Clean, care for & repair car leather - solutions for scratches, cracks & loss of color.

99.9% of car leathers are surface-dyed, single-colored smooth leathers. These are leathers in which a layer of color completes the surface. In the past, car leathers were all vegetable-tanned. In recent decades, however, chrome-tanned leather has become established. When it comes to cleaning and care, however, the tanning method is not the decisive factor, but the age of the leather and its condition.

If the leather is dirty, it should be cleaned with COLOURLOCK Cleaner mild or COLOURLOCK Cleaner strong, depending on the degree of soiling. This prevents soiling from fixing to the leather through the care product. COLOURLOCK Cleaner strong is used for obviously heavy soiling and COLOURLOCK Cleaner mild for light soiling.

If the dirt is deep in the grain, you should also use our COLOURLOCK leather cleaning brush.

Due to coronavirus, steering wheels, gear knobs and door handles, which are in constant contact with the skin, are cleaned and disinfected more frequently than average. To avoid dissolving the leather colors with commercially available disinfectants with a high alcohol content, we recommend the COLOURLOCK hygiene cleaner for leather, artificial leather and plastic surfaces. This cleaner can be used to gently clean and disinfect such surfaces.

New leather should be treated with our COLOURLOCK leather sealant within the first 3 years. New leathers do not require regreasing. They are still optimally finished by the tanner and are more likely to have the problem of wear and sometimes discoloration from clothing. The driver's seat in particular (side bolsters of sports seats and high support cushions) often shows typical signs of wear within the first three years. Discoloration caused by clothing is more common on light-coloured leathers. Sealing effectively prevents this. Treat the driver's seat every 3 months and the rest of the leather every 6 to 12 months.

As leather ages, it needs to be regreased as it dries out over time. Older leather should therefore be treated every 3 to 6 months with COLOURLOCK Leather Protector, our care milk with UV filters and tanning agents, depending on the wear and tear. The leather remains supple and soft, and the antioxidants stop the leather from disintegrating. Regular care significantly extends the life of the leather. Important: Regular, economical care is better for the leather than infrequent and excessive care!

Older convertibles should also be treated with our COLOURLOCK Elephant leather grease. This grease also has a strong impregnating effect and prevents the formation of mildew.

Important for all products: Our products have an intensive effect. It is therefore important to apply the products sparingly on a regular basis rather than rarely and in large quantities. "More" does not help "more" with leather care. Leather always shows the first signs of ageing on the surface. Therefore, regular, sparing (approx. every 3 months) treatment of the surface in the area of stress is always the best protection.

For abrasions and minor scratches, the color can be refreshed with our COLOURLOCK Leather Fresh. Please refer to our detailed information texts.
 

Procedure for leather damage

The typical signs of wear on vehicle leathers can be cleaned, repaired and maintained wonderfully with our products. The entrance area of the driver's seat in particular is subject to heavy wear, and the original color wears off over time.

In the case of visible soiling, the leather should be cleaned with COLOURLOCK Cleaner mild or COLOURLOCK Cleaner strong, depending on the degree of soiling. If the soiling is mainly in the grain, then our COLOURLOCK leather cleaning brush should be used.

The COLOURLOCK Degreaser is used to additionally degrease the areas to be repaired or tinted so that the repair products adhere well. The leather cleaner removes dirt and grime well, but it does not remove all previously applied oils, waxes or silicones, which are contained in many care products. Such substances impair the durability and adhesion of COLOURLOCK Leather Fresh or COLOURLOCK Liquid Leather.

Application Leather Fresh
Areas that have become rough due to wear must be smoothed with the COLOURLOCK leather sanding pad before repairing or tinting.

The original color of the leather is refreshed with our COLOURLOCK Leather Fresh in areas with color abrasion and dry cracks. In the areas with the greatest color differences, you must dab on the tint several times and dry with a hair dryer. As the tint also has a slight filling effect due to the binding agents, surface damage will almost completely disappear.

Our Leather Fresh is available in 46 standard colors. We will be happy to send you the color chart on request.

