Mallika Sharma
Certified Leather Care Technician
wikiHow's Editorial Process wikiHow partners with over 1000+ experts from a wide range of fields to ensure our content is accurate and based on well-established research and testimony. Content Managers conduct interviews and work closely with each expert to review information, answer reader questions, and add credible advice. Learn more about our editorial process and why millions of readers trust wikiHow.
Co-authored Articles (71)
How to
Spot a Fake Coach Bag
Due to their popularity, designer bags are often replicated and Coach bags are no exception. Knowing how to spot a fake bag can be extremely helpful if you're looking to purchase one outside of a department store or the ...
How to Determine if a Louis Vuitton Wallet is Real
Tell the difference between a real LV wallet and a fake Louis Vuitton (LV) is a French luxury fashion company that has been producing high-quality products since the 1850s. Louis Vuitton wallets are known for pristine co...
10 Simple Ways to Check if Genuine Leather is Real
Spot fake vs real leather by look, feel, & smell Products made of genuine leather are a class apart from their faux leather counterparts due to their natural, rich, and elegant finish. However, synthetic leather made fro...
How to Tell the Difference Between Fake vs Real Golden Goose Shoes
The tell-tale signs that you’re looking at fake Golden Goose sneakers Golden Goose sneakers are incredibly popular for their chic, worn-in look, iconic star, and comfortable fit. However, with their popularity comes a ...
How to
Repair Faux Leather
Faux leather is also known as imitation, synthetic, or artificial leather. It has a similar appearance to natural leather, but faux leather items typically consist of a fabric base with a polyurethane coating. This compo...
How to
Spot a Fake Michael Kors Bag
Buying a designer brand handbag is a big decision, and it’s important to make sure that you don’t get ripped off. Brands like Versace, Coach, Louis Vuitton, and Michael Kors are common targets for counterfeit supplie...
How to
Get Oil Out of Suede
Suede is known for its soft, comfortable texture as well as its delicacy. However, even though suede is hard to clean, you can remove oil stains with some basic household products. Use an absorbent material to pull fresh...
How to
Repair Torn Leather
Repairing a leather tear can be a little time consuming, but it shouldn’t be excessively difficult if the damage is relatively small. To fix a leather tear, get a leather repair kit with a color compound that matches t...
How to
Get Bad Smells out of Leather
Leather is a material made of tanned animal hide. It is used to make jackets, furniture, shoes, purses, belts and many other products. Although leather is a very durable material, it is more difficult to clean than natur...
How to
Restore Suede
Suede is a type of beautiful, soft leather that's often used to make things like shoes, furniture, or clothing items. If you have a suede item that needs a little fixing up, a suede cleaning brush is a great tool to get ...
How to
Fix Faux Leather Peeling
Faux leather is a synthetic material made from cheap base fabric and a polyurethane coating. With time and usage, faux leather will eventually begin to peel and flake off. Faux leather is difficult to repair, and many ex...
Simple Tricks to Remove Odors from Old Leather Bags
Get rid of musty & smoky smells from vintage purses & bags Leather bags can start to smell old, mildewy, and unpleasant when they’re kept in moist conditions or stained with food. Luckily, there are several simple solu...
How to Restore a Leather Sofa: Fix Tears and Rips
Does your favorite leather couch have a tear, rip, or hole in it? Leather is both durable and long-lasting, but it can be prone to damage (especially if any children or pets are around). Fortunately, repairing a leather ...
How to
Repair Cracked Leather
Cracks often appear when leather dries out or is exposed to sunlight. The fibers in the leather abrade one another. Although the damage is permanent, many cracks are easy to hide by rehydrating the leather with a good co...
How to Check if a Versace Bag Is Real or Fake
Make sure your designer accessory is authentic Versace makes a number of attractive bags, but how do you know if the bag you’ve purchased is authentic? Counterfeit bags are now circulating regularly in both outlet stor...
How to
Care For a Leather Jacket
Leather is a complicated substance, but taking care of it doesn't have to be. Take some time to learn about caring for leather jackets, follow these best practices, and you'll only need to use the occasional treatment to...
How to
Restore a Leather Jacket
A leather jacket is a prized possession that, when cared for correctly, can be worn proudly for life. However, leather jackets start to dry out and fade after years of wear. When your old trusty jacket starts to look wor...
How to
Repair Scratches on Leather Furniture
No matter how careful you are around your leather furniture, it’s very common for leather furniture to get scratches due to normal use. This is especially the case if you live in a household with pets or small children...
How to
Remove Cat Spray or Pee from a Leather Couch
Nobody wants their beautiful leather sofa to be treated like a litter box. But what can you do when you start noticing some unpleasant stains and smells coming from the upholstery? There’s no need to worry. We’re her...
How to
Repair a Faux Leather Sofa
Faux leather is cheaper than real leather, and oftentimes easier to clean. Unfortunately, it is prone to peeling and cracking after long periods of time. If you don't treat the damage right away, it can spread. Luckily, ...