How To Repair Colour Damages On Leather Car Seats

Minor signs of wear, scuffs, scratches, cracks and rips on leather seats can be easily cleaned, repaired and protected with our product range. In most cases, the side bolster on the driver’s seat is the area most affected.

First, thoroughly clean the leather with either COLOURLOCK Mild Leather Cleaner or COLOURLOCK Strong Leather Cleaner. The COLOURLOCK Leather Cleaning Brush is ideal for heavily soiled leather.

Degrease the repair area additionally with COLOURLOCK Degreaser  to achieve good adhesion of the filing and colouring products. The COLOURLOCK Mild Leather Cleaner and COLOURLOCK Strong Leather Cleaner remove perfectly dirt effectively, but not permanent oils, waxes and silicones. Smooth rough areas with the COLOURLOCK Leather Sanding Pad. Repair colour damages with COLOURLOCK Leather Fresh. Dab COLOURLOCK Leather Fresh repeatedly on surfaces with need of high covering power. But dry each layer before with a heat gun. As the binder in the COLOURLOCK Leather Fresh has a light filling effect, light surface defects will almost completely disappear.

Deeper scratches, dry cracks and rips can be filled with Fluid Leather.

COLOURLOCK Leather Fresh is available in 46 standard colours. If the desired colour is not on the colour chart, we will need a sample of the leather or the manufacturer's colour name. We can mix a custom colour for an extra charge according to your sample or the manufacturer colour name. You’ll find a list of the available colours by manufacturer name here. Ask your garage or car dealer for the correct colour name (not code!). Alternatively, cut a piece of leather under the seat or behind a hidden area. Please ensure the sample size is a minimum of 2 sq. cms You can also send us a headrest, sun visor, lining or covering or any other removeable part which we can use to mix the colour. Any items you send us will be returned securely with any products you order.

Typical friction damage. Can easily be repaired with COLOURLOCK Leather Fresh.

Only colour damage. Can also easily be repaired with COLOURLOCK Leather Fresh.

Heavier damage but still easy to repair.

Heavy damage and leather Fresh alone will not provide good results.  COLOURLOCK Fluid Leather filler should be used to fill the cracks. 

Repairable with COLOURLOCK Fluid Leather and COLOURLOCK Leather Fresh. But borderline case.

Too close to the seam. We recommend getting it re-trimmed. Most trimmers can do just the panel for you rather than the whole seat. 

Leather and foam are missing. Needs to be re-trimmed

Extensive damage. Needs to be re-trimmed.

Pictures made by customers

Recommended products

  • COLOURLOCK Mild Leather Cleaner or COLOURLOCK Strong Leather Cleaner against soiling and dirt. 125 ml are sufficient for one vehicle. Also available as 1 litre bottle, including a free 125 ml foam dispenser for easy application.
  • COLOURLOCK Leather Cleaning Brush in case of dirt deep in the grain.
  • COLOURLOCK Degreaser for degreasing areas which are to be treated with Fresh or Fluid Leather.
  • COLOURLOCK Leather Sanding Pad for rough areas.
  • COLOURLOCK Leather Protector for basic care of older leathers. 150 ml are sufficient for one vehicle. Also available as 1 litre bottle.
  • COLOURLOCK Elephant Leather Preserver for older convertibles or very dry leather (use after Protector and/or Shield)
  • COLOURLOCK Leather Shield for protection of the entrance area (use before Protector and/or Elephant, in case of heavy wear)
  • COLOURLOCK Leather Fresh according to our colour chart or as a special colour by colour name or sample with additional charge. Special colours are available from 150 ml, and the colour mixing charge will be applied only once per special colour and order, so you won't be charged twice should you also choose a Fluid Leather in the same colour.
  • COLOURLOCK Fluid Leather 7 ml in matching colour against rips and breaches which need to be filled. Please always order COLOURLOCK Leather Fresh along with COLOURLOCK Fluid Leather in order to adjust colour and gloss.
Leather Cleaning Brush normal
The Leather Cleaning Brush is ideal for:  Using with the Mild or Strong Leather Cleaner to remove ingrained dirt Using with the COLOURLOCK Cleaner for Artificial Leather to remove ingrained dirt from vinyl or plastics Brushing up nubuck and suede Polishing shoes and boots with COLOURLOCK Elephant Leather Preserver Amount: 1 piece. One brush is usually sufficient for cleaning a car interior or a set of furniture multiple times.With its durable bristles and high-quality wooden handle, the Colourlock Leather Cleaning Brush is great for removing dirt and stains effectively and gently from leather car seats, sofas, chairs, clothing and handbags. It can also be used to clean Alcantara and other Textile materials as long as it is used gently.
Brush Size