If the color you are looking for is not on the color chart, we need a sample or the manufacturer's color name. We will then mix your special color according to your sample or manufacturer's color name. A list of the manufacturer samples available to us can be found below the color charts. Ask your dealer for the name of the color based on the chassis number (no numerical code). Alternatively, cut a piece of leather from under the seat or behind a panel. A piece the size of a thumbnail is sufficient. You can also send us a headrest, sun visor, trim or cover. These will of course be returned to you.

Larger scratches, dry cracks and small tears can be closed with our COLOURLOCK liquid leather. Please refer to the separate information text.

Leather Fresh is not a care product. Therefore, use the COLOURLOCK Leather Protector to maintain and preserve the result after cleaning and repairs. Its UV filters protect the surfaces of old and valuable leathers from fading. The leather also regains a supple and soft surface. Regular care significantly increases the service life.

Important: Regular, economical care is better for the leather than infrequent and excessive care! Treat the driver's seat every 3 months and the rest of the leather every 6 to 12 months.

Convertibles should also be treated with our COLOURLOCK Elephant leather grease. This grease has a strong impregnating effect and prevents the formation of mildew.

If you continue to use the vehicle heavily, apply COLOURLOCK Leather Sealer to the entrance area. This is applied a few days after the Leather Protector so that it has time to soak into the leather. Friction is then reduced there (entrance bolsters of sports seats and high support cushions).

The leather will not be as good as new with the products, but all areas that are now noticeable due to damage will be barely recognizable or no longer recognizable at all afterwards. It will look like very well-preserved old leather. If you are not satisfied with this result, you will need to visit a leather repair company. We will be happy to recommend your nearest specialist company.

Leather on steering wheels is particularly hard-wearing. It is constantly touched, and as leather is an open-pored material, hand perspiration and skin oils are gradually absorbed into the leather. Hand perspiration and skin oils have a particularly aggressive effect on leather. The leather becomes brittle more quickly, or the color softens and rubs off.

Regular cleaning with mild leather cleaner and regular care with leather sealant help to prevent this. For sticky steering wheels, additional cleaning with the degreaser is recommended.

Due to coronavirus, steering wheels, gear knobs and door handles, which are in constant contact with the skin, are cleaned and disinfected more frequently than average. To avoid dissolving the leather colors with commercially available disinfectants with a high alcohol content, we recommend the COLOURLOCK hygiene cleaner for leather, artificial leather and plastic surfaces. This cleaner can be used to gently clean and disinfect such surfaces.

For very old and dry leather, you should use Elephant leather grease after sealing. This will make the leather more supple again.

If the color is already damaged, the leather can be re-tinted with our Leather Fresh in a suitable color. However, this requires thorough cleaning and degreasing. Use our degreaser for this. Rough areas should also be smoothed with our leather sanding pad before tinting. However, not every scratch on a ring will be completely invisible.

These treatments will not make the leather look like new. It will look like well-preserved old leather. If this result is not sufficient, professional coloring by a leather repair company is required. However, leather that is too brittle or damaged should be replaced by a saddler.

You can easily repair minor damage with liquid leather. Liquid leather is a tinted filler for repairing smaller holes, cracks, deeper scratches and breaks. Liquid leather fills and bonds such damage and remains soft and flexible after drying.

Preparation
Liquid leather is only suitable for damage in leather where there is a need for filling. Scratches and signs of wear that are only in the color layer of the leather do not require treatment with liquid leather. Smoothing with a sanding pad and color matching with Leder Fresh is sufficient.
Liquid leather always has a smooth and shiny surface after drying. To make the repair area more invisible, the damaged area must be matched with Leather Fresh in the appropriate color after the repair. Dab the Leather Fresh on several times with a sponge and dry with a hair dryer until the desired coverage is achieved.
Thoroughly degrease the repair areas with our degreaser before processing to remove old care product residues.
Smooth rough areas, scratches and broken edges with our leather sanding pad before processing.
Always carry out liquid leather repairs on hardened leathers before treating them with old leather softener. The regreasing would otherwise reduce the adhesion of the liquid leather.

Procedure
As the recommended products only produce good results if they are applied in the correct order, the following text contains detailed instructions on how to use our products to clean, repair and care for typical soiling and signs of wear on vehicle leathers in the best possible way.

Step 1:
Use the cleaner to pre-clean the leather in the area of the intact color. The leather cleaner is excellent at removing normal soiling. If these are mainly in the grain of light-colored leathers, you should definitely use our soft brush.

