Fix Cracked Leather on Your Office Chair

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Updated Jun 27, 2022 11:13 PM

With heavy wear and tear, your office chair’s leather could crack and split. Cracking and splitting can also occur due to heavy exposure to sunlight or poor maintenance. Luckily, there are many ways to clean and protect leather to prevent it from wearing out. Proper care and maintenance will ensure that your highly-rated office chair looks as good as new.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • Leather chairs can crack due to poor maintenance, exposure to sunlight, and general wear and tear.
  • A leather repair kit is needed to fix cracked leather on your office chair.
  • Leather fillers can be used to patch larger holes.

Fix Your Cracked Leather Office Chair

Here are the steps to get your favorite leather office chair in tip-top shape.

STEP 1 Dab the area

Take care to dab the area using rubbing alcohol. Do not apply another cleaner or run the risk of permanent discoloration.

STEP 2 Apply Furniture Glue

Get your bottle of furniture glue out and push the glue dispenser inside the crack. Be sure to apply a coat across the entire underside. Pinched the ripped sides together to get the glue out, then wipe off any excess glue with a damp microfiber cloth or paper towel.

STEP 3 Sand and Apply Finish

Use 320-grit sandpaper to sand the leather’s surface. This allows the dried glue to better blend into the surface. Afterward, use a sponge to apply a leather coat finish.

STEP 4Let it Dry and Repeat

Let the first coat of leather finish drying for roughly an hour. After it is dry, repeat the process to add another layer of finish. Once that is dry, you are done.

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Maintain Your Chair

From here, ensure you conduct regular maintenance on your leather.** Clean and condition it using conditioning wipes to keep the sheen in top condition.** You may also use liquid soap and distilled water. Linseed oil and vinegar (1 part white vinegar with 2 parts linseed oil) could also be applied once a month for a deeper clean. Be sure to use a rag or damp microfiber cloth. If you are having butt dents on your chair then you will use a different method to fix the butt dent in your leather office chair.

Here are steps you can take to patch holes on your leather office chair.

STEP 1Retrieve a Leather Repair Kit

Purchase a leather repair kit. Your leather repair kit should be the same color as your chair.

STEP 2Apply Tweezers and Repair Patch

Use your pair of tweezers to place the repair patch into the leather’s hole, flattening it out as close to the surface as possible. Press on the repair patch so that it covers the entire surface of the hole. Apply the repair patch under the leather rip and apply glue on top of the repair patch. Be sure to dab out any excess glue using a microfiber cloth or cotton swabs.

STEP 3 Apply Leather Filler

Identify the hole’s gap and apply a thin layer of leather filler. Smoothen out the leather filler with a putty knife to ensure evenness. Apply two or three more layers of leather filler, letting each coat dry for no more than three hours. You may also use a hair dryer to expedite the process. After the third layer, the rip should be filled. There is also a great way to fix leather office chair scratches if your chair has little holes but several scratches.

STEP 4 Apply Colorant

Apply colorant onto the patch using a sponge, which helps it blend with the existing leather. Repeat Step 7 until the colorfully matches with the surrounding leather.

F.A.Q.S

Why does leather crack and fade?

Leather cracks and fades for many reasons, most notable exposure to sunlight and a lack of conditioning. Note, changes in pH make leather more susceptible than other fabrics.


What is a simple homemade leather conditioner?

Lemon essential oil is a great leather conditioner. It is free of chemicals and works as a deodorizer as well.


How do you keep leather from cracking?

To keep leather from cracking, avoid exposing it to direct sunlight and regularly use conditioning products. These conditioning products can help break down dirt and oil that becomes abrasive and cuts into the surface dye over time.



STAT: What causes leather to crack? Because leather is porous, it soaks up oils and dirt from your own body and hair. These oils are absorbed into the top coating on leather and eventually becomes abrasive as it breaks down, causing wear and eventual cracks on the surface. (source)

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