Ask Dena
Here we give our customers and leather enthusiasts a chance to ask our leather care expert, Dena Hamilton, a question. Please send your question through the form at the bottom of this page.
Dena will then post your answer here, so that everyone will have the benefit of your question. She will also send you an email with a connecting link, so you can quickly read your answer as soon as it's available.
You may also want to check out our Helpful Information page. Many questions are answered there: How to Clean Leather, How to Store a Leather Jacket, How to Get a Spot out of Leather, and more.
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Dena's Q & A
Ask Dena a question
We have a leather Beige couch and a couple months ago bought some new pillows for the couch (black) the Dye (i am assumming) bled from the pillows and onto the couch leaving a black mark where the pillows were, what is the best way to resolve this problem? The leather cleaners we have in the house defiantly did not work
Dena's Answer
Unfortunately, I do not believe you will be able to remove the stain you describe. Dye is dye- permanent. I think the only think you can do is try to cover it. You might find someone in your area through a car dealership - a mobile unit that repairs their car seats - to come to your house and spray it.
I don't dye anything with a sprayed finish, I dye naked finish leathers. I don't think re-spraying usually works for a reasonable length of time for the expense involved, plus I don't really like the look, especially for leather jackets. However, you have a nice couch you would like to try and save! You might have one of the people I described take look at it.
Ask Dena a question
Hi Dena. I have a lamb suede jacket that I bought from J-crew about 20 years ago. Its scene better days. It has a 3 inch tear next to a pocket, it needs a new liner, it has many stains but none that look like deal breakers and the original black color has turned slightly rusted in sections. Oh, and it needs a button. Sounds really bad, I know, but I think it has a chance. Do you think you could re-condition or restore it and about how much do you think it would cost. Thanks so much for any help
Dena's Answer
The tear in the leather can be repaired so there is only a fine line where the tear has been, with reinforcement around the area from the back side of the leather. It can be relined, and possibly match a missing button or replace all with matching buttons.
Cleaning the suede is the difficult part. It takes specialized equipment to clean suede or brush finishes. I have someone I work with when that type of cleaning is necessary. I have learned over the years of dealing with "leather cleaners" what to tell them I want done after looking at the jacket, and still there is always a risk factor. When you have a color that has changed in an area it is a sign of possible oxidation. Where leather is oxidized it will not accept dye and the discoloration will remain. It depends on how prevalent the variance in color is, whether or not if the color doesn't take evenly, that the cleaning and moisturizing will make enough difference for it to look really nice (of course it will look and feel clean again).
There is always a chance that it is not oxidized and it will take the dye and suede cleaning is $50.Relining can be over $100, a three inch tear at the pocket possibly $50, buttons sewn securely $5 each,. When there is more than one repair, I can usually offer a discount of some kind. Many people still prefer to restore a jacket even when it is as much as a new leather coat because it is special to them, or they can't find anything similar. If this is your situation, I will be happy to do as much for you as you would like.
Ask Dena a question
Can you a redye a suede jacket with sun damage?
Dena's Answer
Sun damage oxidizes leather. This is a condition that will not allow the leather to accept dye. I have a leather cleaner I work with when the situation calls for a wet or chemical process, and they do not accept sun damaged items either.
If a cleaners says they will dye or clean it for you, they will for sure make you
sign something that says you will pay, no matter what the outcome. I am
very sure this would be a loss for you.
Ask Dena a question - from John
I just got a new Sully fringe jacket & when I opened the plastic bag it came in it diden't smell like any leather I ever smelled. Can you tell me if its real leather? I think its Shepler product and I got it from Sportsmans Guide. Thank you.
Dena's Answer - Without seeing your jacket, I can't tell. If there isn't a tag that says genuine leather, I expect it isn't. Several things could cause this, including inexpensively-tanned genuine leather. If that were to be the case, the smell will never come out, or at least it will always smell this way if it gets wet.
If it was simply in the plastic bag for too long, if you hang it outside on a nice day (not in direct sun) it's probable that the odor will disappear. If it is mildewed, which would most likely be evident from a surface powder, return it.
John - It says genuine leather on the tag. The smell is like a strong insect repelant. I hung it out for 2 days and it got a little better but what happens if I get rained on, will it come back?
Dena - Since it has a chemical odor, I believe it is a finishing product and it should dissipate and stay away for good. I would give it some more time. Most likely you will have 30 days to return it and you will know by then.
Jennifer -
How do I remove nail polish from leather/poly-something material on my couch?
Dena - Dried nail polish is a tough one. I have heard of different approaches
that include polish remover, alcohol, and wet techniques. I would not
try any of those. For one thing, I don't think it will work and also
because you are going to end up with a larger, messier looking stain, if
not real damage.
I read this somewhere: "cautiously file the area with an emery board or a piece of very fine (grade 6/0-8/0) sand
paper." I think this would be the ideal way to go about it if you had
some way to not hit the surrounding leather with the file or paper. I'm
not sure how you could do that.
What has worked
for me with paint - was to scrape it, or chip it off with a razor blade.
You have to be extremely careful when you do this or you will scratch
the leather. If you can chip it off,
you will have a light spot that you might be able to spot dye when you
are done. But even leaving it light it could look like a natural
marking, as opposed to a bright eyesore.
Be careful. Use the tip of the blade in a very conservative way.
Good luck!