In our range you will find a mild leather cleaner and a strong leather cleaner. Use the mild leather cleaner for light to normal soiling. For heavy soiling or for leather that has become shiny or greasy over time and you would like to have it a little more matt again, you need to use the strong leather cleaner.

Tip: A sponge and brush are the best cleaning aids. Remove cleaning residues with a cloth lightly moistened with water.

Step 2:
Use the degreaser to degrease the areas to be repaired and remove old care product residues that the leather cleaner does not dissolve. This is important to ensure that the color refreshment with Leder Fresh adheres well. The skin contact area of steering wheels must also always be degreased before applying Leder Fresh.

Tip: If in doubt as to whether it has been sufficiently degreased, stick masking tape to the surface and if it is difficult to remove when pulling off, the leather is well degreased.

Step 3:
Any areas that have become rough due to wear must be smoothed with the leather sanding pad before repairing or tinting. To do this, place the leather sanding pad on the damaged area and sand the area smooth again without applying too much pressure.

Tip: Remove the sanding dust with a cloth moistened with degreaser.

Step 4:
Longer cracks and breaks that are under tension should be backed with a stretch fabric. To do this, cut the fabric round so that the radius behind the crack overlaps by approx. 2 to 3 centimeters.

Then hold the stretch fabric in place in the middle with a needle and use the spatula to push the edge of the fabric under the leather. Run the dosing tip of the leather adhesive all around between the fabric and leather and spread the adhesive evenly. Use the mini brush to help with breaks, superficial cuts or worn areas.

Allow the leather adhesive to dry for approx. 15 - 30 minutes under pressure.

You can then easily repair the tear with the liquid leather. Liquid leather is a tinted and flexible filler for repairing small holes, tears, deep scratches and cracks in leather and imitation leather. The liquid leather fills and sticks, it remains soft and flexible after drying.

Tip: Run your fingernail over the damaged area. If the fingernail gets stuck in the cracks, you will need the liquid leather.

The liquid leather is available in the colors on our color chart or mixed according to a sample. Remove the cap from the tube and fill the damaged areas evenly with the liquid leather.

The liquid leather is smoothed out immediately afterwards using the filling tool. The liquid leather takes one to two hours to dry, depending on the amount filled and the room temperature. As the liquid leather contracts slightly during this process, this process must be repeated until the repair area is as smooth as possible.

Repair areas that are not sufficiently smooth or unclean can be subsequently smoothed with the GLD pen. To do this, apply a little pressure to the repaired area to loosen and smooth the surface. Alternatively, you can also use the leather sanding pad to smooth the surface after loosening. Please always work carefully and with little GLD so that the repair area does not become blurred. You should allow the liquid leather to dry again in between. In this way, you can remodel a repair until the result is satisfactory. However, you will not be able to make the repair completely invisible.

Tip: If the felt tip of the GLD pen is dirty or worn, remove the tip and reinsert it upside down. You should always follow this tip when changing colors!

Step 5:
Afterwards, the color damage and the repair areas that you have filled with the liquid leather are retinted with the leather color freshener (Leather Fresh) in a matching color and dried with a hair dryer. The Leather Fresh will not stain the clothing after drying.

The tint refreshes the color of scratches, abrasions, wear marks and dry breaks.

You must shake the Leather Fresh well before use and never apply it directly to the leather, but in a circular or dabbing motion using a sponge. For larger areas, you can work from seam to seam. In areas where an opaque coloration is required, the tint must be dabbed on several times and dried with a hair dryer (not too hot!).

Tip: An uneven application can be evened out again with the leather sanding pad and re-tinted.

Step 6:
Finally, you should care for and protect your leather. It is important that you only carry out this step one day after tinting. The Leather Fresh should be completely dry before it comes into contact with any liquid, and the care product should be applied gently and not rubbed in vigorously.

Use the Leather Protector to maintain and preserve the result. The Leather Protector protects the leather by regreasing (keeps the leather soft), UV filters (prevents fading) and antioxidants (prevents decay). If the leather is exposed to moisture or is very old, dry or shiny, we recommend our Elephant Leather Grease as additional care and impregnation. If the leather continues to be used heavily, apply the leather sealant to the entry area a few days after the Leather Protector. This will reduce wear and tear caused by friction at this point. The leather sealant is also suitable for the care of the steering wheel and gear knob to reduce abrasion caused by hand grease.

