If you have a vehicle with leather seats, you want to make sure that you keep them looking spectacular in order to keep the value of the car. Seats that aren't cracked will also be much more comfortable for your passengers. Here are some tips for repairing and maintaining your leather car seats.

1. Don't Assume All Black Leather is the Same

Your first step is to make sure that you don't assume that all black leather is the same. This is important because it allows you to avoid making the mistake when choosing a leather repair kit to repair your leather seats with. If you assume that all shades of black leather are the same, then there is a good chance that you are accidentally going to choose a leather repair kit that does not exactly match the leather of your seats. Keep a swatch of the leather if possible to take to the store with you in order to make sure that you get the exact right shade of black or any other color of leather that you need.

2. Only Use Filler on Small Tears

Instead of using an entire patch to cover up small tears in your leather, use a filler instead. Patches tend to be more noticeable when they are used to make repairs and it will be much easier for you fix small issues with your leather seats with filler. Larger rips and tears will inevitably require patches. You can test to see if you're going to need a patch by simply attempting to use filler on its own first. If the crack or chunk missing is still obviously noticeable, then cut a patch.

3. Use Sandpaper to Get Rid of Excess Filler

Your next step is to make sure that you don't have any filler poking out of the hole when it finally dries. Don't worry about using too much filler because it is easy to remove by letting it dry completely and then using sandpaper to grind it down so that it is no longer over the surface of the seat. This will allow you to form a more coherent surface to your leather seats.

4. Seal the Deal

Finally, be sure that you seal whatever repairs you choose to make in order to make absolutely sure that they stay on. You can purchase the appropriate sealant from an auto repair facility.

For more information, talk to a company that specializes in automotive repair.