Slippery leather has a coating--heavy in carnauba wax or beeswax--which makes it too slick to be comfortable for the sitter. Although gasoline will certainly clear away that coating, there are safer, modern-day alternatives to achieve the same result.
Things You Will Need
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Mix a solution of three parts rubbing alcohol to one part water.
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Rub the solution gently over the surface of the leather, using a wet, lint-free cloth. Do not rub vigorously, or you may remove the surface color.
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Allow the leather to dry completely for two to four hours.
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Treat and soften the leather with a top-quality conditioner. If the leather is slippery because it is stiff, a conditioner will loosen the stiffness.
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Test the furniture. It should have far more “grab” to it because you have exposed the grain and conditioned the leather.
The Drip Cap
- In 1921, the American Technical Society recommended correcting slippery leather by "washing it first with gasoline and then with water.” Rub the solution gently over the surface of the leather, using a wet, lint-free cloth.