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Navigate the World of Genuine Leather Like a Pro

You should not jump on top of the cloud seeing or hearing about genuine leather goods. A leather buyer inevitably identifies marks as ‘genuine leather’, ‘top grain leather’ or ‘full grain leather’ on the underside of the products. It denotes leather standard but is not exclusively restricted to what one might have imagined solely from the words.

The store or shop might present some awesome product choices such as briefcases, belts or shoes as you are strolling past them dreaming. Should you jump on to the first one that says genuine leather on it? We are going to divulge all the issues attached to it right here. Bear with us because we are going deep into what genuine leather is.

What is genuine leather?

Genuine leather, in short, refers to a product that contains some leather materials in it.

But the name or title is not, in any way, equivalent to authentic quality and fullness of quantity at all. This grade simply means the existence of some authentic yet inferior quality animal oriented leather in the item.

However, the quantity of leather is specified on the label and the percentage could be either full or partial in reality.

Consequently, many experts point out that the finest bicast, split and bonded leather products can technically be called genuine leather as well because of their striking similarity in application or usefulness.

As the connotation and the denotation go quite the opposite directions, a newbie may experience a heartwarming feeling, seeing ‘genuine leather’ inscribed on the goods.

But in terms of look and durability, it cannot compete with full grain or top grain leather. Yes, genuine leather is real leather, okay, mostly.

But rest assured about their belonging to the lowest category of leather. To speak frankly, it scores poorly against almost all of its counterparts.

Where does genuine leather come from?

Regardless of its source animal, genuine leather comes from leftover hides.

Usually, the most useful section of the hide goes for the costliest and premium products.

Similar to full grain counterpart, genuine leather is also collected from cattle, buffalo, calves, lambs, pigs, goats, sheep and some other wild animals such as zebras, bisons, alligators, elephants, crocodiles, lizards, snakes, ostriches and kangaroos.

Especially, cowhide, sheepskin and deerskin offer greater strength with a softer as well as lighter touch. However, cowhide is the most common among all because of its essential availability as well as thickness.

How is genuine leather produced?

Genuine leather lies in between top grain and suede leather. In many instances, genuine leather is, in fact, split leather. The exterior segment or top grain is the most expensive, thanks to its fibrous character.

Contrarily, the lower section or suede is used for comparatively cheaper products.

Stripping off those two other layers, you get genuine leather from the middle part. It is more indicative of the position of the hide than quality.

As a result of this splitting nature of production, genuine leather may also be termed as split leather. So the thickness of the skin matters a lot.

Manufacturers usually apply an artificial layer to the surface of split leather and emboss it with a leather grain which is then called bicast leather. Split leather is also used to create suede.

Should genuine leather be expensive?

Let it sink in, real leather always costs big bucks no matter what. Genuine leather goods will certainly dent your wallet’s health as it is real leather. The expenses depend on several issues which are laid out here in detail.

Leather grade: The thing is that you do not need to spend as much for them as for a top grain product. But obviously you must pay more than that of affordable faux leather or semi leather items.
Exotic hide: Then we should consider the animal hide we are sourcing the leather from. An exotic animal such as ostrich essentially costs big bucks regardless of its being genuine leather. On the other hand, goat and buffalo hide could usually cost less.
Dyeing: fully dyed products naturally demand big prices than that of semi dyed items. White colored leather goods also command an eye rolling price. Machine spraying goes way cheaper compared to manual dyeing.
Tanning: Vegetable tanning costs both more money as well as time than chrome tanning because of its natural and methodical process. Vegetable tan relies on green method and is totally safe for skin and the environment.
Handmade: Leather products produced en masse in machines go cheaper. On the opposite, handcrafted goods ask for good prices. Think about a craftsman gaining years of experience in leathercraft and putting all his knowledge into the production of an item for days or even weeks.
Geographical location of production: Normally, a leather product may be sold cheaper if it is manufactured in a labor intensive country in comparison to an industrially advanced nation.

So we can see that genuine leather does not automatically mean watered down prices. Rather, it depends on a number of inalienable factors related to its production.

Is genuine leather waterproof?

Real leather is barely waterproof because of its incredibly porous features. So never pin your hope too much on it unless the manufacturing process brings in a lot of artificial components into the mix. Its permeable nature does not allow complete waterproofness. But there are certain waterproofing methods you can apply in this regard.

Does genuine leather last long?

