Leather seats give a car the ultimate aesthetic value it deserves. Even though they are expensive, they are quite comfortable to sit on. However, without proper maintenance, leather seats can easily tear and develop cracks; this can be disappointing considering the cost of getting another set. Fortunately, there are some measures put forth on how to repair car leather seats.
Steps of repairing a crack leather car seat.
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Read more after the jump:
METHOD ONE:
1. Use matching liquid leather
Before applying the wet leather, make sure it matches with the color of your seat. Apply a small amount of the product on any part of the car seat to erase any doubts before continuing with the process.
2. Clean the seat
With the help of a clean rag, clean the sit to remove any dirt. Use a leather cleaner to scrub the seat. Wipe off any residue using isopropyl alcohol, please note that this solvent should be 50% diluted before applying it. Leave the car seat to dry.
3. Apply diluted liquid leather
Before applying liquid leather, dilute it with water. Use a sponge to apply it on the tear and other affected leather parts. Wipe off the seat using a damp cloth. It removes the liquid leather from the less involved parts of the chair. Let it dry before applying another layer.
4. Conditioning
After the liquid leather has dried, apply a conditioner to the repaired part to prevent the leather from cracking. The leather conditioner should be implemented using a soft cloth.
TWO
1. Assess the damage done and clean the affected area
Inspect the tear or cracks thoroughly so that you can know the range of the problem. It will give you a clear picture of the type and amount of tools you will need. After inspecting, clean the tear with a piece of cloth or rag and mild soap. Wipe off all the dirt, grime and dust.
2. Choose a repair kit
Choose the best leather repair kit that has colours matching with your seat. The best ones usually come from the manufacture of the car. You can also blend several different types of kits to come up with a unique colour of your choice.
3. Trim edges of the tear
Use a pair of scissors to trim off any thread coming out of the tear. Make sure the edges of the scissors are sharp enough to give a clean cut.
4. Glueing
Use glue to stick the canvas cloth under the tear. Apply the paste directly to the edges of the crack and ensure it attaches to the clothing. Give time for the glue to dry before proceeding to the next step.
5. Creating layers of leather fillers
Apply the leather filler onto the backing cloth, spread it evenly with the help of a palette knife. After the layer dries, apply another coat. Let it dry before adding another layer, repeat the procedure until the filler slightly overlaps the leather seat.
6. Sanding
Once the filler is dry, start sanding until it is at the same level as the leather seat, when sanding down, it is recommended you use a sanding block instead of sandpaper. Moreover, avoid too much sanding as it can damage other unaffected parts of the leather.
7. Clean the seat
Use a clean, damp cloth to remove any dirt created from the sanding procedure, and give it time to dry.
8. Apply leather colourant
Rub the colourant on the place you applied the filler, build up five or more layers until the colour blends well with the colour of the seat.
9. Sealing
Apply the sealant on the repaired area using a clean piece of cloth. It ensures the colourant does not come off. Let the sealant dry for a couple of minutes.
Ways of maintaining leather seats
a) Develop a habit of conditioning your seats after every 4 or 5 months. Clean and apply the leather conditioner on the car seat.
b) Avoid exposing your seats to direct sunlight. Too much sunlight makes the leather to either crack or fade. Ensure you have an expandable sunshade on your windshield
c) Avoiding sitting with sharp objects like pocket knives and keys when entering your car. Such things can easily tear the leather. Make sure your pockets are free from such objects before entering the vehicle.
Proper maintenance increases the durability of the leather seats. Regularly do a thorough check up on the car seat to note any tears and holes, dealing with the small damage at the right time reduces cases of replacing the whole vehicle seat due to multiple severe cracks.
