How to Repair Leather Sofa Scratches

Gently wipe the sofa with a clean, dry cloth to remove any dirt or dust that has collected around the scratched area. Pet scratches often include a slight bit of dirt that also penetrates the leather sofa. If a dry cloth doesn't wipe the scratched area clean, dampen the cloth slightly with a small amount of water. Softly rub the area to remove the remaining dirt and grime. Avoid using chemicals or detergents on the scratched area.

Use a clean cloth to dry the leather completely. If the cloth shows dirt, continue to dry the area until the cloth wipes clean. If a colored stain from the couch is present on the dry cloth, do not continue to repair the sofa. The stains in the leather should not bleed onto the dry cloth. If staining from the pigment in the leather does occur, hire a professional to clean your leather sofa.

Spray a light coating of orange oil on the scratched leather sofa. If the oil is in a bottle instead of an aerosol can, place a few drops of orange oil on a soft cloth. Gently rub the scratches with the cloth. Use a circular buffing motion to evenly saturate the scratched leather with the orange oil. If the leather changes color and becomes lighter or more than a shade darker, discontinue the repair and hire a professional. If the leather becomes only slightly darker, it will return to its natural color once the orange oil dries.

Avoid sitting on the freshly repaired leather sofa for 30 minutes. Let the orange oil saturate the scratched area and dry completely before using the sofa. If tough scratches are still visible, repeat step 3--a second attempt may remove the unsightly scratches.