Seats – How to maintain your seats and avoid unsightly cracking
Words and Pictures by Kevin Fagan
The seats in the Figaro were finished in sumptuous cream leather; however, unless they were regularly maintained, many have suffered from cracking.
WHY DOES THE LEATHER ON MY FIGARO SEATS CRACK
There are several causes of your leather items cracking in unsightly ways. Understanding these causes can help you maintain your leather goods better and show you how to fix leather creases before they crack, as well.
- Porous Surface
The leather on your Figaro seats is made from natural fibres, which makes it inherently porous. This porosity allows dust, dirt, and environmental pollutants to settle into the material, causing significant damage over time. Remember, your Figaro was manufactured in 1991, that’s 34 years ago, if untreated over most of that time, the leather would have absorbed these substances, accelerating the cracking process. - Lack of Moisture/UV and Heat!
Leather requires natural oils to stay supple and flexible. As the Figaro is an open-top vehicle then the seats can be in direct sunlight, the end result is that they get very hot! Exposure to dry conditions and direct sunlight can deplete these essential oils, speeding up the drying and cracking.
WHAT CAN I DO TO STOP THE CRACKING PROCESS
Clean Your Leather Regularly. Starting the process by using a gentle LEATHER CLEANER (Google leather cleaner). The leather cleaner will stop the buildup that leads to deeper, more problematic cracks.
Condition Your Leather Regularly (Twice a year as a minimum)
Using a LEATHER CARE BALM, apply this twice a year and maybe more if your car is used in hot countries. Apply and leave for a few minutes to fully penetrate the leather, and then buff it with a soft cloth to a shine before letting it air-dry for several hours afterwards. Regular conditioning not only repairs minor cracks but also protects the leather from drying out and cracking further.
You can also use this Balm on your Door Cards, Tonneau Cover and Dash Top.
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