How to Weather Leather

Co-authored by Mallika Sharma

Last Updated: January 22, 2021

Normal wear and tear gives leather a weathered look. You can speed up this process by treating leather with chemicals and physical force. A common way to wear down leather is to dampen it with rubbing alcohol or powdered cleanser. Use a wire brush to work the chemical into the leather. Abrading the leather with rocks, hammers, sand, pavement, or car tires will also get your leather looking aged and tough.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using Rubbing Alcohol

1
Stuff the leather with newspaper. Stuffing only needs to be done when you're weathering an object that may lose shape, such as a shoe or bag. Fill the item completely with old newspaper. Lay other leather objects flat on a table.
2
Spray the leather with rubbing alcohol. Get some rubbing alcohol from the self-care section at a drugstore or general store. Load the alcohol into a spray bottle and lightly coat the leather. The leather should be damp, not soaked.
- If you don't have a spray bottle, use an old toothbrush to spread the rubbing alcohol.
- Acetone also works. It may help remove dye, but acetone can be dangerous and you may need a lot of it.
- You can also dilute the rubbing alcohol with lukewarm water, then rub it gently into the leather with a muslin cloth. However, don't drench the leather—just dampen it.^{[1]
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  Expert Source
  
  Mallika Sharma
  Certified Leather Care Technician
  Expert Interview. 14 December 2020.}
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3
Scratch the leather with a wire brush. Use the brush on the areas you wish to weather. To get the most authentic look, give extra attention to exposed areas like seams, edges, elbows on jackets, straps on bags, and heels on shoes. Do this while the leather is damp with rubbing alcohol to speed up aging.^{[2]
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- Any abrasive object, such as pumice stones or sandpaper, can be used. Sandpaper is very abrasive, so use it as a last resort.
4
Seal the weathered surface with shoe wax. Once the rubbing alcohol is dry, apply shoe wax to give the leather protection You can use your finger, a cloth, or an old toothbrush to spread the wax over the leather. Work in as much wax as possible and wipe off the excess. Finish by buffing the leather with a brush.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Powdered Cleanser

1
Dampen the leather in water. Soften the leather by giving it a light coating of water. Use a spray bottle, rag, or toothbrush to spread an even amount of water over it. The leather should be damp but not soaked.
2
Pour on powdered cleanser. Get a cleanser such as Comet or Ajax used on tough household stains. The powdered variety with bleach works best. This substance is mild enough to not ruin the leather. Don't be afraid to add a lot of the cleanser to the leather. Cover the area you wish to weather.^{[3]
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- Never use pure bleach on leather.
3
Scrub the leather with a wire brush. Use a wire brush to work the cleanser into the leather. The wire will begin the weathering process and help the cleanser to continue it. Other abrasive objects can be used instead. Remember that more abrasive surfaces, such as sandpaper, can weather the leather too much.^{[4]
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4
Leave the cleanser on for an hour. The cleanser will have turned into a paste after scrubbing. Allow a layer of this paste to rest on the leather for at least an hour. Afterwards, wipe off the cleanser with a damp cloth.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Distressing Leather Physically

1
Rub the leather on the ground. The ground or another rough surface helps wear down leather. This is a good solution for wearing out shoe soles. Twisting the leather a little also contributes to weathering. You may also place the leather in a bag and step on it.
2
Strike the leather with rocks or a hammer. Both rocks and hammers leave age marks. Lay the leather flat. Be gentle when using a hammer and take care not to collapse any breakable parts like the soles of shoes. Strike with a different part of the rock each time to get a more natural look.
- Colored rocks can impart different colors you can spread into the leather with a wire brush or sandpaper.^{[5]
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3
Include the leather in a gentle wash cycle. First, set the leather in a pillowcase or between towels. Add fabric softener to the washing machine, then choose the gentle cycle. Move the items to the dryer and use a no heat tumble setting.
- You may also skip washing if you don't want to expose the leather to water. Bag it and place it in the dryer. Don't use heat or else the leather will shrink.
4
Roll the leather in a sandbox. Any child's sandbox at a nearby playground can be a free way to weather leather. Roll up the leather item then kick it around. Pick it up, dust it off, then repeat the process once or twice. The abrasive sand will distress the leather without wearing it down as much as sandpaper.
5
Drag the leather behind a car. Use a rope and tape to connect the leather to the back of a car. If you have an empty stretch of road, drag the leather over it a few times. You can also run over the leather with the car a few times. Make sure you don't crush any breakable areas like the soles of shoes.

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Question

How do you artificially age leather?

Mallika Sharma
Certified Leather Care Technician
Mallika Sharma is a Certified Leather Care Technician and the Founder of The Leather Laundry, a niche spa service for luxury leather gear in India. Mallika specializes in leather cleaning, coloring, repairing, and restoring for shoes, handbags, jackets, wallets, belts, and sofas. She holds a Master’s degree in Finance and Investment from the University of Edinburgh Business School. Mallika is a certified Professional Leather Care Technician and trained with the globally reputed leather care company, LTT in the United Kingdom.

Mallika Sharma

Certified Leather Care Technician

Expert Answer

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Dilute some isopropyl alcohol in warm water, then gently rub it gently into the leather with a muslin cloth. Don't drench the leather—only dampen it. When the alcohol dries, the leather will attain a weathered look.

Warnings

Always be safe when using dangerous chemicals such as acetone. Work in a ventilated area and wear safety gear as necessary.

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