How To Fix Cracks In Leather Car Seats
Cracked leather seats are an all-too-common occurrence for car owners. The constant sun and heat can cause the material to dry out, which in turn may lead to cracks that need repairing. If you avoid taking care of the damaged section, the layer could become torn or rip further, which could turn into a hole and require a patch. This is why it’s worth it to fix cracks in your leather car seats as soon as possible to prevent the condition from getting worse. We’ll cover how to repair the cracks, how to dye them back to their original color, and how often you should use dye to minimize future problems. The problem with this process is that it can be a time-consuming job to repair all of the visible cracks. If a seat has really bad cracks, it could take days to complete.
Can Leather Cracks In Seats Be Fixed?
Yes, but it’s typically not something you can DIY at home as it requires some professional skills and knowledge on how to fix cracks in leather car seats. For these reasons, I would usually recommend finding a reputable auto repair shop in your area to handle the job. However, I stumbled across a product that worked very well and didn’t require much effort to produce a new high-quality appearance on my interior, so I thought I would write this article to share it with you.
My 2010 Volvo C70 is a beautiful and sporty-looking convertible that draws a lot of attention. No, it’s not an exotic supercar, but it’s clean for its age, and I enjoy driving it. However, last year I started to notice a lot of damage on the seats (most was on the driver’s side seat). There weren’t any tears, so I knew it could be easily repaired. This is typical wear and tear caused by parking in direct sunlight or sliding denim jeans across the seat over and over. I was just lucky the original appearance of my interior lasted over 10 years since I drive around with the top down a lot. Here are the before and after pics of my 2010 Volvo C70. As you can see, I dyed it from a dark pepper color to a medium grey which, in my opinion, looks better than the original color from the factory.
How To Repair Leather Car Seats With Cracks
I’ve had many people tell me that spray paint could be used to refinish a leather seat, but I’ll have to disagree. Paint usually turns hard when it’s dry, which is why I prefer dye. Applying dye will produce a finished look that is far superior to paint. There are two ways to fix cracks in leather car seats. One option is the traditional method of removing the seat from your vehicle and using a single or double needle to stitch them back together. The other form of repair is called dying, which can be done more quickly than pulling the seat out and stitching the cracks.
The first step is to soak the leather in a water solution for at least 15 minutes. This will help soften up any dried areas that are contributing to cracking. You’ll also want to use your fingers or an ice cube brush (or something similar) on these areas instead of just letting it soak. This step also involves cleaning the surface. Use a clean microfiber towel or pad and some denatured alcohol to strip and remove contaminants such as oils from your body or dirt, dust, and grime. Be sure you wipe all the edges, so they’re cleaned too. Now completely dry all layers with a towel or rag.
The next step would involve patching or fixing any ripped and cut layers to stop them from eventually turning into larger holes. This may require a sub-patch. Subpatches are the structural foundation of any repair and will keep it from getting worse by strengthening the material around it. This allows you to move freely on the final repaired surfaces without fear that something else might tear due to strain or force! This process will require additional supplies and more steps to complete. Some of the supplies include an iron-on patch and flexible glue made for vinyl, plastic, or fabric so it will stretch under pressure. You’ll also need some scissors, tweezers, and toothpicks. If you have questions about this process, Rub’n Restore has a lot of answers and great instructions for completing the patching process on their website.
Now it’s time to find a color that closely matches your car seat’s original color from the inside of it. Like steps to fix scratches in car paint, it is best if the dye comes in liquid form. Powder dye will also work if you use more than one coat and allow enough time for drying between coats (about 24 hours), but the liquid is much faster.
The last step involves taking a lint-free cloth and rubbing the dye into the cracks. If the cracks are severe or too deep, you’ll need to apply a filler and then use sandpaper to fine-sand the surface before rubbing in the dye.
Best Leather Dye For Car Seats
So the company I found is called Rub’n Restore. I’ve tried several products on the market, and this is by far the best I’ve used. I didn’t even need to use a crack filler first. I ordered the color I wanted and simply applied it to the seats, center console, and door panels. The color on the seats lasted over a year before starting to show cracks again, which is great! Not only that, but I only used half of the bottle they sent me, so I touched up the new blemishes without reordering more products. The person I worked with at Rub’n Restore let me know they had instructions to help me customize colors if I wanted the interior to match the original factory color, but I happen to like the lighter grey.
In closing, I’m not an affiliate of Rub’n Restore, nor do they pay me for this review. I truly believe they have the best product and process I’ve used to repair my leather car seats in a decade. The color is still going strong after more than a year, which is unheard of for other products like this! I’ve recommended their products to several of my friends and even used them to dye my leather couches. Check out their website for great photos and videos.
