Tech Corner: The Basics of Car Leather Repair

As we pointed out in our post on seasonal car care, spring cleaning is about more than just a good exterior scrubbing. But once you finish addressing those pesky leaks and suspicious rust spots, it’s time to show that interior some love. And top of the list? Those busted leather seats you’ve been ignoring. Even if they aren’t all torn up from years of rocks and dirt, or sporting some unsightly cracks and wrinkles, it’s likely they could use a little TLC. Lucky for you, car leather repair is an easy task you can handle yourself, in just a couple hours at home.

Cleaning Leather

Fact: leather loves to soak up oils and dirt from the human body. It’s gross to think about, but the first part of proper leather care is identifying the issues. One thing to keep in mind is that leather shouldn’t have a shine to it—it should actually be dull in color. A shine tells you that it’s time for a good cleaning. Areas where this build up is particularly common are seats, arm rests, and steering wheels.

First rule of car leather repair? Be gentle! Leather is a delicate material.

A dedicated leather cleaner spray with a gentle cloth or very mild brush is a good first step to tackle the initial layers of grime. Chemical Guys is an excellent brand to turn to for both the cleaners and the brush. The company actually sells a specially-designed all-natural horsehair brush that is tough enough to remove the dirt and oils but safe enough to keep from tearing up the material.

For more stubborn debris, scrub with moderate pressure but don’t go overboard, as you can damage the leather. If you’re dealing with extremely stubborn stains, look at getting your hands on a steam cleaner to help soften the leather to the point where the pores will release the dirt and oil. Prices vary, so you may want to explore renting this equipment, especially if you want something high-end. Although, for a DIYer, you can likely purchase a decent steam cleaner for roughly $100-$200.

Once the leather is cleaned, conditioner can be applied. Meguiar’s, Armor All and Mothers all offer excellent leather care products.

Scratched or Worn Leather

Damaged leather can be a serious eyesore, but it’s bound to occur at some point in a vehicle’s life-cycle. Obviously, if a massive tear is present or the leather is just cracked to the point where it no longer looks like actual leather, it’s time to head to a reupholstery shop, like Dave’s Auto Upholstery in Oakville, CT.

For small cracks or scuffs though, you can perform repairs at home. Car leather repair kits, like those offered by 3M, and are quite effective. Essentially, these kits work much like body work. First, you identify your issue. If you just have a small crack, apply some filler to the problem area, making sure it’s level with the rest of the material, and then heat it with a heat gun. Once set, sand it down with fine grit sandpaper and then simply apply color to match the original material.

For small tears, you’ll follow roughly the same process, but first you’ll need to cut a piece from the kit-supplied backing material and shimmy it behind the tear. Then you can move onto applying filler.

Keep in mind, time is key. The longer you wait, the higher the chance that a simple scuff or scratch turns into a deeper tear.

Faded leather

Even if you keep up with your car’s leather, cleaning and treating as needed, fading is inevitable. And while some “patina” is cool and adds character, uneven wear and extreme sun fading can knock some style points off your car’s interior. Luckily, faded leather is also repairable. Some high-quality polish—matched to the desired shade—a clean cotton rag, a pair of gloves, and a little bit of patience are all you need to breathe some new life into your old leather.

Calling a Professional

As a person who enjoys taking on projects, I know that there are instances when going it alone simply isn’t an option.  Car leather repair is something you really want done right the first time, so when a seat is too tattered or torn, call a professional to make sure the restoration is done right.

Let’s say you’re dealing with a vehicle that’s a ripe 20 years of age or older. The ride is cherry, except the seats look like whoever was sitting on them was covered in sand paper. Sure, in a small patch, this is something that is easily dealt with by yourself. But those small sections add up—and sometimes, time is money. A professional with a trained hand will be able to pull off a proper finish within a fraction of the time.

Besides, if you’re paying a professional by the hour, the money spent for fresh, new leather may actually be more rewarding that simply covering up damage with repair kits. Think of it like using a ton of body filler to cover rust on a car. Sure, it might look okay but nothing beats the feel of the real thing, ya know?

Leather is a great addition to any vehicle, but it does take a lot of time and care to maintain. But like anything else, if you keep up with it, you’ll have a beautiful product that will last for years to come.