It is easier to clean faux leather.It is prone to peeling and cracking over time.It can spread if you don't treat the damage immediately.The results won't be perfect, but it is possible to fix it.If your sofa has a tear in it, there is a fix for that as well.
Step 1: Peel and sand the faux leather.
Like paint, faux leather tends to peel.If that happens, remove the leather from the backing of the fabric.If you have rough edges or bubbles, use a fine-grit sanding sponge.Don't get carried away.You don't have to peel away the coating if it's within the damaged area.
Step 2: Let the paint dry after applying a coat of interior latex house paint.
Pour the paint into a tray and apply it with a mini foam paint roller.Wait for the paint to dry before moving on.Depending on the type of paint you are using, this could take a few hours.Bring one of the sofa cushions to the store so that they can match the paint for you."fabric and vinyl" spray paint can be used as well.Let the gesso dry for a day, then apply the spray paint.
Step 3: Remove any dust by lightly sanding the paint.
You can get a piece of fine-grit sandpaper.Use it to lightly sand the paint until it feels smooth, then wipe the dust away with a soft cloth.The backing material under the paint will be revealed by this step.This is part of the process of achieving a smooth finish.
Step 4: The painting and sanding process can be repeated up to 4 more times.
You fill in the grain on the exposed backing when you apply a coat of latex paint.You smooth down raised bumps when you sand the paint.How many times you do this depends on how bad the damage is.Wait until the surface looks smooth before painting, drying, and sanding it.
Step 5: Place a paste wax on the surface to make it feel smooth.
It acts as a sealant for the paint and prevents it from getting sticky.Rub the paste wax on, then wipe it off with a soft cloth.The wax is absorbed into the surface by buffing it until it feels smooth.It can take 20 minutes to dry paste wax.You can help it dry faster by doing a few things.
Step 6: Baby powder or talcum powder can be thrown over the wax.
It will help the wax set and dry quicker.Wait a few minutes for the powder to absorb into the wax and then dust the rest off.
Step 7: Purchase an upholstery repair kit.
It's fine if these kits are labeled for leather and vinyl.If you want to look online, you should look for them at an upholstery or fabric store.Black, white, red, yellow, and blue are some of the basic colors of these kits.The heat setting is required for the kit described in this method.
Step 8: If you want to match the color of your sofa, mix the paint colors.
A color mixing chart can be used as a reference.You may have to lighten the color to get the shade you want.A few empty pots are usually included in most kits.You can either use the pots or use a small dish.
Step 9: The paint should be brushed onto the affected area.
The kit has a brush that you can use to apply paint.To seal it in better, be sure to extend the paint by a few millimeters onto the edge of the faux leather.If you did not get a brush with your kit, use a stiff bristled brush.The paint won't dry until you apply heat to it.
Step 10: The texture relief paper can be applied to the paint.
Some textured paper that mimics the texture of leather and pleather will be included in most kits.This paper can be used to make the repair more seamless.If your kit did not include this paper, skip this step.
Step 11: Press the heat tool against the iron.
Most heat tools have a metal disk at one end.Pressing the metal disk against the hot iron is the easiest way to heat this tool.If you don't have an iron, you can heat the tool up against a lit burner on your stove or candle flame.You can use a regular clothing iron if you lost the heat tool.You can use a cotton setting.
Step 12: The heat tool should be pressed against the paper.
To distribute the heat evenly, move the tool around and peel the paper.If you don't like the texture, apply the paper and heat tool again.The tool should be kept hot.If you can feel it cooling town, re-heat it a few times.If you are using a regular iron, press the paper with the tip to avoid touching the rest of the sofa.Lower the heat if the faux leather is too soft.
Step 13: If necessary, repeat the process.
Take a look at your work after you remove the paper.Give the damage another coat of paint and then apply the paper and heat tool.If the texture isn't enough for you, replace the paper and use your heat tool to iron it again.
Step 14: The denim patch should be bigger than the tear.
Depending on the shape of the tear, your patch may be square or rectangular; it just needs to be big enough to cover the entire tear.Round the corners of the square to prevent it from collapsing.The color of the fabric doesn't matter because this will go behind the tear and leather.You can either cut a patch from an old pair of jeans or use an actual denim repair patch.If you don't have denim on hand, canvas may work.
Step 15: The patch needs to be inserted into the tear.
If you use your fingers, they can cause the faux leather to warp.The denim can be pushed and slid by using the tweezers.To the side of the tear, run your fingers across the faux leather.If you feel any bumps, use the tweezers to smooth them out.Don't remove the sofa cover.The patch should be inserted through the slit into the sofa.
Step 16: Use a toothpick to apply a flexible glue to the back of the faux leather.
Attach a toothpick with a strong, flexible glue and slide it into a tear.Move the toothpick around so that it coats the back of the faux leather, then repeat the process for the other side.Regular super glue is not a good choice for this as it dries too hard.You can use fabric glue.
Step 17: Press the tear together after wiping off excess glue.
To remove excess glue that may have leaked out from the tear, use a paper towel or cloth.Press the edges of the tear together so that they flush.Make sure that the glue doesn't dry.Before the glue sets, you want to get everything in position.Depending on the brand of glue you are using, you can work with it for about 10 to 15 minutes.
Step 18: Put the board on the tear and wait for the glue to dry.
You can use a hardcover book or a tray.When you press down on it, make sure it is rigid.Lean against the board over the tear.To find out how long the glue needs to dry, check the directions on the bottle.Most glues are dry in 10 to 15 minutes.
Step 19: Attach the tear with a paper towel.
Regular super glue is what you want to use for this step.Simply fill the crack with a little bit of super glue and pat it on the paper towel.The excess glue can be lifted with the help of the paper towel.This step is not necessary.It's for aesthetic reasons.
Step 20: If desired, coat the damage with vinyl paint.
If you can't find a specialized paint for repairing vinyl, interior latex paint or acrylic paint will suffice.After applying the paint over the tear, you can dry it with a hair dryer.This step is used for aesthetic purposes.If you want to patch up the tear, then you don't need to do this.If you texturized the tear with super glue, you should apply paint to blend it in.To match the color of the paint on the sofa pillows, take one of them to the store with you.
Step 21: If necessary, blend the tear in further with sanding and more glue.
Take a look at the repair.You are good to go if the tear looks seamless.If you see some bumps and ridges, sand the surface down with 220- to 325-grit sandpaper.Pat the glue with a paper towel and apply more paint.Bonded leather is a thin layer of paint on a fabric-like backing.You risk damaging the surface if you sand outside.