How to Fix Slippery Leather Furniture

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.

1. Mix a solution of three parts rubbing alcohol to one part water.

2. 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.

3. Allow the leather to dry completely for two to four hours.

4. 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.

5. Test the furniture. It should have far more “grab” to it because you have exposed the grain and conditioned the leather.

Tip

You may wish to treat the leather with a surface treatment to protect it from stains and fading. The surface treatment will contain the same waxes that made your leather slippery, but in a lesser amount. Wax is actually a solid form of alcohol, so, the alcohol/water solution should dissolve it readily. Repeat the treatment with the alcohol/water solution until you achieve satisfactory results.