It’s easy to know how to repair pleather sofa because it’s only a three-step project. In particular, this article will discuss how you can fix a tear or hole in a pleather couch. We have also included some useful maintenance tips to help you keep the material looking its best.
Do note that we are talking about pleather or PU leather. That being said, feel free to check our guide on repairing faux leather sofa. Contrary to what most assumes, these two types of material are not the same since some manufacturers also consider bi-cast leather as faux leather.
How To Repair Pleather Sofa At Home
Step 1. Prepare the sofa
Remove all the accessories in the pleather couch and clean it with a damp cloth. You can also dilute white vinegar with water and use the solution if you notice stubborn dirt on the surface. Then, find the damages, such as tears and holes.
These issues typically have frayed edges. Trim off the threads and feel the pleather couch if the surface is level. You may need to fill any dents with cotton before proceeding to the next step.
Step 2. Fix the tears and holes
Use a leather repair kit to patch up the tears and holes on the pleather furniture, similar to fixing a leather sofa. Prepare and cut the backing fabric according to the size of the damage, but add half an inch of allowance since it will become your base for the repair compound. If the damages are minor, you can also use fillers or opt for a canvas fabric as they wouldn’t end up looking too prominent.
Insert the backing fabric inside the tear using tweezers and spread it out with a pointed object. However, check the placement of the filler or fabric on the pleather sofa if it didn’t develop a wrinkle. Then, repeat the same procedure for the other damages and decide the right approach according to their severity.
Step 3. Blend the repair with the rest of the sofa
Prepare the color with the repair compound included in the kit. It should match the color of the leather sofa, so test it on a small portion first. Spread the compound onto the repaired spot and let it dry.
Apply another coat if needed to ensure that the area is blended well with the rest of the sofa. Once you achieve your desired finish, don’t forget to place a textured paper over the compound before it dries. This will provide a similar texture seen on the pleather couch.
How Do You Fix A Pleather Couch That Is Peeling?
You can use paint to fix a peeling pleather couch, and this is the same approach to repairing a bonded leather sofa.
- Pull off the loose bits of the PU leather to smoothen the surface, but be careful to avoid damaging the peeling portions further
- Find the same color or mix the leather paint yourself to achieve the same shade as your sofa
- Paint across the affected area of the couch using long and consistent strokes to make blending easier
- Wait for each layer to dry before making another one
- Apply a high-gloss finish to seal the paint and restore the luster of the furniture
How Do You Refinish Pleather?
Refinishing pleather is essentially repainting it with leather paint, vinyl paint, or even spray paint. However, a trick to help the paint adhere better since you’re working on the whole sofa is to buff it off with acetone. Then, use thin coats and wait for each layer to dry before painting another one.
The refinishing process on pleather is quite different from painting a leather sofa. Remember that it’s plastic leather made to mimic genuine leather using polyurethane or PVC, from the name itself. Therefore, pleather is safe to use with acetone that is normally drying to authentic leather.
How Do You Condition Pleather?
Because pleather is synthetic, it won’t have the same porous quality as leather made from animal hide. Using a leather conditioner on pleather is pointless as it wouldn’t get absorbed to provide the benefits. Plastic is not absorbent, so the proper way to condition your pleather sofa is to maintain and care for it instead.
- Install the upholstery attachment on the vacuum cleaner to clean the couch thoroughly
- Make sure to target the crevices where dust and dirt accumulate the most
- Vacuum the pleather sofa weekly as part of the maintenance
- Deep clean the pleather sofa monthly or as soon as possible if it has spills or stains
- Wipe the couch in sections using a solution of warm water and dish soap
- Do not oversaturate the pleather couch and never use harsh cleaners like bleach
- Rinse off the soapy residue with a damp cloth and dry the sofa with another dry cloth
- Allow the pleather couch to air dry
- For stains, target them with rubbing alcohol and immediately wipe down the affected areas with a damp cloth
Conclusion
Pleather or plastic leather is an affordable and animal-friendly alternative to genuine leather furniture. Knowing how to repair pleather sofa should help you keep it for longer. You only need to patch the tear or hole with backing fabric and repair compound used for leather couches.
Peeling pleather can also be addressed with leather paint. And for maintenance, vacuum it regularly since there’s no need to recondition pleather.