Caring for Auto and Bike upholsteryProtect your auto leather from auto leather enemy #1; The Sun.

 

Nothing wears down your beautiful, supple leather car seats than the heat and uv rays of the summer sun.  The hotter the area you live, the more real a problem this can be for your leather.  The sunlight fades the color of your leather.  The sunlight and dry heat in your car dries out the fibers of your leather.  The sunlight just makes your upholstery, especially if it’s black, hot and sticky.  So here’s a few tips for limiting the damaging effects of the sun on your leather car seats.

  • Use a sunshade in your windshield.  This is a great way to cut down the heat and direct uv damage of the sun.
  • Tint your windows.  Only to the legal limit of course.
  • Keep the car in the shade in the middle of the day or on especially hot days.  Having a car that’s been "garage kept" doesn’t just apply to the exterior but allows the upolstery to hold up as well.
  • Use leather conditioner more frequently during the hot summer months. Be sure it’s a good one or it will just add to the sticky or slippery feel of the leather.  Click here to see the products we use and recommend, SG-25 and SG-50.  SG-50 is a bit pricey but worth it if you have leather that is starting to stiffen.
  • If your leather is starting to feel stiff treat it with weekly intensive applications of a good conditioner.  This stiffness will lead to cracks, tears and the death of your leather upholstery.
  • If you drive a convertible, put the top up when you park in direct sunlight.  The direct rays of the sun on leather is really damaging over time.

So keep showing off that awesome leather in your car.  Just protect it from the sun so it stays that way.

 

P.S. A lot of this info applies to your leather jacket or bag too.

 

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