5 tips for caring for your car's upholstery

Here are some tips on how to care for the upholstery in your car interior and make it last a long time.

• Don't give up on leather car upholstery even if it is stiff and cracking.
• There are products available to restore damaged leather, including a cleaner that preps the leather for reapplying dye; fillers that cover scratches, tears, and small holes; and dyes for re-colouring the leather.

• Leather cars seats are durable and don't require a lot of maintenance.
• After a few years, however, the seats can become soiled.
• Use a leather cleaner to remove dirt and stains.
• Then apply a leather protectant formulated for pigmented or top-coated grain leather (the leather used for most leather car upholstery).
• Protectants will resist stains and make the upholstery easier to clean in the future.
• Choose a protectant that includes conditioners to keep your leather supple.

• The same upholstery cleaners you use at home can be used on your car's upholstery.
• Use them sparingly, however, to avoid saturating the fabric.
• Use a clean cloth to wipe away the foam.
• On velour seats, brush the fibres gently to avoid matting them and to preserve the original texture of the fabric.

• Spraying fabric car seats and carpets with a fabric protectant will make them resist dirt and stains, and make them easier to clean.
• Thoroughly clean the fabrics before using one of these products and then test the product on an inconspicuous place to be sure the treatment will not discolour the fabric.

• All manner of food bits and liquids can accumulate under a baby seat, where they can permanently stain the upholstery.
• Place a sheet of heavy plastic and an absorbent towel under the seat to prevent damage, and re-secure the seat according to the manufacturer's directions.