Genuine leather lasts at least for five years and long enough for you to make a good use of your money. But one should not raise too much hope about it. Depending on your care along with daily wear and tear, it may even go for 10-20 years. However, this is rather a rare scenario for just anyone. In general, you may expect it to serve you for five years in the best shape.

How to identify genuine leather?

There are several marks to identify genuine leather products. Let’s check them out.

Genuine leather has one of a kind pattern which is not uniform at all. Fake leather introduces same sized small spots all over the exterior.
Rough underside of leather always indicates its authenticity.
Real leather is heavier than its fake counterpart.
You can certainly distinguish between real leather smell from artificial chemical smells.
Real leather absorbs water and therefore changes color into dark shades. Diversely, artificial leather shows no sign of color distortion even if it is plunged into water.

Genuine leather products:

There are a bunch of leather products coming from genuine leather including coats, jackets, handbags and gloves. Its softness grows as the years roll by. Besides, we may mention backpacks, belts, wallets, camera gear, watchbands, notebooks, footwear and sundry items.

How to take care of genuine leather?

Our experts have laid out a few tricks and techniques to keep at your disposal on leather care. You can overcome most of the issues with these leather hacks.

Vacuum and dust occasionally with a clean and dry cloth. If leather is excessively dirty, you may wipe it using a soft, damp cloth with a lather of any mild soap plus lukewarm water. Never opt for spot clean leather but clean the entire surface. Wipe clean with a damp cloth and dry with a clean, soft cloth.
Wipe extra liquid instantly with a clean cloth or sponge. Let the leather air dry.
Apply a mild hand soap with a clean and wet sponge. Rinse well and let air dry.
In case of butter, oil, or grease incident, wipe the leather with a clean, dry cloth and let the remainder of the oil dissipate into the leather. Do not apply water or try to wash a grease spot.
There are a number of inhibitions as well in this respect. Do not use cleaning solvents, saddle soap, furniture polishes, varnishes, oils, abrasive cleaners, detergents, or ammonia on leather. They might permanently ruin the finish, causing a sticky or cracked surface.

Conclusion:

Going through this writeup, you should have noticed that genuine leather is a tricky term with an obscure meaning playing underneath.

You have got a clear notion on its production method as well as the components of genuine leather.

A lot of leather products come from this grade despite its glaring deficiency in qualitative terms such as durability, quantity and appearance. You are now fully equipped with a bunch of highly effective techniques regarding how to uncover the leather originality of your choicest product.

Technically, all leather can be termed as genuine if it contains a little of real leather.

So, an alarm should ring inside your head whenever you are confronted with this term. Always remember that the first-rated top grain or full grain leather manufacturer or seller never uses ‘genuine leather’ on the goods because of its essentially compromised standard.

They carefully steer clear of it and you should be no exception to those experts as well. You may still purchase a genuine leather item but keep your guard up while you are doing so.

We can confidently say that you are not to be toyed around in the leather stores anymore.

How to Repair Torn Leather Couch in a Minute

No matter how pricey your leather is, it tears. Even the exclusive leather couches are subject to this phenomenon. Pets, children, and accidents happen once in a while.

— So, you may store small leather tricks up your sleeve, in order to handle an emergency like a pro.

How do tears happen?

Sharp objects are primarily responsible for these incidents. The paws of your cat or dog can do it. If a dog toy is tossed into the crevices or in between two cushions, you will see an unnerving digging on the part of the canine fellow.

The dog does everything in its power to retrieve the item. Knives or hard-edged objects can do it too.

Kid’s toys and rough plays are ideal items for ruptures. Pens, pencils, and other things also push through it.

— Besides, the surface of your leather furniture runs pretty tight all over the place. This strained structure gives an extra nudge when a pointed metal or glass makes contact with the top area.

Apart from careful use, many things can give a cut or tear to the leather.

What do you need to mend leather tears?

Keep a bunch of stuff at close quarters for this task. Your leather repair kit must store these items.

Tweezers
Palette knife or toothpick
Leather adhesive
Leather or denim sub-patch
Hairdryer
Paper towel or clean soft cloth

How to fix a ripped leather couch?

When you are fixing ripped leather furniture, you do not expect professional excellence out and out. But we can land you at close to perfection. We have the simplest solutions to mending leather cuts. It’s a breeze.

Bear with us.

The easiest method:

Apply the best quality leather patch, matching the color of your furniture surface. Just clean the torn area and the loose ends of the rip. Then stick the patch.