Tip: First spread the care product sparingly on a cloth and then apply to the leather in a circular motion from seam to seam. Excess care can be removed with a cloth slightly moistened with water. Regular and economical cleaning and care will extend the life of your leather!

The products will not make the leather as good as new, but any areas that are now noticeable due to damage will be barely recognizable afterwards, if at all. It will look like very well-preserved old leather. If you are not satisfied with this result, you will need to visit a leather repair company or have the leather professionally dyed yourself.

Special features

A hole with missing leather
Holes should first be reinforced on the back by gluing. To do this, use thin fabric and the leather adhesive. Then cut away a piece of leather from the original cover at a concealed spot and cut it to size for insertion. Then glue the cut piece of leather in place with our leather adhesive. Close the remaining gap with the liquid leather as described above.

A tear in the leather
Leather that is already torn must first be checked to see whether it is better to replace the leather. In particular, long tears in old and brittle leathers or tears in particularly stressed areas are often not repairable or do not last long after the repair. We only recommend repairing tears in leathers that are still stable and where the length of the tear is only a few centimeters.

The procedure: Small tears that are not under tension should first be temporarily glued butt to butt with our leather adhesive. Then close the tear with liquid leather as described above. Tears that are under tension should be backed with thin fabric. For very large tears and very brittle leathers, you can place a seam every 3-4 centimeters with a knot at the bottom. Then conceal the thread with the liquid leather. Pierce a hole to the left and right of the tear (the leather must not be too brittle there) and thread sewing thread through with a round needle. Place the knot on the reverse side and pull it together only up to the butt joint of the tear. Tears that are too large in stressed areas or leather that is too weak or hardened should be replaced with new leather.

Plastics and artificial leather in vehicles are generally robust and easy to clean. Dirt can be easily cleaned with COLOURLOCK artificial leather cleaner. For heavier soiling, leave to soak briefly and use the COLOURLOCK brush. For care, the surfaces should be protected with COLOURLOCK artificial leather protector. The surface is given an invisible protective film that prevents dirt from penetrating and preserves the character of the surface. The recommended products are available together in the COLOURLOCK artificial leather care set.

Due to the coronavirus, leather, artificial leather and plastic surfaces that are in constant contact with the skin are cleaned and disinfected more frequently than average. To avoid dissolving or weakening the surfaces with commercially available disinfectants with a high alcohol content, we recommend the COLOURLOCK hygiene cleaner for leather, artificial leather and plastic surfaces. This cleaner can be used to gently clean and disinfect such surfaces.

Older plastics and artificial leather lose their plasticizers over time and become dry, brittle and sometimes tear. This process can only be influenced to a limited extent. Regular cleaning and sealing delays this process. In particular, this prevents the surfaces from fading.

Some artificial leather and plastic surfaces tend to fade, or layers of paint on plastic surfaces of a different color rub off. You can retint these color changes with COLOURLOCK Leather Fresh for smaller areas or manageable damage. The tint cannot be absorbed into the material as with leather. Therefore, the Leather Fresh must be dabbed on several times and dried with a hair dryer until the opacity is sufficient. Degrease with COLOURLOCK degreaser beforehand! Carefully smooth out any unevenness with the sanding pad.

Large areas of artificial leather and plastics can be recolored by "lacquering". Follow our instructions "Coloring artificial leather and plastics in the workshop by professionals".

You can also dye the artificial leather and plastic surfaces with leather and artificial leather color sprays. In contrast to Leather Fresh, these color sprays are highly opaque but also glossy. The entire surface must therefore often be treated due to visible color deviations.

Smaller cracks and splits can be sealed with COLOURLOCK liquid leather. Then finish with Leather Fresh to adjust the gloss level and color.

Preserve older plastics and artificial leather with COLOURLOCK Artificial Leather Protector. This product protects surfaces from abrasion marks and soiling. The artificial leather protector does not change the gloss level and does not make the surface "greasy". Apply the artificial leather protector sparingly to a lint-free cloth and treat the surface evenly.

Fabrics such as Alcantara or Amaretta are ultra-microfiber materials (synthetic materials) that have a leather-like surface. The look and feel is similar to suede.

