It's time to give some TLC to your vehicle's vinyl or leather upholstery and trim to bring it back to like new condition. Care and refurbishment of leather and vinyl are two very different processes requiring separate techniques and products. You might have do some research to find out which materials are used and where since they are sometimes mixed. Use leather products on leather since products for vinyl can be quite harsh and may not provide any benefit for leather.
Vinyl protectants protect against UV rays, provide essential oils, and are anti-static to keep dust off. Avoid raw silicone oil-based products which can make the surface sticky and have high electrostatic attraction attracting dust. Vinyl protectants should be applied with a soft cloth and worked into the surface. Allow a few moments for the protectant to pentrate into the surface before buffing off the excess.
Leather has tiny pores which can absorb perspiration. As moisture evaporates, salts in perspiration absorb the leather's essential oils. Salt and dirt should be cleaned from the leather about twice a year. Do it more often if the seats are frequently occupied by sweaty people. Oil loss leads to hardening, cracking and shrinkage of leather.
Leather can be cleaned using mild soap and water, or leather cleaners. Leather cleaners hydrate the accumulated salts and grime before washing them away from the leather fibers. Cleaners should be thoroughly rinsed from the leather using a damp cloth and repeated wiping. After cleaning, a leather conditioner should be used to restore lost oils and emollients. Avoid raw silicone oil-based products which can dissolve leather's natural oils, make the leather sticky and electrostatically attract dust.
Apply the conditioner with a soft cloth working it into the leather. Allow the fibers to absorb the conditioner before buffing off the residue. Condition leather as often you want since leather will let you know you are applying too much or too often by not absorbing the excess amount.
Scuffmarks, scratches or areas with surface color removed can be refinished for both leather or vinyl. Use a product designed for this task and matched to the exact color. Do not just spot finish an area, do the entire seat, dash or door panel to preclude a shabby look. First clean the area to be refinished using a suitable organic solvent. Before using, test solvent on an area that does not show. Spray solvent on a soft, lint free cloth, then wipe down the surface. Repeat after a few minutes. Rinse several times with a damp cloth and allow to dry for at least 24 hours. Then you are ready to use the colorant and finish product carefully following the instructions.
Small cuts, cracks or holes may be filled with a semi-flexible cosmetic filling material applied like a spackling compound. While small damage and cracks can be repaired so they are not visible to the casual observer, large cracks will only look less obvious. Forcing the material under the repaired area to forming a T patch works best. Once the patch is dry, sand lightly to blend in with the leather or vinyl Clean the area thoroughly and refinish with a colorant. Practice on a test piece
If leather has hardened and needs intensive softening, use a leather softener. Made from both natural and synthetic oils they can return the natural softness. Clean the leather before applying a liberal coat of the softener. Then allow it to penetrate the leather for 24 hours before wiping off the excess. Repeat as needed. If leather is really deteriorated, leave on for several days. Cover the seat with a piece of plastic sheeting since a cloth will absorb the conditioner if you have to drive the vehicle. Once the leather is sufficiently soft allow to cure for another 24 hours and then buff off any excess.
