Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Wash and wear leather
• Method 2 of 3: Using a chemical solution to dull leather
• Method 3 of 3: Try sanding techniques
• Warnings

Leather lasts for years, and the older it gets, the more character it gets! Unfortunately, new leather products can sometimes look too shiny or even cheap. You can try washing and wearing the leather to fade it in a subtle, gradual way. If you want to dull your leather, try a chemical solution. For an even more defiant look, you can also try techniques that abrade the leather.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Wash and wear leather

1. Clean the leather with soapy water. Cleaning your leather can be enough to remove oils or waxes that make the leather look shiny. You can make some soapy water with a little washing-up liquid in half a liter of water to clean the leather. Dip a soft towel or cloth in the soapy water and then wipe the leather. Then dip a new cloth in distilled water and wipe the object again. Dry the leather with a soft, dry towel or chamois leather.
   • You can also purchase a leather cleaning product if you prefer. Look for a leather cleaning product that will leave a matte finish to give the leather a dull appearance.
   • It may also be enough to dampen the leather with plain water to give it a duller appearance. Dampen a washcloth with water and wipe it over the surface of the leather item to instantly dull it.
2. Make a leather jacket less shiny by washing and drying it. Put the leather jacket in the washing machine (without other laundry) and use a tablespoon of detergent. Run the washing machine on the gentle wash program with cold water. Wring out the jacket when it is done washing, as the washing machine will not be able to take out all the excess water. Then put the jacket in the dryer and let the jacket run on a moderate temperature until it is dry. This should get rid of any wrinkles in the leather.
   • You may have to repeat the process for the desired result, especially if the leather garment is just new.
   • Your leather jacket can shrink in the dryer. If you do not want this, set the temperature setting of the dryer to cold.
3. Wear your leather jacket often to keep it looking worn over time. Another easy, slow way to dull leather is to wear or use the garment often. Leather will look duller and more worn-out over the years. Speed ​​up this slow aging process by wearing or using the leather garments as often as possible.
   • You can also try wearing the leather garment outside on a rainy or snowy day to get it wet.
   • If you have a leather jacket or leather shoes that you want to dull, consider lending them to family (or friends, if you trust that) to speed up the process.

Method 2 of 3: Using a chemical solution to dull leather

1. Use a wax removal product to prevent high gloss. High gloss is a highly glossy finish of leather. It is a common finish on patent leather shoes. If you have a pair of shoes or other high-gloss leather item, you may need to buy a special product to remove the wax. Buy a bottle of leather wax remover from a retailer's shoe section or online. Apply the product to a rag or soft cloth and wipe the surface of the leather. Continue to apply and wipe the surface until the gloss layer is completely gone.
   • High gloss can be difficult to remove. Press hard while wiping the surface of the leather object.
2. Spray the item with rubbing alcohol to create a dull, weathered look. Fill an empty spray bottle about 1/4 to half full with rubbing alcohol. Then spray a light layer of alcohol all over the leather object. Apply enough alcohol so that the item is damp, but not soaked. Let the alcohol dry completely to give your leather a dull, weathered look.
   • You can also use a toothbrush dipped in alcohol to apply it to hard-to-reach areas.
   • Alcohol dries quickly, so you should notice the effect within five minutes of applying the product.
3. Apply acetone nail polish remover to remove color and shine. Acetone nail polish remover can bleach or even completely decolorize your leather. Put a small amount of acetone nail polish remover on a cotton swab or soft cloth and rub over the stains you want to bleach. Focus on areas that naturally fade first, such as the bottom corners of bags or the elbow creases of jackets.
   • Depending on the quality and color of the dye, this technique will work differently. You may not be able to completely remove the color from a dark leather object.
   • Chemical methods to dull your leather can damage and discolor it, so test it first. Apply the solution to an inconspicuous area of ​​the leather before treating the entire item.

Method 3 of 3: Try sanding techniques

1. Wipe the leather with a rough cleaning cloth to soften the shine. Buy a container of cleaning wipes intended for cleaning counters and other hard surfaces. Then wipe the leather to fade the shine. Dry the leather with a soft towel or chamois after you are done.
   • You may need to repeat this 1-2 more times to get the desired effect.
   • You can find rough cleaning cloths in the cleaning supplies section of a grocery store. Look for one labeled "texture," "abrasive," or "scrubbing."
2. Rub leather with steel wool or sandpaper (220 grit) for a worn look. The longer you have your leather, the more scratches it will get. To give new leather such a look, gently rub it with steel wool or sandpaper (220 grit). Move back and forth to rub the leather (rather than in circles) as this will produce more natural looking scratches.
   • Sandpaper may be too coarse for certain leather types. Try it first with steel wool and then move on to sandpaper where necessary. You can choose coarser sandpaper if you want to make deeper scratches.
3. Use a wire brush if you want to create naturally worn areas. Rub a wire brush back and forth and make circular movements on the area of ​​the leather object you want to age. Work slowly and see to what extent the leather starts to look weathered. Do not rub too much or you could accidentally perforate the leather.
   • With shoes and boots you mainly work on the upper part of the toe. With bags you sand the bottom corners. With coats you mainly work the elbow folds.
   • You can also roughen a leather object with another rough object, such as a pumice stone or a rough stone.
   • Be aware that using abrasive methods to roughen leather can damage leather. Test the technique on an inconspicuous area of ​​the object before treating the rest of the leather.

Warnings

• Keep in mind that you may not be able to reverse the effects of removing the shine or sanding your leather. Make sure this is what you want to do with the garment or item before getting started!