In this article we are going to discuss about leather. How it is made, How to preserve it.
Where did leather come from?
Leather making is an old practice and art that has been around more than 7 thousands of years. fresh skins were dried in the sun, people used salt to preserve the leather they produced. around 400 BC, Egyptians and Hebrews used vegetable tannings process on leather. Later on, Arabs preserved and improved the this art. In 15th century, Leather production and tanning get widespread across the Europe. Later, by the end of 19th century, Machines were involved in this process. They used them in operation such as dehairing, fleshing and splitting, Furthermore , chemical tanning which included Oak, Sumac and Hemlock was introduced too.
In the video below we can have a look at how leather i s produced. :
pros and cons of leather car seats:
Having leather car seats can be great but there are challenges that you should be aware of:
these are the pros of leather car seat:
looks fancy: Leather products are fancy. they look great and neat when you purchase them.
more comfort: leather car seats are way more comfortable than the cloth seats.
easier to clean and maintain : leather car seats do not absorb drinks and food stains the way that cloth seats do
Durability : leather seats are far superior in terms of durability.
Great smell : No one can deny the amazing smell of leather seats.
now the cons are:
Require more maintenance: In order to have your leather sharp and fresh, you need to clean it once every two months.
Higher cost for maintenance: products that are need for leather maintenance can be more costly compared to cloth seats. However: if there is a spillage of drinks, it will cost you more to clean the cloth. But for general maintenance, you need leather conditioner whereas you need a vacuum to clean a cloth seat.
Very high temperatures in summers: In the Summer, those fancy leather seats will get so hot that might cause burns on your skins. Or they can get sticky, In addition to the leather conditioners, you need to cover your car or keep it away from the sun.
Leather car seats have higher monthly payments: Usually leather car seats are features added to the car. Leather seats can increase the price from 2000 CAD to 5000 CAD.
3 things You should be aware of if you have a car with leather seats.
Do not drag your ass, on the leather when you are getting in our out of the car. You might not know it but your ass can damage your leather seats. You want to place yourself first, then your right leg on the brake then you bring the other leg. do not drag your ass on the leather seats.
Do not bypass the cleaning phase, conditioning is important but so cleaning. Do not get fixated on conditioners. use cleaners to clean the leather. if you only use conditioner it will build up layers of grease and dust and it will damage you car seats.
Leathers are covered with synthetic coating. most people do not know, But car leathers are coated with synthetic coating. It is not a natural material. This is good news. you do not need special products to do. You can use your favorite all purpose cleaner diluted by 1-5 or 1-10.
What you need to clean your leather.
Vacuum
All purpose cleaner Diluted by 1-5 to 1-10
Detail brush
Micro-fiber towels
non abrasive scrub pad.
Nylon Brush - you can use a soft bristle brush if you already have one.
How to clean your leather in your car
1-Vacuum first : Vacuum is the king. it makes the biggest difference. It will get all the dust and dry loose debris. you should vacuum all over. despite the fact that leather is considered a non-fiber material, you should vacuum it thoroughly. you need to open the cracks and vacuum nooks and crannies you can use a detailing brush to get the dirts out of the cracks. Avoid pressure specially with the pointy tip of the vacuum.
2-Wear Gloves: You don't to scratch the leather with your nails.
3- Spray diluted liquid on the scrub pad. and start scrubbing the leather you want to clean. then dry with a microfiber towel. Small applications are better rather than big bold applications. Do not pour or spray lots of liquid on the seats to do them all at once. It is called detailing. you can't go through details if you want to do everything all at once.
4- Use a conditioner ( coating ) of your choice. if you have a favorite brand go for it. I use chemical guys leather conditioner.
How often should you use conditioner :
Remember, using only leather conditioner is not good. The surface must be clean. you don't want to layer up all the dust and debris just by using conditioner. For optimal result, clean your seats and apply conditioner once every two months. however, if you use your car for multiple purposes, or your job involves dusty workplace, you might want to clean your interior often.
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