How to Mend the Leather Upholstery in an Automobile
While having a car with a leather interior is luxurious and often associated with wealth and class, tears or scratches in the interior are associated with just the opposite. However, mending leather upholstery in a vehicle is an easy step to give the inside of your car a quick face lift. It's a wise idea to try to fix the situation yourself as it's a simple procedure that you can do with the help of a leather repair kit. A professional will not only charge you dearly, but you'd have to give up your car for at least a day while they work on it.
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Things You'll Need
- Leather repair kit:
- Color adhesive
- Paper plate
- Plastic knife
- Spatula
- Grain paper
Instructions
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1
Mix the color adhesive on a paper plate with a plastic knife. Make sure the color matches the interior of your car exactly. Unless your leather upholstery is an extremely offbeat color, you should come close to a perfect match.
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2
Dip the spatula in the color adhesive and scrape off a small amount. Dab the spatula directly on the rip, burn mark, scratch or otherwise damaged area so that it is covered completely. If there is a rip, shape the adhesive so that it fills in the middle part of the rip and bonds the adjoining pieces of fabric.
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3
Place the grain paper on top of the damaged area that is now covered in adhesive paint. Press down on it and allow it to set for two minutes or as specified by the directions on the repair kit.
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4
Peel off the grain paper after the designated time and inspect: The damaged area should be completely concealed.
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Tips & Warnings
Prevent wear and tear on your leather seats by cleaning and conditioning the seats once every three months or so. Clean the seat with warm water, a gentle soap and a soft cloth. Alternatively you can use a cleanser specifically made for leather seats. After washing, rub the seats dry and apply a petroleum-based conditioner specifically for leather upholstery. Follow the directions.
