Dents, creases and pressure marks in car leather
Download PDFDents, pressure marks, seat creases. Many customers ask us how to get rid of them. The honest answer depends on exactly what they are. This article explains the difference.
Three different problems
Dents and creases in car leather have different causes and different solutions. It is therefore important first to distinguish between them:
Pressure marks are caused by objects stored incorrectly on the leather or by improper placement. The leather is pressed in from the outside without being stretched or permanently deformed.
Wear creases, seat shine and distortions are caused by years of use. The leather creases repeatedly in the same places, the padding gives way and the fibre structure changes permanently.
Pressure marks
can sometimes be remedied
For fresh pressure marks, replenishing oils with our Colourlock Leather Care, combined with gentle warming, can bring improvement. Warm the leather slightly with a hairdryer, carefully roll the area out in the opposite direction between your fingers and immediately cool it flat with a cold object (a cold iron or another cooling element). The shorter the pressure was on the leather, the better the prospects. The fibres will then not yet have settled permanently.
Where pressure marks have existed for a long time, the leather fibres have already stiffened and the prospects of success are low.
Wear creases
cannot be remedied
Creases, ripples and seat shine caused by use cannot be removed. Even where warming and rolling out achieve short-term results, the deformations return after a short period of use. In these places, the fibres in the leather are overstretched outwards and compressed inwards by repeated creasing, much like crumpled paper that cannot be completely smoothed even by ironing.
No product and no trick will solve this problem permanently. To a certain extent, wear creases are part of the patina of an older vehicle. They do not ruin leather; they merely make it look well used.
When can the workshop help?
For pronounced one-sided creases or dents that are visually very distracting, professional reupholstery is the only effective solution. We will be happy to advise you. Submit a workshop enquiry here.
