How to Restore Dried & Cracked Auto Leather

It may be possible to restore cracked leather seats instead of throwing them away.

Many high-end sports and luxury cars feature leather seats, which many other models offer as a premium option. When cared for, leather seats add tremendous value; but when faded, cracked or dried out, these seats provide an eyesore that detracts from a car’s appearance and monetary value. Real leather seats come from animals, usually cows. As a porous material that absorbs dirt, moisture and grime, leather is bound to crack and dry out over time. Owners who didn’t properly care for their leather seats, or buyers looking to restore a used vehicle, can restore leather to a healthy finish.

Things You'll Need

• Bucket
• Dish soap
• Water
• Microfiber towels
• Cloths or rags
• Sponge
• Leather filler
• 1200-grit sandpaper
• Leather repair compound
• Palette knife
• Leather colorant

Instructions

1. Mix water and a small amount of dish soap in a bucket. Clean the leather seats thoroughly by dipping the microfiber towel in the solution and then gently rubbing away any dirt, grime or grease from the leather seats. Dry the leather with a cloth or rag.

2. Fix thin or hairline cracks with the leather filler. Squirt some leather filler onto the sponge and then apply the leather filler to the crack in the direction of the crack.

3. Push the crack together with your hands and hold it in place. Continue holding it for about a minute to let the leather fibers bind with the filler.

4. Apply a light coat of filler to the surface of the leather in the direction of the crack. Let it sit for 5 minutes, and then rub over the surface of the crack with 1200-grit sandpaper. The sandpaper will scrape away any filler that remains above the surface of the leather.

5. Fix larger cracks or tears with a leather repair compound. Squirt leather repair compound over the surface of the leather seat. Rub it into the seat in a circular motion with the palette knife and let it sit for 30 minutes.

6. Remove excess leather repair compound with the 1200-grit sandpaper. Gently smooth out the refinished seats by rubbing the sandpaper in a circular motion over the surface of the leather.

7. Ensure the consistency of the leather colorant by shaking the bottle vigorously. Squirt some of the colorant onto a sponge and then apply it to the leather by rubbing it into the surface. Ensure an even application of the color by rubbing the colorant into the whole seat, including any creases, the space in between the seat and the center console and the places where the leather curves under the seats toward the floor.

8. Remove away any foam with a clean rag or clean sponge.

Tips & Warnings

• Find the extra swatch of leather that most manufacturers place under the seat of the car like a tag. Take this swatch to a car distributor or auto parts shop so that you can match the color of the leather to the leather colorant.

References

• Drivers Side; How To Save Money On Fixing Car Leather; Alison Lakin
• Furniture Clinic: How To Restore Leather

Resources

• Auto Geek: 3M Leather and Vinyl Repair Kit
• Leather World Technologies: Liquid Leather
• Fitzgerald Restoration: Leather Repair Products