Are There Any Ways to Get Scratches Out of Leather Furniture?

Home Remedies

• If the scratches aren't extensive, you can try a few do-it-yourself fixes. The easiest is to use a little warm water and a soft cloth, rubbing it over the scratch. Another technique is to pour a small amount of water over the scratch, then use a piece of wet 1000-grit sandpaper and move the sand paper gently over the area until the leather surface is smooth. Other techniques include: Murphy's Oil Soap dabbed on the scratch; use a small amount of milk and a paper towel; try a small amount of Pledge on a paper towel; use a small amount of shoe polish; or rub a little bit of olive oil on the scratch with a clean cloth or paper towel.

Repair Kits

• For slightly more extensive scratches, use a leather repair kit. These should be available from the store where you purchased your furniture, but you can also find them in most home improvement stores, hardware stores and online. Follow the instructions on the kit exactly; if the leather is old or you have a kit with a heating element and it doesn't get hot enough, the repair material may not bond well. Note that heat can be detrimental to leather and should be avoided, in general; the best products use a water-based, air-dry system. When choosing a repair product, check with testimonials and reviews for that product by searching online or using a consumer publication like "Consumer Reports."

Professional Repair

• If your scratches are extensive or your furniture is expensive, consider hiring a professional leather furniture repair expert. These experts can actually replace sections of the leather, if necessary, and even dye the leather to match your furniture exactly. To hire the best, check with the Better Business Bureau, ask for customer referrals from the company, or try a customer-based rating service like CraigsList.com.