Your leather seats are now looking like Greyscale in Game of Thrones. You’re in the right place, madame or fine meister. We can help you get leather seats looking like baby skin with a little guidance.
Even though automotive leather has been factory tanned with chemical agents and is resistant to damage, it can still become damaged. Your interior’s beauty and value can be affected by heat, direct sunlight, excessive drying, wetting, beverage spills, and accidental food.
It’s a great weekend project to restore your leather seats. The Drive’s crack Help-To Team is available to assist you in restoring your leather seat. Let’s moisturise!
Basics
Time Estimated Two hours to one hour
Skill Level : Intermediate
Vehicle System : Interior
Safety
It can be very messy to work on your car. It can also be dangerous. These are the steps you need to keep your skin, jeans, and shirt spotless.
- To repel chemicals and irritants from the seat cushions, use nitrile gloves
- Protect your arms with a long-sleeve shirt
- Safety glasses
- Ventilator (optional).
It will save you precious time waiting for your four-legged friend or handy child to get the sandpaper or blowtorch. This job doesn’t require a blowtorch.
A flat space, such as a garage floor or driveway, is also necessary. We are not responsible for any violations of street codes.
Everything you’ll need
We are not psychic.
Tool List
- A few buckets
- Vacuum
- Hairdryer
- Sponges
- Microfiber towels
- Screwdriver
- Set of socket wrenches
- Scrub brush
Parts List
- Leather Conditioner and Cleaner
- Recoloring leather
- Cleaners for the Car Interior
Here are some ways to restore leather seats
Leather Seats: Reconditioning
- Take out the floor mats.
- Use soap and water to scrub your brush.
- Cleanse the floor mats.
- To dry, place floor mats on a separate surface.
- Use the socket wrench to remove the car-seat base and floor.
- Detach any connectors that have electrical components (e.g. power-seat controls)
- Take the seats out and place them on a bench or work surface.
- Vacuum your car to remove any pockets lint, cookie crumbs leftovers, or other debris that might be trapped between the seats and padding.
- To ensure that there is no debris in the seat crevices, vacuum them.
- Use a microfiber towel to wipe the seats clean and dry them.
- To test, apply a small amount to a microfiber towel. Continue if it doesn’t adversely affect the leather surface.
- Toner is often included in leather reconditioners to match your seats. If you are unhappy with the test section, it can be used to replace it.
- After you are satisfied with the color and tone, add more reconditioner and rub it on the seats.
- Use water to dilute the reconditioner to a 7 to 3 product-to-water ratio. Apply to crevices or creases.
- After you have applied the reconditioner to all surfaces of the seats, allow them to dry outdoors.
- Follow these steps to recolor the color if you are unhappy with it.
- Reattach the seat bases to your seat frames if you are happy with the color.
- Congratulations, you’re done!
Recolor Your Leather Seats
- After the seats are dry from the reconditioner, use a microfiber towel or sponge to apply a little leather recoloring agent.
- To test the color, apply the leather to an inconspicuous area.
- Apply the final color to the leather surfaces once you are satisfied with it. It might take up to three coats. Each coat should be allowed to dry completely before you apply the next one.
- Once you have achieved the desired color, mix the recoloring agent in water to a ratio of 4:1 and then apply a final coat.
- Before it dries, remove any excess product using a microfiber towel.
- Allow the seats to dry overnight.
- Leather reconditioner can be used to enhance the leather’s shine.
- Let dry.
- Attach the seat base to the seat frame.
- You’re done! Congratulations.
Reupholster Leather Seats
The seats might be too worn out to simply chemically restore. Reupholstering leather seats is the only way to properly restore them. For our guide on how to reupholster leather seats, click the link.
Tips from a Pro
These The Drive’s tips will help you to leather car seat restoration.
- Leather can become more fragile as it ages. If you live in sunny areas, keep your leather out direct sunlight with a sunshade. You can also refresh your leather during summer when direct sunlight and heat are at their worst.
- You can replace leather seats with the How To guide if they are damaged or cracked.
How often do you need to restore leather seats?
Your vehicle’s age and usage may mean that you only have to replace your leather seats once every ten years. You may need to replace your leather seats every few years if you are too harsh on the interior of your vehicle or fail to protect it from sun damage, such as direct sunlight.
Life Hacks
We have compiled a list with hacks for those who don’t have the tools.
- Visit your local pick-and pull junkyard if your leather seats are beyond repair. It’s not uncommon to find clean, well-maintained seats upholstery. With a bit of sweat and a few tools you can save hundreds.
What is the cost to restore leather seats?
Depending on the car and materials used, professional restoration can run from several hundred to thousands of dollars. You can save around $100 by doing your own restoration using off-the-shelf products and some elbow grease.
