Leather is a luxurious and robust fabric. It is no wonder that it is the preferred finish for many car owners. Leather seats are comfortable to sit on, have a lovely glossy finish, and are easy to clean.
Despite leather being a durable fabric, it is prone to damage over time. There are many ways how leather may be damaged, but the bottom line is that you need reliable car leather repair services when this happens. Your car leather can be made as good as new with proper repair.
Without further ado, here is a look at the causes of car leather damage.
Dry and faded Leather
Sun Damage
Leather contains natural oils that are sensitive to heat. Leaving your car parked in the sun for long will cause the leather to dry and become tough. Over time, exposure to the sun will cause the seats to fade and lose their original color.
To prevent sun damage on your leather, try the following measures:
- Always try to park under a shade
- Have tinted windows
- Use a windshield protector if you have to park in direct sunlight
Air Conditioning
Your air conditioner may make the car nice and warm, but your leather seats are not good at taking the heat. Excessive heat makes the leather dry and may even cause them to crack.
It would help if you only switched the AC on when needed. Avoid excessive use to maintain your leather seats in top-notch condition.
Cracked or Torn Leather
Poor Leather Quality
Poor quality leather tends to get cracks and tears with just a little use. It would be best if you always strived to have the best leather fitted on your car seats, but this is not always what happens. If your car seats have started showing signs of cracking after a short while, what you have fitted is likely low-quality leather.
Natural leather will last a long time, but alternatives like faux leather will experience tears more frequently.
Normal Wear and Tear
Leather is long-lasting, but this does not mean that it will last forever. Over time, your leather car seats will experience wear and tear. This is a normal process for any kind of fabric. The only difference is that tears and cracks on leather will only appear much later.
To demonstrate quality, some leather car interiors come with a warranty. If your leather cracks while under warranty, the manufacturer might take care of the repairs. If it is long after the warranty expired, talk to a leather repair expert near you to get the tears sorted out.
Debris like food particles, dirt, and sand may get trapped into your leather seats. These will rub against the delicate leather and cause scratches. Over time, these scratches grow and become tears or cracks. To avoid this, vacuum the car often to remove this debris.
Discoloration
Body Oils
As we spend many hours in the car, our body oils, and sweat fall on the seats. Along with these body oils, salts, and other products released from the body land on leather. The leather, in turn, becomes dirty and discolored. It may also dry up and be prone to cracking.
Regular cleaning is necessary to remove these body oils from seats.
Using Harsh Cleaning Products
Car leather seats need to be cleaned properly. Proper cleaning must involve using the right cleaning products. Using harsh chemicals will cause more harm than good. They will cause the leather to discolor and weaken it making it prone to tears.
Alkaline chemicals must never be used to clean leather. These remove the essential oils in leather, causing it to dry.
The water used to clean your car seats should not be too hot. Treat leather like a baby that needs pampering. Only use warm water and acceptable cleaning detergents. After this, apply good quality polish to give the leather its usual gloss and luster.
For best results in cleaning car leather seats, use professional cleaning services. This will keep you from making mistakes in choosing the right cleaning products.
Drinks and Other Spills
Any spills on your leather car seats should be cleaned off immediately. Letting the spillage stay may cause it to affect the fabric’s color permanently.
Colored liquids should be kept on the designated cup holders rather than on seats. If spills do occur, they should be cleaned immediately using appropriate cleaning products.
Whether it is a drip from your favorite burger, a child’s juice box tipped over, or that can of soda you carelessly left on the seat, proper spill cleaning must be done.
In Conclusion
There are many causes of car leather damage. While some are preventable, others are not. You need to be ready to take appropriate action when you notice any signs of wear.
Call on the leather medic who will restore the glory of your car’s interior. Whether you are dealing with discolored seats, torn or cracked leather, the leather medic will repair it.