Believe it or not, you are done.

The most durable method:

First, clean the surrounding area of the cut with a clean cloth and a leather cleaner. Remove undetectable grime, dirt, and grease.

— Now, concentrate on the stray fibers, bulging out of the tear. Use a pair of scissors to carefully remove those errant threads. It allows a cleaner and stronger connection at the joint.

Push the exposed foam inside and level it down by pressing. Cut the leather or denim sub-patch at least 20% bigger in size than the torn area.

Push the sub-patch through the rip with tweezers. Tweezers give you easy access and opening inside the torn section.

— Now, evenly distribute the sub-patch underneath the torn area, using a palette knife or toothpick.

Take the best quality leather adhesive. Apply this glue on the sub-patch as well as the underside of the leather with the toothpick or knife.

The knife helps spreads the glue and ensure even coverage. Also, put some at all the torn edges of the leather.

Now, bring the ripped edges together, and at the same time, press it down on the glued sub-patch. It guarantees a strong joint by securing all sides into a warm closeness.

Continue to push the edges together until the glue begins to set and turns tacky. So, the whole thing again becomes a single unit.

Use your fingers to join the still-visible seams. Thrust the surface down so that the sub-patch can stick tight at the bottom.

Remove the excess glue with a paper towel or cloth. The cloth should not add extra colors to the leather.

Therefore, you have to choose it carefully.

You can place a heavy book on top of the fixed area, for 5-10 minutes. It will provide gentle pressure so that the glue can set properly.

After you are done with this, you may use a hairdryer. It will quicken the drying stage. Make sure that nobody abuses it before the seams dry out properly.

Take a 24-hour recess, prior to using it again. The patch will hold the tear together for a pretty long time.

— It will stay firm in the face of everyday wear and tear. If the tear somehow reappears, resort to some more glue into the edges all over again.

There will remain some imperfections. Securing an invisible end result is a professional task. Minuscule holes or bulging sides of the edges may gaze at you. The outlines will show despite your efforts.

Do not take it to your mind.

Remember that this sub-patch surely serves better than rookie exterior patches and ostensible or manifest stitches on the outer area. Here goes a short instructive video clip on how to fix a ripped leather couch.

What not to do in fixing leather tears?

There is a list of things to avoid in fixing ripped leather. Those are listed here.

No super glue: Do not apply super glue out of the blue. It does not hold water in confronting the everyday usages.

— Moreover, the glued part of the leather turns stiff which is exactly what you do not need.

No hot iron: Pressing the hot iron on the leather could result in discoloring or disfiguring. If you really have to quicken the process, use a hairdryer. Still, you must be careful about not applying too much heat.

Hairdryer alert: Real leather does not like hairdryers too much. Genuine leather needs its fair share of moisture.

Usually, 50-70% of humidity fares well.

If you dry it out completely, the leather couch will show cracks and fatigues around the rip.

Sunlight warning: Direct sunlight is no good for real leather either. It also takes out the humidity, leaving cracked skin behind. So, do not dry it in the sun.

Conclusion:

An easy call is resorting to a professional. You can do that too. But it costs a lot especially in the case of real leather.

— Certainly, they can manage a greater look and can almost do away with the cut marks. The expenses often are a great barrier in reaching them.

Also, keep a watchful eye on what your kids and pets are up to as they get into a playful mood on the couch.

If things go rowdy, alert them.

Or you might call up your children to help you with errands while fixing the ripped leather couch. It will give them a valuable lesson about the tiresome method of mending it.

How to Dye Leather Couch

Leather couches are the best until they get stripped of the color. It could really look ridiculous, in absence of their glorious sheen and heartwarming color. It does hurt your eyes but not necessarily your comfort.

However, a premium appearance is just at arm’s length. LeatherFact lays out the easiest leather sofa dyeing method, to this day. Let’s dive into the details.

Why should you consider dyeing a leather sofa?

Even the most durable leather sofas give in to everyday wear and tear. There are several reasons for recoloring the couch. We have mentioned a few.

Aging leaves the sofa deprived of its original grandeur. Loss of color is responsible for this deemed appeal. You need to redo it, once in a while.
People crave leather furniture. Not everyone can afford a fancy leather item. So, wise ones find old couches and repaint them as real leather furniture lasts a lifetime or several generations. It brings them comfort without digging too deep into the wallet.
Burns, scuffs, holes, scratches, tears, water intrusion, accumulated grease & dirt, etc damage the color. When you fix these issues, you might have to go for a color retouch as well.

