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How to Moisturize Leather Furniture That's Dry and Cracked

Just like your own skin, leather can dry out and start to crack open if not properly moisturized. But while a simple squirt of hand lotion can repair your chapped hands, the process for reinvigorating leather furniture with a dry, cracked finish is much more complicated. To bring back a distressed leather piece to its original supple state, you'll need to complete a four-stage process of cleaning, repairing, recoloring and moisturizing the leather furniture in your home.

Things You'll Need

  • Leather cleaner
  • Gloves
  • Dry cloth
  • Bristle brush
  • Leather bonder/filler
  • Cotton swab
  • Hairdryer
  • Leather dye/recolor
  • Spray bottle or airbrush
  • Leather conditioner
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove skin oils from the surface of the leather with a pH-balanced leather cleaner and a soft cloth. Skin oils can damage leather over time, so regular cleaning every three to six months will preserve the quality of the leather. If you have never cleaned the leather, use a bristle brush to scrub the surface and work the cleaner deeper into the pores of the material.

    • 2

      Repair the cracks in the leather by applying leather bonder/heavy filler with a cotton swab. This sticky material closes up cracks and creates a contiguous surface. Use a hairdryer to solidify the bonder and create a surface that can be recolored to match your leather's natural hue.

    • 3

      Recolor any areas you covered with bonder. Leather recoloring dyes can be purchased online and color-matched to your upholstery. The dye is sprayed on with a spray bottle or airbrush, and allowed to air dry.

    • 4

      Rub leather conditioner all over the surface of the leather, ensuring you hit neglected areas like the back, as well as areas that get frequent contact with your skin, like the arm and neck rest. Wipe away any excess conditioner and allow to dry completely before sitting on the furniture.