Many people believe that leather seats in a car are much more practical than textile ones. This is usually due to the slow absorption of contaminants – accidentally spilled soda can be quickly wiped up with a paper towel without consequences. In the short term, this is true, but in the long term, the situation is the opposite. The fact is that for textile seats, after a while, you can carry out a simple dry cleaning, which will return them to almost their original appearance. The leather elements of the interior, without reverent care, shrink, scratch and overwrite, they begin to creak and no longer please. Reviving them is extremely difficult.
Important to remember: leather interior elements are much easier to maintain in good condition – clean and nourish with moisturizers (not based on petroleum products). Otherwise, after a while they will have to be altered with new skin, which is long and expensive – and all this is unlikely to reach the original in terms of quality.
Leather interior should be cleaned regularly, following the rules
It is important not to confuse genuine leather with a substitute, even if it is of the highest quality. The first is usually much more pleasant in terms of tactile sensations, but inferior to the second in practicality. Artificial material absorbs dirt of any kind much less, as well as a variety of unpleasant odors. You can’t handle it so carefully.
Rule number 1. Sand and dust have to be blown out regularly
Any elements of the car interior trimmed with genuine leather do not like small solid particles. This is especially true for seats that are in regular contact with passengers. Sand and dust in this case act as an abrasive material that ruthlessly rubs the skin – especially the seams and protruding elements. Dust in the car interior appears naturally – it, among other things, consists of keratinized particles of human skin that remain from passengers. Sand on the seats usually appears after children, as well as pets that climb on them, let’s say, “with their feet.”
Trying to get rid of such dirt with a dry cloth is not the best idea. Together with sand and dust, it will turn into something like sandpaper, which will ruthlessly scratch natural leather. It is better to use compressed air and a car vacuum cleaner. With the help of the first, solid particles are blown out even from the most inaccessible places, while the second will draw them into itself. At the same time, it makes little sense to purchase these products for personal use – it is much easier to use them at self-service car washes or entrust this process to professional industry workers. Repeat this process as needed.
Rule number 2. Wash with soapy water once a month
If we consider only interior elements made of genuine leather, black ones will be the most practical. They absorb a wide variety of contaminants in the same way, but the darkest color hides their presence. That is why accidentally spilled sweet soda is unlikely to leave noticeable marks on a dark leather surface, but will be visible on a gray, milky or any other light one. That is why it is the newly minted owners of cars with a classic black interior design that are usually mistaken about the practicality of such material in the cabin. Everyone else immediately understands the need to care for natural surfaces.
Approximately once a month or two or three, it is advisable to clean the leather interior elements from dirt using the most primitive solution that can be diluted at home. Just add liquid soap to the water and mix well. Seats and other parts should be washed with this solution, paying special attention to places where there is obvious dirt. After that, the residues of the cleaning agent must be removed with clean water. It is not worth it to abuse this cleaning method. Plus, at the final stage, it is important to apply moisturizers to avoid drying out the skin.
Rule number 3. Skin needs hydration after washing.
Like any other leather product, interior elements trimmed with natural material need regular care. The main thing they need is hydration. The fact is that the average car spends a lot of time on the street, regardless of weather conditions. Heat is especially critical for leather interior trim, which contributes to the systematic drying of natural material. It begins to lose flexibility and other natural properties, becoming more prone to wear. Moreover, it also shrinks at the same time, which leads to the exposure of foam rubber on the edges of the same rear sofa, as well as other details.
In order for the skin not to dry out, it needs to be moisturized regularly. This is especially important after washing the seats with soapy water, which can further remove moisture from genuine leather. To care for the interior of a car, it is important to use products that are specially designed for this – household chemicals are usually not suitable. Moisturizers are often presented in the form of foam aerosols. They need to be applied to the material, spread over the entire surface with a brush, which is usually included in the sale of the product, wait a couple of minutes, and then remove the residue with microfiber. The result will be noticeable immediately.
Curious observation: a clear sign of dry skin on the seats is a characteristic creak when boarding and disembarking passengers, as well as when the car is moving on a surface that is not the most even. At the same time, the back of the seat rubs against its back, creating an unpleasant sound. After moisturizing, all this usually passes.
Many people make mistakes when handling leather upholstery.
In order for the leather interior to remain in its original state and please as long as possible, it is important to avoid several gross mistakes during its daily operation. They will significantly reduce the time until the natural material is like new. There is nothing difficult in avoiding them.
Firstly, for cleaning the leather interior, it is critically impossible to use alcohol-containing products, as well as any other moisturizing chemicals based on petroleum products. On the one hand, such liquids remove the upper protective layer of the material. On the other hand, they dry out the skin and even corrode it.
Secondly, even the highest quality leather is very sensitive to mechanical damage. Natural materials must be handled with the utmost care. Even studs on jeans can cause nasty damage to seats that can be very difficult to fix.
ThirdlyThe skin does not like high temperatures. Therefore, it is better not to leave a car with an abundance of natural materials in the cabin in the heat. If there is no other option, it is important to cover the windshield, which acts as a magnifying glass, with a special reflective screen or at least a light cloth.
Fourth, it is important to understand that genuine leather has a negative attitude not only to pollution. It also absorbs odors quite strongly. That is why it is strongly not recommended to smoke inside a car with a leather interior. It will be very difficult to remove the “aroma” of smoke with nicotine.
In the end, when a car has a leather interior, it is certainly great. It has an extremely pleasant tactile and visual experience. In order for them to remain so for a long time, proper care is important. Providing it to your vehicle is not so difficult. The important thing is to spend a little time.
Source: Trash Box
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