How to dye leather couch?

The best leather couch costs a fortune and you want it to hold onto its youthful appearance all the way. Dyeing can retrieve the old appeal, to the fullest. This is particularly not a difficult thing to handle. During your holidays, you may accept this new challenge. We have illustrated a precise sofa-dyeing process, for you.

What do you need?

You need a bunch of stuff.

Pair of gloves
Leather cleaner
Soft cloth
Acetone or leather deglazer
Leather dye
Sponge
Leather finish
Water in a spray bottle
Hairdryer

Set up the stage:

Wear the gloves prior to starting the job. You will handle a number of chemical substances. No harm should happen to your skin. Place a piece of cloth underneath the couch. So, dyes and cleaners do not ruin the floor.

Also, put tapes on the wooden sections of the couch. It prevents the dyes and solutions from causing havoc to them. First, you must clean the leather couch. This is a mandatory prerequisite for the advanced steps. Remove waxes, oils, greases, and all other unwanted debris. You can do it with warm soapy water.

Deep clean:

The sofa requires a deep clean. A fine leather deglazer or nail polish remover can serve your purpose, in this regard. It strips the couch of its previous finish coat. Old pigmented finishes and outer coats mar the vigor of the new color, to some extent.

Plunge a coarse and clean cloth into the deglazer and rub it all over the place. This task effectively prepares the leather for refinishing. Wait an appropriate amount of time as the cleaning solution gets evaporated off the surface. It helps the new color to sit tight.

During this time, keep all flammable components away from your workplace. Deglazer, acetone, denatured alcohol cleaner, and things like these could be highly inflammable.

Apply leather dye:

Get the surface a little wet, using the sprayer. It helps the exterior section easily catch the dye. The colorant also spreads out evenly, thanks to the moisturized top. Coloring is not a one-off job. You may have to do it twice or thrice, depending on the condition.

Take a sponge and begin with the first coat. The trick is not trying to achieve perfection on the very first go. Use light pressure along the exterior segment. Go for smooth and slow moves, rather than hurrying it down the surface. Do it in small patches.

Dry the first coat with a hairdryer. You will obviously notice an irregular color distribution. Try to match it the second time or the third time. But every time, you must dry it out properly. Let the final coat dry naturally.

Rub leather finish:

Buy the best leather finish in the market. It lays out a glossy look to your work. The finish is vital for durability as well. It safeguards the dye. See the application method, in the instructions. Usually, finishes must be sprayed on the surface. Then, scrub a clean damp cloth around, for a steady outcome or even distribution.

How much does it cost to DIY dye a leather couch?

The best leather colorant toolkit is your ultimate cost. For finishing, cleaning, and conditioning you might need a few extra bucks. But the opportunity lies elsewhere as you can fix the leather couch several times. Therefore, the expenses are quite trivial, in comparison to the cost of professional help. However, you must pay it out in time and labor.

How much does the professional dyeing of a leather couch cost?

Changing the color of your leather couch costs around $400-$1000, on average. It could go up, depending on the condition. A poor physical structure could lead to an even greater charge, about $1200-$1500. Cleaning, conditioning, finishing, fixing tears, holes, and scuffs could add up to such a large sum. So, a good way is to DIY it all together, at a low cost.

Conclusion:

In short, we can say that dyeing the leather couch is not a laborious task in itself, rather a technical job. If you have the right tactics up your sleeves, you can get down to the business right now. Our experts have explored the shortest leather coloring method, to this day. You can save big bucks from this day on. Your leather sofa should look its best all the time. In case you have something to share or inquire about, we encourage you to comment here. Hope to get back to you very soon.

How to Fix Scratches on Leather Couch from Dog

Your premium quality leather couches are always prey to the mischiefs of the dog. Besides, kids and someone’s inattentive actions could result in scratches.

Scratches, scrapes, and burns call for corrections. It brings back life to one of the costliest items in your house.

— So, let’s delve into how to fix scratches on leather couch from dog.

Why do scratches happen?

In short, the long nails of your dogs and cats are responsible. They sit and play on top of the sofa and the outcome is a bunch of ugly scratches.

Biting and chewing on their part can also be held accountable. Razor-sharp pet teeth can do more damage than we are willing to give them credit for.

