How to Restore Dry, Fading Leather Furniture

Use the vacuum cleaner and a soft vacuum brush to remove dust and dirt from the furniture.

Add a few drops of mild liquid soap to a bucket of distilled water. Mix the solution until suds form, then soak one of the soft rags in the soap mixture. After wringing out the excess water from the rag, wipe the surface of the furniture.

Wipe the piece with another rag dipped in just some distilled water, and wring the rag out before using it to wipe away the soap residue.

Use a dry, soft cloth to dry the furniture completely.

Buff luster back into the furniture using another dry, soft rag.

Apply leather conditioner to the furniture with a soft, clean cloth. Use a light, even coat, rubbing the conditioner into one small area at a time.

Apply a leather dye that's been precision-matched to your furniture's hue and finish if the conditioner alone does not bring your furniture's luster and color back. To get the properly colored dye, send a tiny sample from an unfaded section of your furniture or a factory swatch of your leather to a leather-restoration company that makes leather dyes, such as DIY Leather Solutions and Leather Magic. The company matches the color, then provides a liquid solution that perfectly matches the color you need. Follow the company's instructions on applying the dye to your furniture.