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Mallika Sharma
Certified Leather Care Technician
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Q&A Comments (55)
Co-authored Articles (73)
How to
Repair Faux Leather
Faux leather is also known as imitation, synthetic, or artificial leather. It has a similar appearance to natural leather, but faux leather items typically consist of a fabric base with a polyurethane coating. This compo...
How to
Repair Torn Leather
Repairing a leather tear can be a little time consuming, but it shouldn’t be excessively difficult if the damage is relatively small. To fix a leather tear, get a leather repair kit with a color compound that matches t...
How to Fix Peeling Faux Leather: Jackets, Couches & More
Plus, how to tell if it's worth the effort to save your faux leather pieceFaux leather is inexpensive and looks great for a few months. But over time, you'll probably notice it starts to peel and crack. Can you fix your ...
How to
Repair Scratches on Leather Furniture
No matter how careful you are around your leather furniture, it’s very common for leather furniture to get scratches due to normal use. This is especially the case if you live in a household with pets or small children...
How to Harden Leather: A DIY Guide
Make your leather more durable with these techniques If you plan on making leather accessories or other leatherwork, you may need to stiffen the leather so it holds its shape. Luckily, there are a ton of effective ways t...
Simple Tricks to Remove Odors from Old Leather Bags
Get rid of musty & smoky smells from vintage purses & bags Leather bags can start to smell old, mildewy, and unpleasant when they’re kept in moist conditions or stained with food. Luckily, there are several simple solu...
How to
Dull Leather
Leather lasts for years, and the older it gets, the more character it has! Unfortunately, when you buy new leather products, they can sometimes look overly glossy or even cheap. You can try washing and wearing your leath...
How to
Hand Sew Leather
Sewing leather by hand makes for a traditional and handsome project. Stitching through leather is not as difficult as it may seem. Whether your leather project is large or small it can be simple. Gather a few importan...
How to
Repair a Luggage Tear
Torn luggage is more than just an eyesore—if not addressed right away, it has the potential to lead to more severe damage, or even lost belongings. That’s why it’s important to act fast if you notice that the exter...
How to Get Bad Smells Out of Leather Jackets, Couches, Shoes & More
Expert-backed remedies for removing funky smells from your leather Leather is a material made from tanned animal hide, and it’s a popular choice for making jackets, furniture, shoes, purses, belts, and other products. ...
How to Fix Cracked Leather on Sofas, Bags, Shoes & More
Plus, why leather cracks and how to protect leather items from damageCracks often appear when leather dries out or is exposed to sunlight. Although the damage is permanent, many cracks are easy to hide by rehydrating the...
How to
Restore a Leather Jacket
A leather jacket is a prized possession that, when cared for correctly, can be worn proudly for life. However, leather jackets start to dry out and fade after years of wear. When your old trusty jacket starts to look wor...
How to
Remove Cat Spray or Pee from a Leather Couch
Nobody wants their beautiful leather sofa to be treated like a litter box. But what can you do when you start noticing some unpleasant stains and smells coming from the upholstery? There’s no need to worry. We’re her...
How to
Get Smoke Odor Out of Leather
Smoky odors, whether from being around things like a bonfire or cigarette smoke, can be tricky to get out of materials. There are lots of regular household items like vinegar, baking soda, or cat litter that you can use ...
How to
Fix Cracked Leather Seats
Simple methods to clean and repair any kind of cracked leather No matter how much care you take in using leather seats—whether they're in your car, a sofa in your home, or a leather office chair—they're bound to crac...
How to
Repair a Faux Leather Sofa
Faux leather is cheaper than real leather, and oftentimes easier to clean. Unfortunately, it is prone to peeling and cracking after long periods of time. If you don't treat the damage right away, it can spread. Luckily, ...
How to Refresh & Repair Leather
A guide to restoring and rejuvenating leather Normal wear and tear typically results in cracks and discoloration in the leather. Leather repair kits, which contain materials and tools for repairing leather, can be purcha...
How to
Prevent Synthetic Leather from Cracking
Synthetic leather can look just as great as the real thing as long as you maintain it. Since synthetic leather is coated with polyurethane or vinyl, it can crack or peel if it dries out or if it's exposed to hot, humid t...
How to Check if a Versace Bag Is Real or Fake
Make sure your designer accessory is authentic Versace makes a number of attractive bags, but how do you know if the bag you’ve purchased is authentic? Counterfeit bags are now circulating regularly in both outlet stor...
A Complete Guide to Cleaning Leather, Suede, & Fabric Coach Purses
Coach’s official instructions + expert-backed cleaning tipsCoach is renowned for their stylish leather, suede, and canvas purses. But you may have noticed that with wear, they can get a bit dirty! Luckily, there are pl...
