How to Restore Leather Car Seats in a Classic Car

March 28, 2025

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A person is cleaning the headrest of a car with a brush.

If your vehicle features leather seats, it's only natural to want to preserve the premium look and feel that they offer. And if the leather has faded to a point where it's hurting your vehicle's curb appeal and overall aesthetic, it makes sense to restore them. In this post, we'll explain how to do it.

Can You Make Car Leather Seats Look New Again?

So, can you restore leather car seats? The answer is "yes," and it's not as difficult as you may think.


Read on to learn how to restore leather seats with some basic products and know-how.

How to Restore Leather Car Seats

Start with a Deep Clean

Any leather restoration job should begin with vacuuming and then a thorough cleaning of the leather with a product that's designed for such material. A good cleaning will help remove any dirt, grease, grime, stains, and other contaminants. Once you get the leather surface clean, you can move on to the next step of leather restoration.

Prep the Surface for Restoration

After a thorough cleaning, it's important to prepare the leather surface for restoration. Do this by making sure your cleaning has completely dried before moving on to the next step.

Fill Cracks and Repair Damaged Areas

Before you recolor the leather seats, you'll want to fill any cracks and repair any damaged areas in the leather. This is easily done with a leather repair kit. Leather repair kits offer specialized fillers to adequately fill cracks, tears, scratches, and other blemishes.

Recolor the Leather for a Fresh Look

Next, it's time to recolor the leather to give it a fresh eye-popping look. Just be sure to use a leather dye that matches the color of your existing leather seats to give an even appearance.

Seal and Protect with Leather Conditioner

Applying leather conditioner is the next step. Work the conditioner gently into the leather using a soft cloth. Conditioner will help rehydrate the leather and protect it.

Let the Leather Cure Properly

Finally, it's important to allow adequate time for the leather to cure. It's typically best practice to allow the leather to sit for at least 24 hours before using the seats.

Can I Use Dish Soap on Leather Car Seats?

Using dish soap is not typically recommended for cleaning leather car seats. Though dish soap does a good job of removing grease, dirt, and grime, it may also remove the natural oils from the leather surface. This can accelerate leather wear and result in premature damage over time. The best way to clean leather car seats is to use a product that's specifically designed to clean leather surfaces.

Restore Your Classic Car’s Leather Seats with Wrecktify

For more information on how to restore leather car seats in your classic car, contact Wrecktify today. As experts in interior car service and repair, we specialize in restoring your vehicle's leather seats to give them a like-new look and feel.

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