These fabrics must be vacuumed regularly and occasionally wiped with a damp cloth.
For stains and "normal" soiling, you can use our textile cleaner. This is excellent for cleaning Alcantara in furniture and cars, as well as microfiber and other sensitive textile surfaces.

Shake the bottle before use. Always test the cleaner on a concealed area first!

Large-area cleaning: Lightly moisten the soiled surface with the cleaner and carefully absorb immediately with a terry cloth towel. Repeat if necessary.

Stain removal: Apply the cleaner to a sponge or soft brush. Squeeze foam out of the sponge. Clean the surface in circular movements. Then rub with a slightly damp cloth. Do not rub too hard! Do not work too wet!

For stains that cannot be removed, it is better to contact a professional upholstery cleaner or a vehicle refurbisher before damaging the surface with excessively harsh cleaners.

Fresh stains should always be removed immediately with an absorbent, clean cloth. Either dab or absorb towards the center and do not rub. Never rub too hard, as this can permanently change the surface. For larger stains, you should always clean from seam to seam.

Greasy soiling and stains can also be carefully cleaned with our leather degreaser. Always test on a concealed area first and check for changes.

To reduce future soiling and stains, you should treat the surface with our impregnation.
Heat should be kept away from Alcantara. Cigarette burns, for example, cause irreparable damage to Alcantara.

We regularly receive inquiries about "pilling" or "felting" and roughened areas. However, you can remove not too much felting with the sanding pad. Either it is as easy as in the video, or it is already too far advanced. If it doesn't work, the only option is to have the seats reupholstered.

Leather can be very matt or highly glossy, like patent leather.

Most new leather, but also a lot of old leather from furniture and vehicles, was originally matt. Over time, care products and polishing with clothing during use polish the leather surface, making it shiny. This difference is particularly noticeable when comparing the driver's seat of a vehicle to the back seat, or furniture to the back or the spaces between cushions.

If leather has become shiny over time through use, then cleaning with COLOURLOCK Leather Cleaner Strong and care with COLOURLOCK Leather Protector is recommended. The leather will then become almost as matt as it was originally.

Sometimes the degree of shine needs to be deliberately changed. This can happen when only part of the vehicle's leather needs to be reupholstered in the right colour, but the shine is different and cannot be obtained otherwise.

To compensate for such differences, we have two colour-neutral versions of COLOURLOCK Leather Fresh in our range. COLOURLOCK Leather Fresh Neutral MATT and GLANZ. It is easier to increase the gloss. Larger areas that are to be made more matt should be adjusted by professionals using a spraying method. In contrast to glossy surfaces, unwanted wipe marks are more likely to occur on these areas.

The preparatory work is very important! Before adjusting the gloss level, the leather must be thoroughly degreased with COLOURLOCK Degreaser. Then apply Leather Fresh evenly in thin layers. Repeated treatments enhance the desired effect. Dry between layers with a hairdryer. Application with a spray gun is recommended. For smaller areas, the product can also be applied with a sponge.

Care recommendation: Protect new, matt leather after treatment with COLOURLOCK Leather Sealant. Older leather should be cared for with COLOURLOCK Leather Protector. Important! If too much care product is applied, the degree of shine will increase. Do not polish off this excess! Remove any excess with a slightly damp cloth. COLOURLOCK Elephant Leather Grease is the recommended care product for shiny leather.

The physical explanation for the differences in shine: leather is matt because, when viewed under a microscope, its surface cross-section resembles the Alps. The reflection of light from a rough surface is scattered and appears matt to the human eye. Shiny surfaces reflect light parallel and appear shiny. Polishing matt leather smooth makes it shinier.

Leather perforation involves piercing the leather surface to create a matrix of holes, usually at regular intervals. It is found almost exclusively in the automotive sector (by manufacturers such as Mercedes, Opel, Ford, Porsche and VW). Perforations are not used at all in the furniture sector. In the footwear and clothing sectors, perforations are used more for decorative reasons.

Car leather is perforated so that the leather retains its breathability despite the pigmentation. This allows moisture to be wicked away more effectively, meaning that you don't ‘sweat’ as much on the leather. The perforation also enhances the effect of seat heating or cooling.