US$5.99*
Tip
Leather Cleaner with sponge
Ideal for cleaning leather car and furniture upholstery, bags, suitcases or garments.The Leather Cleaner is provided in a foam dispenser bottle. Foams clean the leather more efficiently than liquid agents, the consumption is considerably smaller, and the leather does not become wet, which could otherwise become hard after drying.Firstly, clean the leather thoroughly before refreshing the colour or applying care products. Use COLOURLOCK Mild Leather Cleaner against normal soiling. Cleaning before treatment prevents the dirt sticking to the leather's surface. Our COLOURLOCK Leather Cleaning Brush effectively removes ingrained dirt (use circular motions and work from seam to seam). After cleaning, it is always best to apply a care product to protect it against general wear and future staining.Amount: 200 ml Mild Leather Cleaner. This is usually sufficient for the cleaning of a whole car interior or set of furniture.Amount: 1 litre Application of Leather CleanerAlways test any products first on a hidden area in case they affect the colour.Dispense some foam on a sponge or brush. Do not apply to the leather directly! Clean the leather from seam to seam using the foam; repeat several times, if necessary. Remove dirty foam residue with a slightly moistened piece of cloth, then allow to dry.On older leathers, stains might sink into the surface, or perceived dirt might actually be colour damage. Such stains cannot always be removed by cleaning, in which case, use COLOURLOCK Leather Fresh for refreshing the colour, or ask us for advice.These products are also suitable for "Cool Leather/SRT (SunReflective Technology) Leather"!
Available Sizes

US$27.73*
Leather Protector
To maintain the surface, we recommend our Leather Protector. It contains antioxidants, which stops the leather's decay, and its UV filters protect the surfaces from colour fading and will make them supple once more.Amount: 150 ml. This is usually sufficient for the one-time treatment (minimum) of a complete car interior or a set of furniture.; 1litreApplication: Always test any products first on a hidden area in case they affect the colour!Use COLOURLOCK Leather Protector when the leather has dried completely from cleaning or colour refreshment, ideally on the following day. Apply with a soft cloth and let dry without polishing. One application is sufficient. Strained surfaces (heavy use or in sunlit areas) should be treated every three months. Clean before use to prevent dirt sticking to the surface.These products are also suitable for "Cool Leather/SRT (SunReflective Technology) Leather"!
Available Sizes

From US$22.69*
Leather Shield
Leather Shield protects new leather from wear marks and dirt.Application area: New smooth leather, pigmented or surface-coloured leather in cars, furniture, jackets and handbags. Do not use on porous leathers, suede, or nubuck. Application Always test any products first on a hidden area in case they affect the colour.Moisten a terry cloth slightly with COLOURLOCK Leather Shield, lightly wipe the moistend cloth over the leather and let dry. Do not buff or polish immediately after application. One application is sufficient. Repeat every three months on strained surfaces or heavily used areas. Prior to application, clean off any dirt with COLOURLOCK Mild or Strong Leather Cleaner.These products are also suitable for "Cool Leather/SRT (SunReflective Technology) Leather"!
Available Sizes

From US$22.69*
Leather Sanding Pad
The Leather Sanding Pad is ideal for:  Smoothing rough areas before applying COLOURLOCK Leather Fresh or COLOURLOCK Liquid Leather. Cleaning greasy areas on nubuck and suede. Careful sanding during professional colouring in the workshop. Amount: Pack of 5 Application Rub the leather gently with the pad in a circular motion. Avoid gouging and deep scratches. Both faces of the pad can be used. It can be washed out with water.  Before colouring nappa leather, the surfaces should be sanded carefully. Our Leather Sanding Pad is ideal for this step.

Variants from US$5.99*
US$29.31*
Elephant Leather Preserver 125 ml
Ideal for the care of leather which is exposed to the weather, or for conserving extremely dry or antique leather.Designed for treating genuine "Pull Up" furniture leather (oiled leather). Do not use on Bycast or polyurethane-coated (PU) leather.ApplicationAlways test any products first on a hidden area in case they affect the colour.Rub some preserver onto a clean, soft piece of cloth and apply to the leather. If required, use the cloth to give a final polish. The fat is difficult to use when it’s cold, so be sure to work at room temperature or warm it slightly with a hair dryer.COLOURLOCK Elephant Leather Preserver protects and waterproofs all types of nappa leather.

US$22.69*
Refresher for scratches
Leather Fresh Dye
Leather Fresh is a colour refresher (dye) for scratches, worn, or faded leather. Leather Fresh is ideal to refresh colour damages on car leather, furniture leather, leather garments and handbags. Do not use on porous leathers unless colouring the entire surface - it can make the surface appear patchy. It can be sponged on or sprayed using an airbrush.  Application Always test any products first on a hidden area to test for colour match!Firstly, clean the leather thoroughly and prepare the surface. Use Mild Leather Cleaner for normal degrees of soiling or Strong Leather Cleaner to remove heavier dirt (where the leather has been neglected for many years). Cleaning prior to treatment ensures the paint bonds to the surface well and ensures durability. Use Leather Cleaning Brush to effectively remove all ingrained dirt. Cleaning removes dirt but for long lasting results you should also de-grease using Degreaser.Use a sponge to apply the colour evenly, working from seam to seam. Dry afterwards with a hair dryer. On small spots, a one application is sufficient. Apply multiple thin layers and dry each layer using a hair dryer.A day later, after it dries, apply Leather Protector. It gives the leather a good sheen and helps blend the repair. It contains antioxidants, which stops the leather's decay, and its UV filters protect the surfaces of old and valuable leathers from bleaching and fading. Also keeps the leather supple.  46 standard colours and prepared special colours according to sample or manufacturer name.Find car leather colours for Leather Fresh Dye in our Car Leather Repair category.
Standard-F-Colours
Available Sizes

