How to Fix Vinyl on a Chair

Vinyl furniture is not indestructible. A cat's claw, lit cigarette or regular wear and tear will often result in rips in the material. The good news is that you won't need to recover the entire piece of furniture in many cases. Relatively small holes and tears are fixed with liquid vinyl, which often comes in a kit with the other tools necessary for the job.

Dish-washing soap
Clean cloths
Liquid vinyl
Spatula
Graining paper
Iron

Instructions

- 1
  Apply water and dish-washing soap to a clean cloth, then wipe the area requiring repair. Rinse the cloth, then wipe again. Allow the area to dry completely.
- 2
  Apply a small amount of the liquid vinyl that best matches your upholstery to a piece of scrap vinyl or in an inconspicuous spot on the chair, to test for color match. If necessary, mix colors from the kit together to get the right shade. Apply liquid vinyl to the hole or tear and rub it in with a spatula once the color matches.
- 3
  Put a piece of graining paper over the repair.
- 4
  Rub an iron over the graining paper for 60 seconds, or for the length of time recommended by the liquid-vinyl instructions. Consult the instructions regarding the appropriate temperature for the iron. Keep the iron moving back and forth to avoid burning the furniture.
- 5
  Remove the graining paper. The tear is repaired.

Homemade Redwood Adirondack Chairs

How to Replace an Armrest

Chairs