However, perforation also makes the seats more sensitive, as the areas around the openings in the leather tend to get dirty. Therefore, the following easy-to-follow basic rules apply to perforations:

Cleaning should be carried out when visible dirt is present, and maintenance should be carried out after each cleaning or every 3-6 months, depending on use.

Apply all products sparingly in the perforated area so as not to fill or wet the holes. Otherwise, moisture will penetrate and cause the edges to swell, or the moisture may wet the foam behind and soak through the leather from the back to the front. In addition, perforations ‘filled’ with care products are noticeable and do not look attractive.

The following procedure is recommended for cleaning: Apply a little leather cleaner foam from the foam dispenser bottle to a cloth and then clean the leather with it. Remove any foam and cleaning residue with a cloth slightly moistened with water. If the leather is very wet, dry it immediately with a hairdryer and do not leave the car closed until the leather has dried.

When caring for the leather, only lightly dampen a cloth with the care product and use it to treat the surface. When using Elephant leather grease, first rub the leather grease into a terry cloth or other soft cloth and then use it to care for the leather.

If you follow these rules, there are no risks due to perforation and the leather will remain beautiful for a long time.

Older, surface-dyed smooth leathers sometimes develop areas of breakage where refreshing the colour with Leather Fresh is not enough and liquid leather is not the right solution. Leather Fresh is excellent for colour-matching scratches, abrasion damage and slight fading. Liquid leather is ideal for individual cracks. It is not suitable for large areas.

To determine whether only the colour or also the leather is damaged, run your hand over the damaged area. If there is resistance in one direction, then the leather is also damaged. The fibre structure of animal skin is slanted, which leads to this phenomenon. In such areas, Neutral colour is an alternative.

First, thoroughly degrease these areas with our leather degreaser. Do not clean with mild or strong leather cleaner! The leather would only soak up moisture and become stiffer. These cleaners are only suitable for undamaged and dirty areas where moisture does not penetrate the leather.

After degreasing, apply the neutral colour with a sponge in the direction of the grain and allow to dry naturally without using a hairdryer. Repeat the process if necessary and smooth any rough areas with the sanding pad beforehand. The neutral colour is a strong binding agent that repairs damage to the leather without making it too stiff. Rougher areas can also be treated with a brush. Individual cracks or breaks can be repaired with liquid leather. Finish by smoothing with the sanding pad.

After treatment, apply Leather Fresh several times with a sponge to refresh the colour, allowing it to dry with a hairdryer in between.

We recommend Leather Protector for regular care. Leather Protector contains antioxidants that reduce the deterioration of the leather. Its UV filters protect the surfaces from fading. In addition, the leather regains a supple surface.

Important! Neutral colour is intended for use on leather that is close to needing replacement. It will not make it look like new again, but will make it ‘durable’ for a further period of time.

Stains from textiles or leather on light-coloured smooth leather are common. This usually affects car and furniture leather. The stains are caused by a wide variety of clothing items. Jackets, trousers or belts are the culprits. Denim, stretch fabrics, other types of fabric or leather release dyes.

If you are lucky, these can still be removed with simple cleaning. However, sometimes it is too late for that. If you wait too long, the dyes will soak into the leather surface. These stains can then no longer be removed with standard cleaners.

Therefore, we recommend always trying to clean the discoloured surface first with COLOURLOCK Leather Cleaner Mild or Strong and the COLOURLOCK brush. If the stains cannot be removed in this way, the surface must also be cleaned with COLOURLOCK GLD, a solvent cleaner.

Apply GLD to a clean, white terry cloth and carefully clean the surface with it. Always test on a concealed area first! GLD dissolves the colour coating. When attempting to remove the stains, some colour may also be removed. You must be very careful not to completely remove the colour layer.

If visible colour removal occurs, or if the discolouration cannot be completely removed, then such areas must be retinted with COLOURLOCK Leather Fresh in the appropriate colour. For colour changes where high coverage is required, dab the tint on several times and dry with a hairdryer in between. Smooth any areas roughened by cleaning with GLD beforehand using the COLOURLOCK 4000 polishing pad.

To prevent further discolouration, the leather should be protected regularly with leather sealant. Leather sealant provides good protection against discolouration. Clean the leather thoroughly before sealing.