How to take care of your leather interior
Your essential guide to keeping your car's leather upholstery looking very fresh and very demureLike death and taxes, another not-so-fun reality of life is that we age and with growing older comes a whole host of unwanted side effects, from stiff joints, increased grunting when shifting from sitting to standing, and changes in our skin; to list a few.
Same goes for the leather upholstery in our cars. Well maybe not the stiff joints and grunting but changes in ‘skin’ (or leather), which too, can show signs of ageing.
The good news is that with the right products and care, the cracks, fading and drying-out synonymous with ageing leather can be reduced.
What causes signs of leather ageing or damage?
Chris Jager, head of Finder Shopping says that one of the main risks to a car’s leather in Australia is also one of Australia’s best assets - the weather.
“Prolonged exposure to sunlight can cause leather to fade, dry out, and crack. In Australia, this is a real risk, particularly in summer.”
But it’s not just the UV rays that can cause issues: “Using harsh chemicals can also damage the leather’s surface, leading to discolouration or even peeling,” says Jager.
Prevention is key
Prevention is the best medicine when it comes to leather care for your car’s interior, according to Jager.
This includes taking steps to ensure our vehicle stays out of direct sunlight where possible; for example, when at home parking it inside a garage or under a carport.
It can also be helpful to open your car’s windows when you aren’t inside the car during warmer months to try and assist with regulating the cabin’s temperature and preventing it from getting too hot which can cause leather to dry out.
Additionally, while arguably defeating the purpose of having leather seats - but will almost certainly help maintain your car's re-sale value - using seat covers can help reduce wear and tear to the leather and be easily removed to clean and wash.
Regular maintenance
“To keep your leather interiors looking their best, regular maintenance is key,” says Jager and like car interiors of any material, this includes cleaning by using a vacuum to suck up any dirt, crumbs, or loose soil from your car seats.
The next step is to use a leather cleaner or conditioner.
Leather cleaners are specially formulated products designed to effectively and safely clean leather surfaces, says the team at Finder.
“These cleaners are typically composed of detergents, surfactants, and conditioning agents that penetrate deeply into the leather's pores to remove dirt, oil, and other contaminants from the surface.”
The cleaning process:
- Spray an even coat of the product over the leather area (for more persistent stains you may need more than one coat - continue to repeat the process until the stain is gone)
- Using cotton or microfibre towels rather than paper towels which may scratch the leather, carefully scrub any debris, oil, and dirt away with soft circular motions
- Buff the surfaces using the clean side of your microfibre towel until you’ve created a glossy sheen. This will allow the product to soak into the leather and add further protection
What products do I use?
By looking at leather cleaners based on key product features and actual customer reviews and ratings on Amazon, Finder shortlisted the best products to use, recommending the following:
- Best overall leather cleaner: Saphir Renovateur
- Best all-purpose leather cleaner: Chemical Guys Sprayable Leather Cleaner and Conditioner in One
- Best premium leather cleaner: Leather CPR Cleaner & Conditioner
- Best leather cleaner for clothing: Bickmore Leather Conditioner and Cleaner
- Best leather cleaner for car upholstery: Weiman Leather Cleaner & Conditioner
- Best leather cleaner for furniture: Guardsman Renew & Protect for Leather
- Best leather cleaner for shoes: Leather Honey
Repairing leather damage
But what if the damage is already done?
“Repairing leather damage in a car interior can be a complicated process, but it’s definitely doable with the right tools and steps,” says Jager.
“Before doing anything, assess the affected areas. If the damage is extensive and severe, you might need to stump for a professional repair service for a complete restitching."
To repair minor cracks, Jager recommends following the steps below:
- For minor cracks, start by thoroughly cleaning the damaged area with a pH-balanced leather cleaner to remove any dirt and oils. In addition to replacing lost moisture, this can help protect against UV rays and ageing in the future.
- Next up, gently rub the affected area with a sheet of wet, 600-grit sandpaper to smooth out any cracks. Needless to say, you need to be extremely careful here to avoid inflicting further damage.
- Now comes the tricky part - you need to carefully fill in the cracks one at a time using a premium-grade leather filler. For a smooth and seamless finish, try to apply the bare minimum required. You can lightly sand the surface multiple times during the filling process.
- Once the filler has dried, you may wish to re-dye the leather with a re-colour kit to achieve a uniform shade. (You can purchase these online for between $50 and $200). Simply apply the dye evenly and let it dry.
- Finally, apply a leather conditioner to the entire seat. This will restore moisture and suppleness and should prevent future cracking.”
- If you’re not confident about sanding leather and applying filler, there are plenty of beginner-friendly tutorials on YouTube that will walk you through the process.
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