Do you have a favourite leather or vinyl old sofa in your house or perhaps chairs at your office or in a salon that is beginning to show their age or has become discoloured in the line of duty? As long as the fabric is structurally still sound then a rejuvenation of the colour is not as problematic as it may seem at first glance. Even if there are minor blemishes in the material then these can also be improved and sometimes eradicated completely.
It is important that the fabric be as clean as possible so as to give the leather and vinyl colourant dyes the best chance to penetrate into and adhere to the fabric. In order to achieve this first of all give the material a good clean with a foaming interior cleaning agent using a sponge and then plenty of soap and water then use a good isopropyl rubbing alcohol with a high alcohol percentage to get all the grease and dirt off of the fabric and to evaporate thoroughly in order not to leave any cleaning residue behind that may impede the application of the colour dye and paint.
Minor blemishes like a small cut or burn marks in the fabric can be repaired with special leather and leatherette colourant dyes that are quite thick in viscosity. They can be painted into cuts and burn marks in order to fill the gap and smooth out the blemishes. The dyes can be applied in layers to build up the necessary thickness and are available in a range of colours to suit your requirement.
With all the blemishes in the fabric repaired now the material can be repainted to either restore its original colour or to change the colour to a new one. Use an all-surface spray paint that can be bought from your local hardware store. Spray outside and be mindful of where the overspray will go. Make sure you wear a face mask, eye protection and gloves. Give the can a good shake for a minute or so before you spray and use even strokes across the surface. Do not allow the spray to become too thick in one place or it will produce runs. Build up the finish in layers allowing 20 minutes per layer for the paint to become touch dry.
Once the painting is complete allow it to dry thoroughly for 72 hours before using your newly restored chair again.