Leather Care 101

Your vehicle's leather is just as susceptible to damage as any surface in the interior. Today's modern automotive leathers are in fact synthesized versions of what would be raw natural hide leather.

That being said, certain manufacturers do still offer a genuine leather option, but this costs a pretty penny. The reason for switching to a synthetic blend is that the durability is greatly increased. Natural rawhide, or even coated hide is very susceptible to cracking and colour changes when not looked after properly.

This is why many makers use a more synthesized material that very closely replicates actual leather, but has the strength and durability to last longer and deal with more abuse. So-called "vegan leathers" are making an appearance, especially on Teslas as a sustainable alternative to real hides.

Sometimes made from polyurethane, pineapple leaves, cork, fruit and vegetable byproducts or recycled plastics, they mimic real animal hides with their look and feel, but with a greener footprint. They have faux grains and pores imprinted into the material to simulate the feel or real hide but are less breathable because of this. They also have minimal if not any patina as they age, in comparison to real hide which changes feel and look throughout its life.

With all the new switches to more sustainable leather products, why are people still looking after their leather-like its real hide? We're gonna dive into some facts and showcase how to properly care for your leather, real or faux.

Coated natural hide or rawhide

The real deal, this stuff once mooed and ate grass. So let's treat it like it's still living because it is. Real leather can be brown and raw looking or have a colour coat applied. An example of real rawhide is Ford's King Ranch leather found on that trim level of their trucks. This stuff has no topcoat, just pure natural goodness.

The best way to ensure the longevity of real hide, coloured or not, is to treat it like your own skin. Real leather has pores that allow the stuff to breathe, expand and contract. It also can get UV damage like a sunburn just like you can. And similarly, it must be cleaned to maintain its healthy complexion. So here's the skinny.

• Make sure to keep it clean more often. The natural pores absorb dirt and grime, so using a proper leather safe cleaner with a safe pH regularly will keep the dirt down.
• Be gentle. Real leather is supple and delicate, so always make sure there's no sharp objects around to puncture or tear the stuff. It won't heal like your own skin.
• Keep it moisturized. Real leather needs actual moisturizers to keep is supple and soft, and prevent cracking and large wrinkles. Lanolin based conditioners are great at protecting it and giving it the right amount of vitamin E to keep it healthy and supple.
• Beware of blue jeans. Unwashed or newer indigo dyed blue jeans, or any heavily pigmented fabrics will cause dye transfer to lighter or more delicate leathers. This is more likely to happen when we sweat in the seats, and the dye is more easily rubbed onto the leather. Our tip is to use a sunshade in the summer to not only block out heat and UV light, but it makes your seats cooler when you first get in preventing dye transfer a small bit.
• If you have coated (coloured) hide leather, these tips still apply. Just remember that the colour coat is very thin and can easily be damaged.

Synthetic Leather

Synthetic or vegan leather is the newest form of upholstery and has many advancements over rawhide. It's sustainably sourced in many cases, is greener to produce, and is more durable and available in many more colours, textures and feels. Here are some tips for faux leather:

• Don't use real oil based leather conditioners on faux leather. The pores won't actually absorb it, and it will just sit on top, collecting more dirt and leading to more wear.
• Use a synthetic based top protectant made for synthetic vinyl or leather. This doesn't absorb but rather forms a top layer that shields it from UV damage and abrasion. It also won't change the look or feel of it.
• Clean it regularly. Just as with any leather, synthetic leather still needs cleaning. Use a pH balanced all purpose cleaner or leather specific cleaner to wipe away dirt and grime. Foaming interior cleaners and a horsehair brush is a great technique to get a real deep clean on any type, real or fake. The suds gets down into the grain and pulls up the dirt.
• Vegan leather can still crack, fade and get hard.It's very important to shield the sun if possible with a shade, and keep it protected every few months or as needed.

If you have any questions about how to properly care for your leather interior, just give us a shout, we'd be happy to help.