Humans are also at fault for it. The kids especially disregard the sensitivity of the cool leather couch. They might express their rage or evil designs on the couch.

Their toys and study materials occasionally end up on it. — For example, light touch of the pen nibs, rulers, compass, or toys can do it.

Sharp-edged objects can do it too. No matter how careful you are around the leather sofa, it catches some marks over the years.

These spots almost ruin the beautiful appearance of the furniture. But scratches are never any serious concern for leather.

Be with us.

How to fix scratches on leather couch from dog?

Luckily, you can restore the genuine leather couch to its previous glory, with some easy techniques. You need leather repair tools, depending on the type of scratch.

Leather cleaner Scissors
Wax coating
Olive oil
Leather glue
Leather filler
Leather dye
Leather finish
Soft cloth
Hairdryer

How to fix minor leather scratches?

This is nothing extraordinary. Put a little olive oil or wax balm on a soft cloth and rub it across the scratch. It will go away. The best wax coatings are good for fading, cracking, and drying too.

— Though some master craftsmen advocate against oil, none have any reservations toward the leather balm.

If the scuffs are almost imperceptible or very insignificant in size, a simple damp cloth can do the magic as well. In that case, you even do not need any wax or oil.

— However, some of our leather experts are dead against using oil of any kind, due to the porous and organic structure of the leather.

The oil takes a permanent seat down there and cripples the strength of leather over time. Oils could eventually endorse and stimulate the decaying process.

How to fix major leather scratches?

A deep scratch identifies itself with bare threads. You can see exposed fibers bulging out of the affected area. This is a signal for tighter preparation. Get your things together for a lengthy task ahead.

Clean the zone:

First, clean the scratch area with the top leather cleaner and a soft cloth. Now, carefully sever the bare threads using the scissors. The surface of the scrape should be leveled out right around this time.

Glue it & fill it:

Apply a proportionate amount of premium leather glue on a soft cloth. Then, benignly rub it across the scratch.

Continue this process until it smooths out around the edges. You need a high-quality leather filler to stuff the cavity. Even out the dip with the surface.

Dry it:

For filler to get activated, you must dry it out according to the guidelines. Each layer of it requires individual drying.

So, a hairdryer could be of huge help. After the filler is sapped of its moisture, sand down the damaged zone.

Cleaning & dyeing:

Massage some alcohol cleaner and let it sit and dry. Bring out the classic leather dye as it is time for rejuvenating the couch.

— Be careful about the color match and use a sponge to apply it. Do it in an inconspicuous area first. So, you can easily go for damage control.

Finishing:

After all is set and done, give a final touch of the best leather finish. It literally reincarnates your leather sofa. A perfect finish can retrieve the shiny look and great feel.

Related Tips: How to clean a leather sofa

For deep leather holes or tears:

You may take a trip to the detail as it is a whole new story, requiring patches and tricky tactics. Fixing a leather hole or mending a torn leather couch takes time and effort as well.

How to stop your pets from hogging the leather couch?

There are some real-world solutions to stop your pets from making it to the leather. We are highlighting the easiest leather protection means for you.

Arrange the dog bed:

Train the puppy for its bed. So, it does not attempt to sit on the couch.

Toy ploys:

Set up the pet toys away from the leather sofa. The pet will remain busy at a safe distance.

Cover the surface:

The pets somehow manage to get on board. Shut down the possibility of incidents, by placing a cover around the couch. You will find it in the market, — exclusively outlined to clear out the furniture from the pet paws.

Groom the pet:

Get the puppy under the nail trimmers. So, there is no chance of friction left out in the open. Keep a shorter coat as it will slash down the fur. Bathe and clean the skin, to make it dander-free.

Reinforce good behavior:

The couch is not for pets. The better they get it, the safer the sofa remains. You can resort to positive reinforcement training. — Use some treats and appreciations, to accustom them to their places.

There is no cat-proof or dog-proof leather sofa. You need to protect, by shutting out the pet altogether from the room.

Or you may introduce these proven protective approaches.

Related Topics: How to Repair Torn Leather Couch

Final Thought:

You galloped through this write-up because you want to save a pretty penny, by avoiding a call to the manufacturer or the professionals.

— You know they charge a lot for real leather fixations. But with a little patience and a good set of instructions, you can do it all by yourself.

This is more of masking the damage as leather scratches are barely any concern for leather admirers. It happens all the time.