using the method and coating material of the present invention sneakers tennis shoes all types of men 39 s and ladies 39 footwear athletic shoes and equipment belts briefcases and other leather goods as well as those made of synthetic or artificial leather typically polyvinylchloride an initial step in practicing the method of the invention is cleaning the surface which is to be coated the surface may be cleaned by applying a cleaning agent and then wiping the surface more than one cleaning agent can be used in succession or mixed together and any convenient means may be used for applying the cleaning agent then wiping the surface e g spraying swabbing dipping followed by wiping with a cloth sponge squeegee or the like the preferred cleaning agent is acetone in addition the following are examples of cleaning agents which can be used ethyl acetate isopropyl alcohol methyl ethyl ketone and methylisobutyl ketone the coating composition used in the present invention includes a reacted polyurethane elastomer dissolved in a solvent a pigmented colorant a thickener and preferably a gloss lowering agent the preferred polyurethane elastomer is spencer kellogg products nl chemicals spenlite l89 30s product code no 38489 which is believed to be 30 reacted polyurethane elastomer dissolved in 35 toluene and 35 isopropyl alcohol the preferred polyurethane elastomer is believed to be a type 5 thermoplastic polyester type polyurethane elastomer in addition to the preferred elastomer the following are examples of polyurethane elastomer which could be used as the polyurethane ingredient of the coating composition of the present.