For leather lovers, scratches are part of the “character.” Still, marks in conspicuous places, or ones that bother you personally, can be dealt with through maintenance.
The method Taniwaki taught us is surprisingly quick and easy. Just work cream or lotion into the area around the scratch, then wipe it with a dry cloth. Repeating this a few times can deal with deeper scratches, too. And with oiled leather, which is naturally rich in oil, a dry wipe alone can apparently make scratches disappear.
Incidentally, to prevent scratches in the first place, “regular care with leather cream matters more than anything,” says Taniwaki. Keeping the leather moderately moisturized helps protect it from scratches.
Step 1. Start by removing dirt
Applying cream over dirt risks spreading it, so clean the surface first. Use a plastic eraser, moving it lightly without pressing, to lift the dirt off!
Step 2. Take the cream onto a cloth first
Rather than applying cream directly to the leather, first take it onto a cloth. A guide for one application is about a pearl-sized amount. A stiff cloth can scratch the leather, so use a soft one.
Step 3. Work the cream into the cloth
Knead the cream into the cloth with your fingertips until it blends in. This extra step naturally lets you spread the cream thinly and evenly, preventing blotchy application.
Step 4. Work the cream into the scratch
Work the cream into the scratch as if drawing small circles. Once the scratch is less noticeable, apply cream over the whole area, including around the scratch, to blur any unevenness in color.
Step 5. Use more oil for deep scratches
For harder damage such as scuffs on the corners, working in a lotion with a higher oil content is effective. As with the cream, take the lotion onto a cloth first and knead it in before applying.
Step 6. Finish with a dry wipe
Wipe with a clean, dry cloth to remove excess oil. If the scratch still bothers you, repeat the process of applying a thin layer of cream and dry wiping a few more times, and it will gradually fade.
Step 7.
The large scratch that had been bothering us is gone, as if by magic! Spreading cream over the whole piece, not just the scratched area, gave an even finish with no color blotches.
Slathering on cream can cause blotchy color and stains!
It's tempting to think that “using plenty of cream must work better,” but in fact this is a mistake. Applying it heavily in one spot can even leave a stain… When applying cream, the golden rule is “thin and even.” We recommend working a pearl-sized amount well into a cloth before applying.
