Leather is a luxurious material that has been used for centuries in furniture, clothing, and other accessories. It’s often associated with high-quality and pricy items, which is why many people choose to purchase faux leather products.
However, there are some concerns that faux leather may not be as durable as the real thing. So, for this article, I investigated whether or not faux leather peels.
Spoiler alert! Faux leather made of vinyl will crack and peel with time mainly because faux leather is made up of plastic and synthetic material, unlike real leather, which is made of animal hide with a lot of tensile strength.
In the rest of this article, I will cover the following;
- The reasons faux leather peels,
- How long will it take before faux leather starts to peel,
- And is it possible to prevent faux leather from peeling?
Reasons Faux Leather Peel
Faux leather will peel for various reasons, but here are a few of the most common;
1. Faux Leather Is Made From Synthetic Materials
Faux leather peels mainly because it’s made of plastic and synthetic materials. These materials are not as durable as the animal hide that real leather is made of.
The plastic used to make faux leather will expire, which can lead to cracking and peeling.
2. Sun Exposure
Faux leather can be damaged by too much sun exposure.
The UV rays from the sun can cause the plastic in the faux leather to break down and peel.
Also, if heat is used to dry the faux leather item, it can cause the material to crack and peel.
3. Poor Quality Faux Leather
When it comes to any product, quality matters. Poor-quality faux leather is more prone to cracking and peeling than higher-quality material.
Poor-quality faux leather materials usually come from lesser-known brands and are made of cheaper materials.
4. Faux Leather Has Poor Chemical Resistance
Faux leather can be easily damaged by harsh chemicals like solvents, detergents, and cleaners.
Since the material is made of plastic, it can break down and peel when exposed to these chemicals.
How Long Will It Take Before Faux Leather Peels?
The amount of time it takes for faux leather to start peeling depends on the quality of the material, how much care is taken with it, and how much sun exposure it gets.
On average, you can expect a good quality faux leather to start cracking and peeling within 5-10 years of use. In contrast, low-quality faux leather may start peeling within a few months.
This will happen with or without proper care, so it’s important to take care of your faux leather if you want it to last longer.
This is because the raw materials used for faux leather will have an expiration date when the material will start to break down and peel.
Is It Possible To Prevent Faux Leather From Peeling?
While it is impossible to prevent faux leather from peeling, there are a few things you can do to prolong its life:
- Avoid Prolonged Exposure To Sunlight
Faux leather is sensitive to sunlight, meaning that it can crack and peel if exposed too much.
Make sure to avoid placing your faux leather furniture or accessories in direct sunlight for prolonged periods of time.
- Clean Regularly And Carefully
If you want your faux leather items to last longer, you should clean them regularly.
Use a damp cloth, mild detergent, and warm water to clean the leather. Avoid using harsh chemicals on your faux leather items, as they can cause damage.
- Store Properly
Faux leather should be stored away from heat and moisture. The heat and moisture can cause the plastic in your faux leather to break down and peel faster.
- Avoid Using Harsh Chemicals or Solvents
Using harsh chemicals or solvents on your faux leather items can cause the material to crack and peel.
If you must use a solvent, make sure it is specifically designed for cleaning leather.
- Do Not Use an Abrasive Scrubber
Using an abrasive scrubber on your faux leather item can cause the material to crack and peel. Using a soft, damp microfiber cloth to clean your faux leather items is best.
How To Fix Peeling Faux Leather
If your faux leather item has already begun to peel, you may have some luck in fixing it.
1. Take It To A Professional
If your faux leather item is still under warranty, you may be able to take it to a professional who can repair it for you.
Professional leather repair services are available for a fee and can potentially restore your faux leather item to its original condition.
2. Try A DIY Repair Kit
If your faux leather item is not under warranty, you may want to try using a DIY repair kit.
These kits are designed for repairing cracked or peeling faux leather and come with instructions on how to use them.
Leather repair kits contain paints, adhesives, patches, and other materials that can help repair and restore the peeling faux leather items.
These kits are relatively inexpensive and easy to use. You can find them in most stores that sell faux leather items.
3. Painting Over The Peeling
One way to fix peeling faux leather is to paint over it. Acrylic leather paints are available and work well to cover areas that have started to peel.
Just make sure the paint color you choose matches the original color of the faux leather item.
Final Thoughts
Faux leather will peel for various reasons, such as its synthetic materials, sun exposure, poor quality, and poor chemical resistance.
The amount of time it takes for faux leather to start peeling depends on the quality of the material, how much care is taken with it, and how much sun exposure it gets.