No one likes to see their leather fade, crack or stretch, yet this is an extremely common problem. As most people are aware, good leather care involves a regular routine of cleaning and conditioning. Cleaning your leather helps remove contaminates that become embedded in the leather and clog the leather’s pores. Conditioning helps replace proteins and other natural properties that can fade over time due to normal usage, UV rays, etc. These basic steps are essential elements to good leather care but there are other ways to care for your leather that are just as important.

The driver’s side bolster, or the part of the driver’s seat closest to where the driver enters and exits the vehicle, often shows the most wear and tear. This area is prone to stretching and cracking due in large part to the method by which the driver enters and exits the vehicle. Often times while entering the vehicle you will sit down on the edge closest to the door and slide into the middle of the seat. While this method is natural to most people, there are two basic problems with this technique. Most seats are slightly concave with the lowest point being in the middle of seat. Therefore when you sit on the edge you force the leather to flatten, which stretches and flexes the leather, especially on the outer edge. If you repeatedly stretch and flex the leather you may prematurely start to add permanent creases, cracks and stretch marks to the leather. The second problem is when you slide and twist your body to move from the outer edge to the middle of the seat. Your body’s downward force will generate plenty of friction to start to slowly wear away the top layer of your leather. This can lead to your leather looking worn and faded and this damage is generally permanent. These same exact problems happen in reverse when you’re exiting the vehicle. Most people twist and slide their body towards the outer edge of the seat and then exit the vehicle. To help prevent these kinds of problems try and reduce how much you slide and twist in your seat. Instead lift straight up and down when entering and exiting the vehicle. This simple step can be a tremendous help towards preserving your leather.

One step that should be apart of everybody’s routine is protecting your leather. Ultra Violet rays from the sun can dry out and fade your leather. Heat helps opens the pores of your leather, which allows proteins and other nourishing elements to evaporate more readily. Without these properties leather becomes less flexible which can lead to fading, cracking and stretch marks. After you have cleaned and conditioned your leather you can protect your leather with a product like the 303 Aerospace Protectant. Lightly mist the protectant on a microfiber towel outside of your vehicle, to avoid overspray, and wipe down the seats. Make sure you regularly protect areas that have prolonged exposure to the sun. A good protectant will also make it easier to remove contaminates and oils during future cleanings.

Here are some other areas of concern that you should be aware of to help care for your leather. Be careful that your seatbelt does not regularly rub against the leather. Always use safety first, but adjust the belt accordingly if it’s potentially damaging the leather. Be careful of what you and others wear in your vehicle. Some articles of clothing and jewelry can be sharp or blunt like buttons, rivets, and zippers that can potentially scratch or otherwise harm your leather. Human oils, lotions, make-up and contaminates that are commonly found on the human skin can prematurely dry leather. Avoid touching your leather excessively and wipe down any areas that regularly come in contact with human skin.

Try and observe any other habits you may have that may be harmful to your leather, and see what you can do to minimize them. Follow the tips listed above and regularly clean and condition your leather and you’ll have leather that always looks great.