The Best Leather Conditioner for your Car Seats
Car Seat Leather
When leather is manufactured it is soft and has protections in it that prevent it from dirtying easily. As it ages, these protections fade, and with them the look of the leather. It becomes more susceptible to dirt, grime, and sun damage and without attention becomes more and more difficult to restore.
All it takes is a good cleaning and conditioning every once and awhile to maintain the beauty of your leather. The first step is a thorough cleaning, especially if you haven’t done so for awhile. You’ll want to find a cleaner specifically for leather and make sure to scrub in the cracks so that the cleaner can sink into every pore of the seat.
The next step is the conditioning. Conditioners seep deep into the leather as well, allowing it to gain its resiliency and suppleness once again. The problem is–which conditioner to buy?
Well, you want something that’s pure without petroleum solvents, silicone oils or gloss agents. These all damage the leather eventually. Many cheap chemical conditioners have these products so be careful.
Contents
Leather is like skin. To stay soft and supple it needs to be moisturized–and that is the job of a good leather conditioner. You will find that the best leather conditioner for car seats will not cost you an arm and a leg, and will certainly cost less than trying to restore your seats after they have been badly damaged.
Leather tends to age more quickly in warm weather, so the amount you need will depend on where you live. Let’s take a look at the top rated option on the market right now.
Top Leather Conditioner for Just Everything (Including Car Seats)
Leather Honey is the BEST!
Leather Honey has been made in the U.S. since 1968 by a small family company. Clear and the consistency of honey (duh), it is non-toxic, non-solvent, has no silicone or odor and is not sticky.
Many leather conditioners use a ton of chemicals that have a horrible smell. Imagine being trapped in the car with that toxic smell!
The conditioner does exactly what it is supposed to: it seeps into the pores of the material and rejuvenates it. Its formula has water repellent properties that are great for car seats, which receive lots of wear and tear.
The best part of this conditioner is that you don’t have to use that much of the product for success. You can use it for just about anything as well–motorcycle gear, leather couches, clothing, and much more.
Do You Need It?
Leather car seats are attractive and if you are going to go the distance buying expensive upholstery, you really need to keep it in great shape. People associate leather seat covers with elegance and style. Typical vehicles can turn heads with beautiful leather interiors or even just seat covers.
Seat covers are custom made for the exact year, model of the car and colors that fit the vehicle. Leathers are expensive compared to vinyl or cloth but the price is worth it.
Leathers lasts for decades once handled with care to keep it intact and good looking. Wanting to have leather car seats will cost you a big deal. It is important to condition the leather because if not well maintained will go through irreversible damage such as fading, crack and brittle surfaces.
Advantages of Conditioning
Conditioning help avoid leathers from drying out. Chemicals are formulated to give moisture to the material. It provides a physical wall to prevent surface abrasion and soiling. Also, it adds gloss to improve the appearance and beauty of the leather. Leather is usually finished with coatings that protect the surface from heat. The best conditioner maintains these leather characteristics and ensures its long term durability.
Conditioning leathers include four processes. It is up to you if you’ll follow all of the steps or just prefer one to maintain the leather’s quality for prolong use.
Clean
Before you condition the leather, first choose the best cleaner that will help maintain the natural oils instead of stripping them. The recommended cleaner should not leave any residue behind. Residues make leather prone to microorganisms that break down the item stitching. Before you apply something on your leather, make sure to test its effects in color. Once you are convinced with the product’s effectiveness, it is the time to apply it using a cloth. For stitched areas, use brushes to clean.
Condition
Conditioners are meant for infrequent use. They contain oils that lubricate leather and enhance the flexibility. Find a product that will absorb into the fibers, but be careful of those with mineral oils and petroleum. Long term use of petroleum can damage the leather.
Polish
After applying conditioner, polishing is made for infrequent time when you opt for a glossy finish on your leather. There are several things to consider when buying a polishing product. Some agents contain coloring substances that will fade things they come in contact with. There are also other agents that clog the leather pores. Be sure to test first the product on a small area and if the result is good, rub to shine.
Barrier
Moisture protection is important in preventing liquid hazards from destroying the leather. Spouting and stiffness happen if the material is not well protected. However, there is a downside in moisture barriers, they tend to pack the pores with grease that makes conditioning hard to do. If you have time, apply moisture barrier and provide time to absorb and dry before using your leather again.
So there you have it, the best leather conditioner for car seats and any other leather articles that are in your car. Yes, it’s only one product, but honestly none of the others can compete with Leather Honey. It really is that good!
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