a heat source, such as a hair dryer, to heat the compound and ensure it dries smoothly.

4. Apply the grain sheet on top of the compound so it will look like real leather and matches other parts of the seating. Use the grain sheet more than once if you haven't achieved the desire grain.

5. Use a swatch of leather fabric that matches your seating to repair.