Your car is the centre of your life. Leather interiors are a mainstay of luxury cars. A soft leather seat will make you feel comfortable and warm.
However, most of us don’t know how to care for leather. We let our upholstery deteriorate until it cracks, tears or begins to look old and dull. We have some tips to help you maintain the value of your leather car seats and keep them looking great for a long period.
How to avoid tears and cracks
A few simple things are necessary to preserve the leather seats’ value. It is better to preserve the factory-quality artistry than to repair it later. Here are some tips to help keep leather soft and free from cracks.
1. Make sure to clean and condition your seat cushions
You must condition and clean your leather regularly if your seats remain soft and supple. A minimum of once a month is recommended for good maintenance, while a minimum of three months would be sufficient to provide basic care. It is much better to use a leather conditioner that has been specifically made for automobiles than saddle soap or any other general leather care products like mink oil.
2. Be careful with sharp and heavy objects
Your interior will be much happier if you don’t haul heavy, sharp objects or put your seat in danger by putting heavy boxes on top. People don’t realize the fragility of leather and how easy it can be for leather to crack if you put too much stress on one point.
3. Avoid direct sunlight
Keep your car away from direct sunlight. The UV radiation is not only harmful to paint but also damages leather. By tinting your windows, you can block direct sunlight.
Leather car seats can be repaired with the right tools.
There are many ways for leather seat repair. No one tool works best. You may find the following useful.
- Warm soapy water
- Clean microfiber cloth
- 600 grit Sandpaper, sanding block
- Sharp scissors
- Leather adhesive
- Leather Dye
- Liquid leather
- Kits for Patchwork
- Denatured alcohol
- Swatches of matching leather
- Wax paper
Leather seats cracked, repaired
A leather repair kit that matches your upholstery will be required. Then wash the area with warm soapy water. Rinse clean. Next, take a clean rag to apply denatured alcohol. Next, dry the area with a microfiber cloth.
After the leather has dried, lightly sand the cracks to make a bonding surface that allows the liquid leather to stick to it. Apply the liquid leather to the crack. Let it dry. You can wipe any unaffected leather surfaces with a damp sponge.
Leather seats can be repaired.
A patch and fill method is the best way to repair tears. First, remove any rough edges from the area. You can then sand the leather as you would for crack repair once it is flush with the seat surface. You will then push a piece of wax paper into the hole so that the edges of the leather are behind it. This is to prevent the leather adhesive from abusing the cushions.
Leather seats can be repaired.
Small holes caused by cigarettes or punctures are easier to repair than a tear or crack. You can fill the hole with liquid leather if it is not too large. You can use the patch method to fill the hole and apply liquid leather to smoothen the seams.
Conclusion
You can fix leather damage, but it is better to have a professional handle it. It’s about practicality and how long you intend to keep the car. You can fix the leather seats yourself if you have time. We can also repair your seats if you don’t have the time or money to spend on them. You don’t have to worry about cracks, tears or holes in your seat if you don’t want them.