US$35.61*
Fills cracks and holes
Fluid Leather
Fluid Leather is only recommended for damage where a filling is necessary. For scratches and general wear-and-tear on the colour surface we recommend smoothing the surface with the COLOURLOCK Leather Sanding Pad and refreshing the colour with COLOURLOCK Leather Fresh. The surface of COLOURLOCK Fluid Leather is smooth and shiny after drying. To hide the repair, apply COLOURLOCK Leather Fresh in the respective colour to the area. This covers the gloss of the COLOURLOCK Fluid Leather. Lightly dab the COLOURLOCK Leather Fresh several times with a sponge on the repair and dry with a hair dryer between layers until the desired covering is achieved. Degrease the repair area with COLOURLOCK Degreaser in order to remove care product residue. Before starting any repairs with COLOURLOCK Fluid Leather, smooth rough areas and scratches with the COLOURLOCK Leather Sanding Pad  For hardened leathers, use COLOURLOCK Fluid Leather before any treatment with COLOURLOCK Old Leather Softener. This oily treatment would reduce the adhesion of the COLOURLOCK Fluid Leather. PROCEDURE Fill the damaged areas with COLOURLOCK Fluid Leather and spread evenly with a spatula. Leave to dry for 1-2 hours, depending on the amount used. Repeat the procedure until the repaired area is as full and smooth as possible. COLOURLOCK Fluid Leather cannot be sanded dry. This would damage the repair.We recommend using the COLOURLOCK GLD Solvent ND Pen to smooth the repair. The GLD Solvent slightly dissolves the surface of the COLOURLOCK Fluid Leather and provides a smoother finish.Open the lid of the COLOURLOCK GLD Solvent ND Pen and press down the felt tip several times until it is moistened. If the felt tip gets too moist, remove the excess quantity by cleaning it with a cloth. Smooth the repair area carefully with the moistened felt tip. When the repair area is wet with GLD, an additional treatment with the COLOURLOCK Leather Sanding Pad can be done to smooth the repair area. Always work with a small amount of GLD to prevent the repair area from becoming too dissolved. Using GLD, a repair can be adjusted to achieve the best possible result.Professionals can repair the graining on a work area using a Repair Grain. Usually, old leathers are smooth and do not need a new graining.The tip of the GLD Solvent ND Pen can be removed and reversed when worn. Especially when working on a new colour, it is necessary to change or turn the felt tip upside down.Finally, repairs with COLOURLOCK Fluid Leather must be recoloured with COLOURLOCK Leather Fresh to balance differences in colour and gloss. In order to cover the COLOURLOCK Fluid Leather sufficiently, the COLOURLOCK Leather Fresh should be dabbed onto the area several times and dried between the layers with a hair dryer. After 24 hours treat the leather with Leather Protector.  A HOLE WITH MISSING LEATHER Holes should be reinforced before repairing by gluing a thin piece of cloth underneath the hole with COLOURLOCK Leather Glue. Cut out a small piece of the original leather from a hidden area and adjust its shape according to the hole. Use the COLOURLOCK Leather Glue to glue it onto the piece of cloth and the edges of the hole. Close the visible rims with COLOURLOCK Fluid Leather. Leathers with big tears must first be examined in order to decide whether it would be better to replace the weak leather. Especially long tears in old and rough leathers, or in areas of high use, are often irreparable or not durable enough after a repair. We recommend the repair of tears only on stable leathers and only if the tear is no larger than a few centimetres.Procedure: Minor tears which are not under tension should be provisionally glued with COLOURLOCK Leather Glue from edge to edge. Then close the tear with COLOURLOCK Fluid Leather, as explained.Tears under high tension should be backed by thin cloth. In the case of very large tears and/or very rough leathers, it is advisable to sew the leather with a thin but strong thread. Place a seam every 3-4 centimetres with the starting knot on the leather's reverse. Cover the thread with COLOURLOCK Fluid Leather.If the leather is not too rough, drill a small hole to the right and the left of the tear (approximately 2-3 millimetres) and sew with a round needle. Lay the knot underneath and pull the tear together. Tears in areas of frequent use should always be replaced by new leather when they are too large; the same is true for weak or hardened leathers. In cases like these, it is more advisable to replace the leather.
Standard-F-Colours
Available Sizes

US$27.10*