Leather car seats are the epitome of luxury when it comes to the interior of your car. It is a statement of sophistication and class with many high-end car models sporting seats such seats. Despite leather being a sturdy material, it can also tear up due to impact or years of wear. As such, knowledge of how to repair leather car seats with cracks or tears is an asset.
Repairing leather may be a hard task when you consider the strength of this upholstery material. However, with the right set of tools, you can pull it well and save your pocket from the leather car seat repair cost.
If you want to bring the best out of your leather seat maintenance, you need to understand the damage at hand. Minor cracks and scratches on the surface of the material are common, and at times you can deal with it by applying some cream to mask it. The issue comes with unconcealable damage such as burns and large tears, which will need you to pull the best tricks to have your seats in perfect shape.
Let us look at some of the ways you can repair leather car seats.
Repairing Cracks on Leather Car Seats
As earlier hinted cracks are a widespread occurrence on car seats and may come about due to exposure to physical agents as well as temperature changes. To repair cracks on your seats, you will need a leather repair kit, which among other things, contains a leather dye. Make sure the coloring matches the interior of your car.
You start by cleaning the entire seat to remove dirt by using warm water and some mild soap. A leather cleaner can also work out correctly. Trim out hanging threads and any rough patches to make the flaw smooth for the next procedure. A blade or a pair of scissors can do the job well.
The width and how serious the crack determines the next product you will pull out of your repair kit. For a small crack, you can use leather glue and top it up with some leather filler. Spread out the filler and sand it down. Once smoothened out well, use leather dye for uniformity. Close the window to allow the area to dry and prevent the entry of dirt.
In the case of deeper cracks, you will need to put a leather patch beneath the crack and use a generous amount of filler to fix the blemish. Use a pallet knife to spread the filler and let it dry for a while before adding more. The filler shrinks; hence, you need to top up another layer once it dries. After six hours of drying, you can add a coat of dye to seal the crack.
Scratches are also common, and you can use a little amount of dye to cover it up. Ensure you spread the color evenly for it nit to form ugly spots on the surface of your leather seats.
Repairing Tears on Your Leather Car Seat
Tears on your seats are also common, but unlike crack, they are more pronounced and damage the outlook of the car. Abrasion is one of the main courses of leather seat tears, the same to physical impact such as that of a blade. You can repair a small tear the same way you fix a crack.
Professional maintenance specialists can also sew the crevice using a needle if you leave the issue with a leather car seat repair shop. If you are handling the seat repair on your own, you will need to bring the leather repair kit.
On how to repair large tear in the leather car seats, you will start by cleaning the seat, putting much emphasis on the torn region, to get rid of dirt. Warm water and mild soap will do well when it comes to cleaning. Your repair lit needs to include items such as a matching leather dye, strips of matching leather pieces, leather glue, leather needle, and a thread.
Once you have the area cleaned, cut the protruding threads using a pair of scissors or a blade. Then sand the edges of the tear using an abrasive stone or a rasp file if you have one. Take the larger leather strip and fix it inside the gaping hole, so that it is covered.
Apply some leather glue to attach it properly and let it dry for like half an hour. Apply more glue on the edge of the crack and attach another strip to cover the break entirely. The covering leather strip also needs some sanding on its borders for a proper fit.
Maintaining the Patchwork
After gluing the patches together, you need to let it dry. Close the car window to prevent the entry of dirt or other material such as moisture, which can interfere with the repairs. The leather glue may be too strong to the smell, so you can neutralize it using some leather air freshener.
If the tear is extensive, you will need to bring your sewing game to patch it up with needle and thread. The thread should be of the same color as the leather seat or resembling the upholstery stitching.
Replacement Of The Entire Section Of The Seat
Another way on how to repair car seat upholstery is the replacement of the entire section of the seat. Most leather seats have partitions, and you can cut through this partition to get rid of the damaged part. It is a recommendable method in case of extensive seat damage such as burns or wide cracks and tears.
A garage is the best place to look for this service as it is best handled by a professional. If you want to repair it yourself, you need a repair kit containing tools such as leather cream, leather needle and thread, an abrasive tool, and a blade or scissors, among others.
Using the blade, you undo the patchwork of the seat by cutting through its thread. Your remove the torn patch and bring a replacement, which needs to be of the exact type as the leather seat. Use some cream on the edges to soften leather, then apply some glue along the edges.
Sew along the edges to fix the new leather section. Be careful not to pierce your finger while at it. When done, apply some cream to the seat to make it sturdier.
Maintenance Of Your Leather Car Seats
The repair of leather car seats is very costly, and you will have to dig deeper into your pockets to have the seats in pristine shape. To curb such expenses, the best way to go is to follow a strict maintenance regime.
The following are some of the maintenance practices that you can follow to preserve your leather car seats.
- Cleaning with warm water and mild soap. Strong detergents may corrode the leather and fasten its wear process. You can also use a leather cleaner.
- Apply leather cream to the surface regularly to prevent cracks and tears.
- Avoid direct sunlight exposure. The harmful rays may also quicken the wear process.
- Use car seat covers to prevent dirt and moisture on your seats, especially when not in use.
- Occasionally apply some leather paint to regain the color of your seats. However, do not overdo the paint job as it may interfere with the look of your seats.
Leather cream is one repair kit you should always stock. The best leather repair cream is the perfect arsenal when looking at how to restore dry leather seats.
Repairing a Leather Car Seat YouTube Video:
Final Word
Leather car seats are excellent options for seat upholstery, majoring in the comfort, durability, and classiness elements. They serve you for long with no visible signs of wear; however, when you spot a blemish, you need to act fast before it becomes severe.
This article looks at some of the various ways to deal with blemishes such as tears and cracks and also how to maintain the seats. The leather car seat repair kit Autozone is one hub to get the necessary materials to keep your seats and ensure they sport the best shape at all times.