A Quick Guide to Remove Scratches from Leather

Leather can seem to be a very durable material, but sometimes scratches appear that you want to remove. There are companies out there that do leather repair work but this can be costly so I want to give you a few home remedies you can try at home first to see if you can get that leather looking brand new again on your own.

If you’re using a product you’ve never used before, it’s always best to test it out on a small inconspicuous area on your bag first to make sure it doesn’t change the color or texture.

LIGHT SCRATCHES

If it’s only a light scratch, this can usually be solved by using leather oil or conditioner. First, add a small amount of leather oil to the area and rub in a circular motion which may help to lessen the scratch.

Leave to dry completely and apply some leather conditioner in order to maintain a good level of oil and wax in the leather. Using Vaseline is also a good option for light scratches.

You can use this by rubbing a small amount on to the scratch with a dry cloth for the best results. Always remove excess oil and conditioner after treatment with a dry cloth.

DEEP SCRATCHES

If you are dealing with a deeper scratch, the first thing you should do is clean the leather with a leather cleaner that is available to buy from many retailers online.

Some of the best selling brands we recommend are Chamberlain’s Leather Milk Conditioner & Cleaner, Honey Leather, or Leather Nova Conditioner. Try one of these first if you have never used a leather cleaner before. Use a soft cloth to clean the area using the leather cleaning product.

Next, softly dab the scratched area with distilled white vinegar and once it is dry, use some colorless shoe polish on the affected area until it seems to be blended properly. If the scratch is still visible after this, try rubbing some olive oil on the area and blending with more colorless shoe polish to see if this does the trick.

We advise anyone with scratches to sort the problem quickly as the longer you wait, the more difficult it will be to get the marks out and therefore you risk permanent damage to the leather. If you’re looking for a really quick fix then use petroleum jelly on the scratch which will be absorbed by the leather and hopefully gives the desired result.

If none of my suggestions work, then you can bring it to you a professional leather shop near you to get their advice on what is possible with your type of leather and scratches.