Diy - freshen up leather seats for $20 - no more ugly seat bottoms - Page 3

tateos · #31 (**permalink**) 09-22-09, 10:14 PM

Worked great on my '97 ETC seats. Also did my steering wheel and shifter - they were very bad - now look like new - amazing; after 12 years and 153K miles, the steering wheel finish in some fairly large areas was completely worn through to the brown leather underneath. The armrest did not fare as well - the paint covers all the wear, but the cracks are still there, big time. It's better than it was, but not great.

I used Ford light parchment color on my car - it looked closer than anything else on the paint chip chart they had in the store, when I took it out and held it next to the interior. It's a very little bit lighter than what I had, but looks very good and blends right in.

A wonderful solution overall, I think. I also washed the car, and vacuumed it out; now the car rides better, is quieter, has more power, the seats are more comfortable, and the stereo sounds better too - well - that is tongue in cheek - some of you know what I mean.

Many thanks to the OP!

TSS · #32 (**permalink**) 10-05-09, 10:34 AM

Thanks again to the OP and gdwriter!

I did my 01 SLS shale driver's seat Sunday. Less than an hour, including waiting for coats to dry. Simple process. I used the SEM soap, followed by simple green. I did not use the grey scrubbing pads that some have used. I used a white washcloth for the SEM soap and simple green - and rubbed hard. I did 4 coats because I think I was coating a little too lightly at first because I was scared. Anybody thinking about doing this, you cannot screw it up, seriously - it is that easy.

ryannel2003 · #33 (**permalink**) 10-05-09, 10:44 AM

After 2 months my seats are still holding up really well! Ended up doing some other areas of the car and now it looks like I have brand new seats. Still extremely happy with the results.

Planedr · #34 (**permalink**) 10-26-09, 06:54 PM

I did my seats today. I think they came out great.
Before

After

I would like to do the center parts a darker color.
The paint was $17 a can @ 2 cans but my seats were in very bad shape. The soap was $13. But 50 bucks is a lot better than 200-300$ for new seats.
(SAFETY TIP: DO NOT DRIVE VEHICLE FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS AFTER PAINTING. HAHAHAHAHA I FEEL PRETTY GOOD RIGHT NOW.... HEADACHE IS COMING ON THOUGH

)

cady97dev · #35 (**permalink**) 10-26-09, 10:50 PM

I have read this whole post and......No one has said how it holds up with an interior cleaning.....Can you us leather cleaner on it afterwards????

TSS · #36 (**permalink**) 10-27-09, 12:04 PM

Wife's SLS shale is holding up really well too. So good, that I did my father-in-law's 01 DTS this weekend (SEM med. grey). Incredible stuff. The key is to take your time with the prep. The painting part is simple. The fumes do get to ya though.

Planedr · #37 (**permalink**) 10-27-09, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TSS

Wife's SLS shale is holding up really well too. So good, that I did my father-in-law's 01 DTS this weekend (SEM med. grey). Incredible stuff. The key is to take your time with the prep. The painting part is simple. The fumes do get to ya though.

That SEM soap is good stuff, I started with a white washcloth and when I was done it was almost black. It even pulled some stains out of the back seat that looked like juice.
Next is carpet. Anyone have any suggestions where to get new carpet?

TSS · #38 (**permalink**) 10-29-09, 09:59 AM

^^

1. Leather holds up fine to cleaning and conditioning.

2. RE: carpets, SEM makes fabric/carpet dye just like the stuff we used for the leather! I saw it when I picked up my classic coat for leather and thought maybe I would try it on my wife's light colored floor mats . If I were you, since the leather stuff works so good, I would try the SEM dye before replacing the carpet. Good luck.

LAC_STS · #39 (**permalink**) 11-05-09, 02:33 PM

I had done my seats with the SEM and it did look great, but when I took the car to get detailed a month or so later the guy said that I should have told him the seats were sprayed. When they sprayed the Lexol on it the SEM came right off. I called leatherique about getting therm to match the color. (You send a piece from under the seat and they match it for you) and even they said that alot of leather cleaners will pull up the dye/paint. You have to be carefull on what you use if you do anything to your seats.

TSS · #40 (**permalink**) 11-09-09, 04:22 PM

^^ Something is not right. I have cleaned and conditioned mine and my inlaws several times with both Lexol and Zaino. No problems. I cannot speculate, other than maybe our prep process differed. I think the key is in the prep of the seats, not the painting so much - that part is easy. Maybe the detailers used something stronger to try and clean the seats before conditioning too. I feel bad for you regardless.

My "process": SEM Soap; simple green: SEM soap; simple green; simple green; paint. I basically doubled the recommended prep process to ensure I did not miss any spots - if not properly cleaned, dye will just basically sit on the surface.