Can you darken leather shoes

Typically, these products come with additional materials to prepare the leather and clean it after the dye application is finished, but you may also need a spray bottle to wet the boot, a paintbrush and sponge to paint on the dye, and latex gloves to protect your skin from the dye. Measure out about three cupfuls of oil into your clean rag, then coat the boot with oil by brushing it lightly with the rag.

Once the boot is coated, use your hands to massage the oil into the leather and remove any pools of oil. Let the boot sit coated in oil for up to 24 hours, then clean it off.

If the boot needs to be darkened further, you can repeat these steps. Once finished, place the boots outside in the sun for hours to dry you can also place them near a fire or space heater. However, allow the boots to dry for at least 12 hours more after your last coast or else dirt may accumulate quickly by sticking to residual oil.

Grab a grape-sized glob of the synthetic blend from the container with your fingers and then use your hand to thoroughly brush it all over the outside of your boot. In places where the boot is especially stiff, faded, or cracked, use your hands to massage some additional blend into the leather.

Then simply let the boot sit for about 10 minutes, after which time you can either wear it or apply as many additional coats as you need to darken the leather further. Whenever you are working with leather dye, wear a pair of latex gloves in order to protect your skin from the chemicals in the dye.

Start by applying the leather preparer included with your dye to the outside of the boot using a rag. This preparer will remove the finish on the leather and allow the leather to fully absorb the dye. Once the finish is removed, wet the leather by using a spray bottle to cover it in a fine mist of water. The paintbrush can be helpful in getting at hard to reach places around seams and reinforced parts of the boot, while the sponge is better for quickly covering the majority of the boot.

Once the first coat is done, wait a few minutes for it to dry and then begin applying a second coat. Typically, it will take three to six coats to achieve a darker look, and It is best to work in thin coats since this will give the darkening a more even look. You will only need to use a small amount of oil on a small section of the leather at a time.

Step 2: Begin to rub the oil over the surface of the leather. Your goal at this point is to apply it in one uniform layer. Also, remember to rub only small sections in a back-and-forth motion until the entire leather surface is covered. Step 3: After the first layer of the oil is applied, allow the leather to set and dry for about hours or overnight. At this point, the leather should be shades darker than its original color.

But always allow the leather to dry between each layer application. This is simply the use of brewed coffee to make leather a shade or two darker.

Using coffee to darken leather is a pretty natural chemical-free approach and essentially a very easy home DIY since coffee is a very common household item. Step 2: Set your burner or to a medium-high and bring your coffee to a boiling point for about 2 minutes.

Make sure to stir from time to time to prevent the coffee grounds on the bottom of your pan from burning. Step 3: Remove the pot from the stove and let it sit for about 5 to 10 minutes. This will allow it to cool down a bit.

Step 4: Now that the coffee is ready, you can now simply apply the coffee on the surface of the leather item. Apply a single layer at a time and give it some time to air dry. You can keep applying the coffee on the surface until your desired hue is obtained. For most leather crafters, since you would be working with pieces of cut out leather, you can pour the coffee into a bowl and then soak your leather into it.

Allow your leather to sit in the coffee for about 12 — 24 hours. You can now take out the leather from the coffee and then rinse out with clean water or wipe the surface with a damp cloth. Step 5: After the leather is dry, condition it with a good leather conditioner!

Conditioning your leather after this method is essential so that the natural oils in the leather that was lost during the cleaning are restored. The natural rich brown color that is obtained from black walnut is perfect for darkening leather. Alcohol-based dyes generally stiffen the leather material while water-based ones soften it. Commercial leather dye products usually come with instructions and the more expensive ones also have the equipment you need to apply them — this may include a sponge, spray bottle, paintbrush, and latex gloves.

Your workspace should be well-ventilated because chemicals in leather dye products can be harmful if constantly inhaled. Now that you know all these methods of darkening leather boots, you can restore the color and shine of your worn-out boots. You might not have to invest in a new pair if you could bring your old pair of leather boots back to their former glory by darkening them.

In case you have any questions about darkening leather boots, feel free to shoot them our away. We will be more than happy to guide you and help you darken your leather boots. Use the Right Method There is a lot of information on the internet relating to darkening of leather boots. Steps to Perform Before Darkening Your Leather Boots A few things you should do before you start darkening your leather boots using any method discussed in this post include: Clean your leather boots with a rag and water.

Dirt on your shoes can get trapped into the material if you apply darkener without cleaning your boots. Boot darkening chemicals can damage your carpets or floor, so set up your working area with some newspapers. Methods to Darken Leather Boots 1. Using Vegetable Oils Vegetable oils like canola oil, olive oil, or coconut oil can be used for darkening leather boots.

Using Animal Oils Animal oils like mink oil can also be used for restoring the color of leather boots. Let the boots dry again for several hours until no more oil is left on the surface. Using Specialty Boot Care Products These products are generally made from combining animal oils, waxes, resin, petroleum oils, and vegetable oils. Using Shoe Polish Leather boots can also be darkened using shoe polish.

You only need a little bit so do not saturate the entire cloth. Rub the oil onto the surface in an even layer. Go in a back and forth motion over the surface your leather. Try to apply the oil in one uniform layer. The leather should start to darken. If you run out of oil on your cloth, put another tablespoon of oil on it. Let the oil dry overnight. Apply more coats of oil to make your leather even darker.

Remember to let the leather dry in between coats. Method 3. Purchase a leather dye. You can either purchase an oil based or a water based leather dye online or at a leather store. Read the instructions on the dye before using it. Both of these dyes will dry out the leather over time, so make sure to condition your leather with oil or conditioner after applying them. Water based dye is cut with water, while oil based dye is mixed with specific chemicals, like a dye reducer.

Oil dyes last longer and are harder to strip from the leather. Use a water based dye if you think you may want to repaint your leather a different color later. Saturate a sponge or a cloth in the dye. Apply some of the leather dye to a dry cloth or sponge. Using a sponge or a soft cloth will prevent visible stroke marks that a brush would leave behind.

When using dye, make sure that you are in a well-ventilated area to prevent yourself from inhaling the fumes from the dye. Apply the first coat of leather dye in small circles. Rub the cloth with the dye in small circular motions over the surface of the leather. As you apply the dye, the leather should start to get darker. Try to get as equal coverage as possible for an even and clean finish. Let the leather dye dry for 24 hours. The leather dye may lighten up as it dries.

Leave the leather in a room temperature area out of the sunlight to avoid cracking or peeling. Apply more coats of dye until the leather is as dark as you want it. If not, then apply additional coats of dye, letting the leather dry in between applications, until it reaches the hue that you want.

Method 4. Purchase a dark leather polish. Look for a leather polish online or a leather shop. Find one that is several shades darker than your current leather.