Treating brittle and rough car leather

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Older leather sometimes develops areas that have become rough or brittle, a different problem from an individual tear and requiring a different solution from Leather Fresh or Fluid Leather (liquid leather). This article shows when “Binder Neutral” is the right choice and when it is not.

What is the problem?

On older, surface-dyed smooth leather, larger areas can become brittle or rough. Applying Leather Fresh alone is not sufficient there; it is for scratches, abrasion and slight fading, while Fluid Leather (liquid leather) is better suited to individual tears and holes.

Diagnosis: colour or leather?

Before taking action, test whether only the colour layer or the leather itself is damaged. Run your flat hand over the damaged area in both directions. If you feel distinct resistance in one direction, the leather itself is damaged. The fibre structure of animal hide is arranged diagonally, which explains this phenomenon. In these cases, Colourlock Binder Neutral is the right solution.

Procedure

First thoroughly degrease the affected areas with Leather Cleaning Spirit.

Important: do not clean with Leather Cleaner mild or strong. Cleaners introduce moisture into leather that is already weakened, making it stiffer.

Then apply Colourlock Binder Neutral with a sponge in the direction of the fibre structure and allow it to dry by itself without a hair dryer. First smooth areas that have become very rough with the Colourlock Sanding Pad. Repeat the process if required. Binder Neutral is a strong binding agent that repairs the damage in the leather again without making it too stiff. Rougher areas can also be treated with a brush. You can close individual tears or breaks with Fluid Leather. Finally, smooth the areas gently with the Sanding Pad.

After treatment, Leather Fresh can be used to refresh the colour. Dab on the tint several times with the sponge and allow it to dry with a hair dryer or in the air in between.

For regular care, we recommend our Leather Care. Its antioxidants reduce leather deterioration and its UV filters protect surfaces against fading. In addition, the leather regains a supple surface.

When is treatment worthwhile and when is it not?

Very brittle leather is already weakened in its substance. Treatment with Binder Neutral is then an emergency solution: afterwards, the leather will not be new or soft like young leather. It is a stabilising measure, sensible if the budget for reupholstering is unavailable or the vehicle is no longer used often.

Anyone expecting a better result or owning a valuable vehicle should consider professional reupholstering. We will be happy to advise you in our leather workshop; with a photo, we can give an initial assessment of whether a do-it-yourself repair is worthwhile.

Product recommendations

Note:
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Note on colour selection: after selecting the products you want, click “Add to basket”. You will then be taken to the colour selection.

Stabilising brittle and rough areas

  • Leather Cleaning Spirit 225 ml
  • Binder Neutral 250 ml
  • Sanding Pad
  • Leather Fresh 100 ml

If you do not know the name of your interior colour, it is best to contact an authorised dealer of your car brand. Using the chassis number, it is possible to give you the name of your leather (not the code). A mixing fee of CHF 25.– applies to all special colours (all colours except F001–F046 are special colours).

Please select a colour:

I also need Fluid Leather, please select a colour:

Please note that special-colour mixes, whether based on a manufacturer colour or a submitted sample, take 7–9 working days from the order date to process before they are dispatched.

Typical damage where Binder Neutral is – if anything – the only solution.

Older and very brittle furniture leather.
Very brittle car leather.