Thursday, December 21, 2006

CARING FOR YOUR CAR’S LEATHER INTERIOR – (Part One)


So you've just bought your new dream car, and look, it's got an all-leather interior. Just what the neighbours would drool for. Because hey, when it's leather, we're talking elegance here. Cars upholstered in beautiful leather automatically have an air of sophistication and fine design. Leather even smells fantastic, good enough to eat. But before you get all protective about your leather seats and forbid the kids or just about anyone else from all sorts of activities inside the car, read on about how you can care for leather the right way.The Basics about Leather

Leather is a durable, natural fabric that is four times stronger than man-made fabrics. This long-lasting fibrous material will stand up to rough treatment, even with rowdy children and pets inside the car. Stains can be cleaned effortlessly using a damp cloth. Maintenance will only entail refilling the cushions of you seats periodically to keep it looking as new as the day you bought it. After all, leather looks even better with time.
Natural leather materials are a car owner’s dream. Go ask OzFreeOnline, and you'll find that leather interiors are not just in demand right now; they are practically timeless. Needless to say, leather interiors actually up used car values.


Manufacturers can create leather car seats to suit any make of vehicle. Contrary to popular belief, leather isn't just for expensive, executive vehicles. Today, even small and used cars are getting upholstered in leather as it can be fashioned, designed, and dyed in colours to suit every taste.
Best natural leather material should be top-grain. A ‘top grain’ piece of leather should cover the seats without splits or attachments. When leather is split, it will not last as long as top grain and may require more upkeep. Top grain leather might be more expensive but it's well worth it.


LEATHER vs. CHEAP LEATHER VINYL COATED

In buying leather, you either get genuine or fake. Be careful of what you buy then as leather manufacturing has become so ingenious these days it can be difficult to pick the real thing. A quick test to determine which sort of leather you have at your hand is to use a small amount of cool clean water. If the leather repels it, it's vinyl-coated; if it absorbs the water, then you're safe.


COLOUR DYING
Take note that dyeing processes affects the quality of leather. For the richest colours and softest touch, leather is subjected to aniline process of dying in a drum. When a protective coating is added to drum dyed leather at the end, it is called semi-aniline. Hides that are pigmented are applied with dyes to the surface. This process provides the best protection, although the resulting leather loses its softness.It is always wise to inquire about the quality of the natural hide and how it was processed. Look into guarantees offered and return policies in case the upholstery is not up to standard. If you are interested in leather car upholstery--whether to repair present seat cover or to change them--there are several sites which can offer you the cheapest, yet quality worksmanship. Shop around first so you can save up.
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For the best used cars in gorgeous leather
Come to OzFreeOnline, Australia's free car classifieds. Used cars for sale have never been this great!

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