How to Fix Puddling on Leather Sofa: 4 Best Methods(DIY)

Last updated on May 13th, 2024 at 12:05 pm

It is normal that after a few months, puddles appear on your leather sofa. But this does not mean that there is any problem with the quality of the leather.

It was a few months ago that I noticed this on my sofa. And I knew the reason for this also.

According to Researchgate, the ideal best temperature for a sofa should be between 20 degrees to -2 degrees celsius. Above 20 degrees the leather fabrics get harder and you may notice puddling.

In my case, I noticed my uncle’s children get up and start writhing on the sofa, due to which the top leather fabric starts getting loose and then it is natural for puddles to form. But this is not the only reason, even if the leather has not been conditioned for a long time, this problem occurs.

Moreover, nowadays most leather sofas are made up of a mixture of leather and plastic materials. As the stretchability of plastic is good so, after some months of use you may notice puddling.

And it is not that if you put a good sofa cover over it then puddles will stop. But if you are facing this problem, I will tell you about some methods by which you will be able to solve this.

But first I would like to make you aware of its reason so that you can stop it to some extent.

Let’s start…….

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Why It Happens and How to Stop It

Rough Use

If you use the sofa for a long time without proper treatment, it will inevitably get puddled. In this way, the fabric of the sofa starts getting loose from where it is tied, and this happens when you sit.

A good quality sofa cover can hide a puddle but not save it.

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Not Using It

Similarly, if the sofa at home is not used much and is not maintained, then also problems can occur. In such a situation, due to fungus on the fabric or due to dust, the strength of the fabric reduces and then it becomes loose due to sudden weight.

Applying a cloth soaked in water clears the dust or fungus for some time but then after some time, it becomes a headache.

RELATED: How to Remove Pen Marks From Leather Sofa

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Heavy Loads

Whenever there is a piece of heavy luggage, you put it on the sofa, like I used to come from the office and throw my heavy bag on the sofa and later I figure it out. Also, when children get up on the sofa and start digging, the spring of the sofa starts becoming loose.

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Using Worst Products

Whenever you wipe the sofa fabric with any low-quality product, it alters the nature of the leather and due to damage, stretchability reduces. Also, if you clean the sofa with water, then keep in mind that water should not remain on the sofa for too long, otherwise, it gets damaged.

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Loosening Springs or Belts

There can be many reasons for the springs becoming loose as I told you, but this is not the only problem.

If there is any rust on the spring, which normally happens after a long time of use, then the suspension of the spring does not work properly and becomes stiff. Due to this, bizarre noises start coming from the sofa and puddles appear on the leather.

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Not Using a Cover

A good sofa cover helps to ensure that there is no dirt on the sofa, that dust does not fall, that the fabric does not get damaged, and that the leather does not become loose.

But if the springs of your sofa have become loose then the cover cannot help you.

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How to Fix Puddling on Leather Sofa

Regular Polishing

By polishing the leather daily, there is no effect of external weather conditions on it and there is no harm due to dust or dirt and the leather remains new for a long time.

To do the polishing effectively,

• Take a clean cloth, dip it in water clean the sofa properly, and remove all dust particles first.
• Now take a good quality leather conditioner and with the help of a clean cloth apply it on the sofa.
• Make the sofa dry for some time and you are ready to go.

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Manual Stretching

A leather sofa has three layers, first of leather, then of cushions, and lastly of belts.

So, the topmost layer, the leather layer is stapled to the wooden frame below the sofa. Now, when it is used regularly the leather becomes loose either by loosening the stitches or by loosening the fabric itself.

When the leather becomes loose, you can fix it by pulling it from all sides or by changing the position of the stitches.

Now you should follow the below steps to do it,

• First, you must slowly turn the sofa upside down.
• Now with the help of a screwdriver, open the stand of the sofa and also unstitch the cloth below the sofa.
• You will be able to see the leather must have been stapled to the wooden frame. Carefully remove staples of one side of the sofa with any sharp object.
• Pull the leather carefully from the side where the staple is open and then staple it to the same wooden frame.
• In this way, the sofa will be as before, but this cannot be done again and again because it causes damage to the area where the leather is being stitched.

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Heat Treatment

This method proves to be best only if the leather fabric has become loose but if the belt and spring attached below is loose then it does not work.

• First, clean the upper part of the sofa thoroughly with a wet cloth and apply a good leather conditioner on it.
• Now blow hot air through a hair dryer on the sofa and do this for about fifteen to twenty minutes.
• Gradually you will notice that the fabric is returning to its old state.
• Now, if it doesn’t get better even after 15-20 minutes of applying the hair dryer, you can increase the time a little because the hair dryer does not provide that much temperature which may damage the leather.

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Tightening the Springs or Belts

Now in modern days, the use of springs has started decreasing and now nylon and fabric belts are used, which causes less damage to the cushions of the sofa.

Although this belt does not loosen very easily, if somehow the stitch comes out then you will have to face this problem. If the puddle does not go away even after trying the above three methods, it means a hundred percent that the problem is in the belt itself.

• First, remove the top two layers i.e., leather and cushions.
• These belts are woven like a net, so you will have to open them from one side simultaneously.
• Then you must pull it properly from the opened side and stitch it on the wooden frame.
• Now put back the cushions and leather cover on the sofa as before.

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Repairing a Sagging Leather Couch with Non-removable Cushions

• Most probably it happened due to the crack of the fibre or wood support provided below or side of the sofa.
• First, rotate the sofa upside down.
• Remove the cracked wooden or fiber parts.
• Take a ply board cut it exactly to the shape of the sofa base and fix it with nails.
• While doing this, keep in mind that the ply should not remain loose from any side.
• Now again put the sofa in its original position and you will not notice the puddling.

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Final Thoughts on How to Fix Puddling on Leather Sofa

People like leather sofas for their long-lasting, liquid-proofing and to enhance the beauty of the house. But if it somehow gets stained or gets a puddle, then it looks dirty.

In most sofas, plastic mixed leather i.e., manmade leather is used and because the stretchability of plastic is good, it forms puddles quickly. So, it is important to keep this in mind while purchasing a sofa.

Also, always keep in mind that do not put too much load on the sofa and always keep polishing with leather conditioner.

These four methods are the best by which you can prevent puddles from forming on the sofa because I have tried them myself.

If you benefit from these methods, please let me know in the comments.

Thank You Very Much……………………………………………………………..

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FAQs on How to Fix Puddling on Leather Sofa