Leather Care & Cleaning
How to Protect Faux Leather: Keep the Coating From Cracking and Peeling
Protect faux leather by removing skin oils and lotions, adding a synthetic-leather protector and storing it dry. Threats, steps and item-by-item tips.
To protect faux leather, keep its plastic coating clean and flexible. Wipe off skin oils, lotions and dirt regularly, add a protector made for synthetic leather, and store it somewhere dry and ventilated. Faux leather is a fabric base with a polyurethane (PU) or PVC layer on top, and that top layer is the part that wears out.
This page belongs to our leather care and cleaning guide. For the cleaning method itself, see how to clean faux leather.
Why faux leather needs different protection from real leather
Real leather is a hide. Faux leather (also sold as PU leather, vegan leather, leatherette or pleather) is a coated fabric. PVC versions rely on a plasticizer to stay soft and flexible.
That changes what protection means:
- Surface wear. The surface of some artificial leathers can rub and wear off over time.
- Residues. Skin residue, creams and lotions can damage the plasticizer in the coating, which leaves the material brittle and less flexible if you don't remove them.
- Conditioners. Vegan leather is less porous than real leather and doesn't absorb conditioners the same way, according to one detailing-product maker.
How long does faux leather hold up? The sources disagree. A care-product maker says faux leather is more likely to tear or flake than genuine leather. A reference entry says artificial leather does not crack or fade easily. Both can be true for different materials, so look after the coating whichever group yours falls in.
What damages faux leather, and how to prevent it
| Threat | What it can do | How to protect | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skin oils, hand cream, lotion | Damages the plasticizer, so the coating turns brittle | Wipe regularly with soap and water, rinse, air dry | – |
| Dirt left on the surface | Mildew can grow on dirt that stays on | Clean regularly and store dry | – |
| Dye from jeans and clothing | Dye transfer to light colors may be irreversible | Wipe spills and marks as soon as they happen | – |
| Alcohol on an untested coating | Gloss loss, lifted color, stickiness, cracking | Use alcohol only if the maker allows it | – |
| Hot water and the dryer | Shrinking, warping, melting or coming apart | Cool water, air dry | – |
| Dry cleaning | Can damage the plastic | Check the care tag first | – |
| Friction and rubbing | Surface wears off | Keep abrasion low on seats and straps | – |
How to protect faux leather in 5 steps
- Check the care label or maker's guide. Upholstery makers point you to the furniture maker's own cleaning guidelines, and the label on garments says what to avoid. Our page on reading a faux leather care label explains the symbols.
- Clean before you protect. Wipe with soap and water, rinse off the residue with clean water and let it air dry. One protector maker also says to clean before applying its product.
- Test the protector on a hidden spot. Check the cloth and the surface for color, gloss loss, stickiness or swelling once it dries.
- Apply one thin layer. One synthetic-leather protector maker says to apply a thin layer with a soft cloth, let it dry without polishing, and repeat every three months on areas that take strain. For shoes and boots, a waterproofing treatment helps keep water and dirt from soaking in.
- Store it dry and ventilated. Don't leave cushions wet or covered, since that raises the chance of mildew. See how to store leather properly for hangers and covers.
Protecting different faux leather items
For trousers, follow how to wash faux leather pants.
| Item | Main risk | What to do | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackets and pants | Wash damage, body oils inside | Wash only if the tag allows: inside out, mesh bag, cold delicate cycle, no dryer | – |
| Sofas and car seats | Dye transfer, friction | Wipe spills straight away; watch for dye from clothing on light colors | – |
| Shoes and boots | Water and dirt | Waterproofing treatment | – |
| Bags and straps | Hand cream and skin residue | Wipe handles often | – |
What not to put on faux leather
- Rubbing alcohol, unless the maker allows it. One PU upholstery maker allows it on its own products, while a synthetic leather maker warns it can damage untested coatings. More in is rubbing alcohol safe on leather?
- Bleach and disinfectants that the maker doesn't list. Makers differ here; see how to disinfect leather safely.
- The dryer and dry cleaning.
Already cracking or peeling?
Protection slows wear but cannot rebuild a coating that has already worn away. For repair and refinishing options, see the restoration guides at mumiay.com. If you're weighing faux against real leather for your next piece, leatherguide.org compares the materials.
Prefer a jacket in real hide? Biker jackets in genuine cowhide, sheepskin and lambskin are at Leather Collection.
Quick answers
How do you stop faux leather from cracking?
Remove skin oils and lotions before they dry the coating out, keep it away from hot water and dryer heat, and reapply a synthetic-leather protector on high-wear areas.
How long will faux leather last?
None of the maker guides we read gives a lifespan, and they disagree on how durable faux leather is. How often you clean it and how much friction it takes matter most.
hosob Editorial Team
hosob articles are researched from published sources, cited in the text, and reviewed before publication.