The original dent
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There are many benefits to having leather or vinyl seats in your car instead of cloth. They’re more durable, easier to clean, and look much cooler. But, they suffer from one thing that cloth seats don’t: indentations.
Too much pressure on a leather surface can leave an unsightly indentation that won’t stretch back. Not all seat dimples are permanent, though. You can use the power of heat to remove pressure dents from leather car seats.
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4 steps to remove pressure dents from leather car seats
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Step 1: Pop the leather indentation outward
You need to bring the indentation out, and the quickest way to do this is to hold a vacuum nozzle over the dent, being careful not to scrape the leather with it.
Make sure the leather is good and clean before proceeding any further.
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Step 2: Soften the leather
Run hot water over a washcloth and wring it out. Immediately place the cloth over the dimple. This will moisten and soften the leather, as well as protect it during the next step.
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Step 3: Heat the leather
Alternatively, you could remove the washcloth and wave a hair dryer over the spot, being careful not to hold it too close or too long to singe the leather.
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Step 4: Massage the surface while cooling
Help the leather wrestle free from the indented shape it’s taken on by gently squeezing and rubbing it to help it flatten out as it cools.
To speed up the cooling process and help the leather contract more, hold a cold object against the leather, like a cold compress or freezer pack.
Fixed!
Photo: The News Wheel
This technique won’t fix every leather indentation — especially if the pressure was severe enough to irreversibly damage the material — but getting the leather to expand and contract is the most likely way you’ll be able to restore your leather car seats to their former beauty.
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Aaron is unashamed to be a native Clevelander and the proud driver of a Hyundai Veloster Turbo (which recently replaced his 1995 Saturn SC-2). He gleefully utilizes his background in theater, literature, and communication to dramatically recite his own articles to nearby youth. Mr. Widmar happily resides in Dayton, Ohio with his magnificent wife, Vicki, but is often on the road with her exploring new destinations. Aaron has high aspirations for his writing career but often gets distracted pondering the profound nature of the human condition and forgets what he was writing… See more articles by Aaron.
