Leather scuffs are an unfortunate reality, no matter how careful you are with your leather goods. While these permanent scuffs don’t mean your leather is ruined, they can detract from the look of your leather shoes and boots.
Compounding the problem is that leather tends to pick up scuffs easily and will quickly develop unsightly marks if you aren’t careful. Fortunately, you can use a few common household and leather care products to remove these scuffs and make your leather look like new.
What You Need: Supplies to Restore Leather
Leather is durable, but it’s not impervious to the elements. Scuffs, scratches, and stains can reduce the quality of your leather, so it’s important to restore it back to its original look as soon as possible. You can restore leather yourself with just a few supplies from your local Wilco Farm Store.
Minor Scuff Repair
- Hair dryer
- Clean and soft cloth or brush
- Leather cleaner
- Undyed and unscented petroleum jelly
- Leather balm
Major Scuff Repair
- Leather cleaner
- Leather dye kit
- Leather sealer
- Heavy leather filler
- Mixing cup
- 1200-2000 grit sandpaper
- 2 clean foam sponges or brushes
M and F Western Atom Boot Polish Dauber Brush, 04014
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Scuff Prevention
- Leather conditioner
Huberd's, Shoe Grease, 7.5 oz
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Danner, Boot Dressing, 4 oz
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Obenauf's Leather Oil, 8 oz.
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Obenauf's Heavy Duty Leather Preservative, 4 oz.
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- Leather cleaner
- Shoe polish
- Shoe wax
How to Fix Light Scuffs on Leather Shoes and Boots
Minor scuffs are easy to fix with a little elbow grease and a few key supplies. With these simple steps, you can make a light scuff disappear and get your scuffed shoes looking as good as new in no time.
Pro tip: Before applying a leather care product over the boot’s surface, apply a small amount on an inconspicuous part of the footwear to see if it changes color.
Clean the Surface
No matter the size of the scuff, leather shoes and boots must be cleaned before any scuff repair takes place. A clean surface, free of dirt, mud, and other debris, prevents leather care products from trapping dirt in the pores and allows for better cleaning.
Heat the Scuffed Area
Using a blow dryer on its lowest heat setting, apply gentle heat to the leather surface to make it more pliable. Overheating leather can cause it to dry out, crack, and shrink the material. The amount of heat used on the leather surface should not be too hot for your hand.
Massage the Scuffed Area
Once the leather is heated, massage the leather in a circular motion with moderate pressure using a clean cloth. The idea is to soften the scuff’s edges and transfer some of the nearby dye to the scuff to blend the hues and textures, essentially eliminating the appearance of the scuff. Apply a leather conditioner to complete the routine restoration process.
Apply Petroleum Jelly (Optional)
A simple buff may not be enough to remove larger scuffs. Applying petroleum jelly to larger areas that have been scuffed moisturizes the surface and brings out the area’s color to blend better with the surrounding material.
Apply a Balm (Optional)
If petroleum jelly doesn’t work, remove the residual petroleum jelly from the surface with a leather cleaner and a clean cloth. Then, apply a leather balm that matches the color of your boots.
Apply the balm with a clean cloth using a circular motion, blending the balm’s color into the shoe’s original color. After the balm is completely dry, apply a leather conditioner to lock in the shoe’s color.
How to Fix Deep Scuffs on a Leather Shoe or Boot
If you have a pair of leather shoes or boots with a serious leather scuff, you may be resigned to wearing them out with visible damage. However, consider this: a little time and patience can save your favorite footwear.
Clean the Surface
No matter the scratch or gouge size, proper cleaning can remove any debris from the surface, allowing the restoration products to penetrate the leather, fill in the gouge, and seal in moisture and color. Use a clean cloth or brush to remove dirt and mud.
Apply a Dye to the Scuffed Area
A leather dye kit usually includes a dressing sponge, daubers, a primer dye, and a matching shade of color. You can blend colors with the primer to more closely match the color of your shoes. Apply the mixed dye with the applicator to the scuffed area.
We recommend applying the dye in a dabbing motion using the sponge instead of brushing in the dye. Brushing leaves streaks, while dabbing provides a more natural look. Allow the dye to air dry, or use a hair dryer on its lowest heat setting.
Apply a Leather Filler
A heavy leather filler is a paste-based substance used to fix scuffs and gouges. Heavy-duty leather fillers are flexible and durable enough to be used on high-use areas of the boot. The leather filler is sandable after drying, and then a dye can be applied.
Apply the leather filler to the gouge and remove the excess filler with your finger, a plastic knife, or any other scraping tool. Let the filler completely dry. You may need to provide multiple applications to fill the gouge completely.
Sand the Leather Filler
After you have finished applying the last layer of leather filler and it has dried, sand the area with a low grit sandpaper (1200-2000 grit) until the area is smooth and is level with the rest of the leather surface. Use a clean cloth to wipe debris and feel any irregularities. After you’re done sanding, clean the area with a leather cleaner.
Apply More Dye
Once the deep gouge is filled, you can apply the right dye color. Follow the manufacturer’s application instructions for the best results. Use a dabbing technique, ensuring the dye is applied mainly to the affected area. Then, you use a feathering technique to blend in the dye with the rest of the shoe’s color. After letting it air dry, apply at least one additional coat.
Apply Leather Sealer
Depending on your shoe’s finish, you may need a glossy or matte leather sealer or a blend of both to best match your shoe’s sheen. Apply the leather sealer with a brush or foam sponge by dabbing the applicator tool, starting at the gouge and working toward the surrounding leather.
Let the sealer air dry, or use a hair dryer on the lowest heat setting. If your leather sealer layer is too glossy or matte, you can adjust the ratio of matte to glossy sealer and apply additional coats, at least two, to the area, letting the layer dry before adding another. After the final coat has dried, apply a leather conditioner.
Shop Leather Care Products and Footwear at Wilco Farm Stores
Wilco Farm Stores carries a wide selection of all-natural leather care products like leather oil, saddle soap, and conditioners. We also have popular leather shoe and boot brands for work and outdoor use, including Georgia Boot, Ariat, Carhartt, Justin, and Danner.
