How to Repair a Leather Car Seat
Updated: Feb. 23, 2021
Leather car seat repair might seem like a job for the pros, but don’t discount the DIY options at your disposal. Here’s how to use budget-friendly repair kits to fix small tears in leather or vinyl car seats before they get big and ugly.
DIY Leather Car Seat Repair: Step-by-Step Instructions
If you walk around with tools in your pockets, don’t be surprised if you tear a hole in your leather car seat, sofa or easy chair. If a perfect repair is important, call a pro to fix it (about $150). But if you just want to prevent further tearing, you can fix it yourself with a leather/vinyl repair kit. The kit is inexpensive, and the repair takes only an hour. (Here are 100 more car repair tasks you can do on your own.) But don’t expect perfection. You’ll still see the tear, and you probably won’t get a perfect colour match. However, this fix will contain the tear and look better than a gaping hole.
Read on for DIY car maintenance tips on how to repair a tear in your leather seat.
Step 1: Purcahse a Leather Repair Kit
Buy a leather repair kit at any hardware store, home centre or auto parts store. Follow the cleaning instructions in the kit and trim the damaged area to remove any frayed edges. Then cut the backing fabric so it extends under the tear by at least 1/2-inch. Glue it in place and let it dry for the recommended time.
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Step 2: Cure the Leather Repair Patch With Heat
Then mix the heat-set coloured filler. This is the hardest and most frustrating part of the car seat repair. But take your time and get as close to the colour as you can. Apply just enough colourant to fill in the tear. Then cover it with the textured mat and apply heat.
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Step 3: Check Results
Touch the heating tool (included with the leather repair kit) to the face of a hot clothes iron. Then press the hot tool onto the textured mat and hold it in place. Let it cool and remove the mat. The patch won’t be perfect. But it sure beats the look of a tear or burn. Next, find out how to fix cigarette burns in your car.
