Our family car is a Subaru, and we have leather car seats. We love our Subaru, but with two kids under the age of five, our leather car seats were starting to show some wear and tear.
I knew I needed to find a way to protect our investment and keep our car looking nice for years to come. So here are seven ways to protect your leather car seats from child seats.
What Happens If You Do Not Protect Leather Car Seats From Child Seats?
Before we get into the details of the various ways to protect your leather car seats, it’s important to understand what happens if you do not take measures to protect them.
Leather car seats are susceptible to a number of different problems when they are not adequately protected from child seats.
- Dents
If you install child seats without properly protecting your leather car seats, you will likely end up with a number of unsightly dents in the leather.
These dents are caused by the weight of the child seat as well as the movement of the child in the seat. The dents can be difficult to remove, making your car seats look worn and old.
It is often hard to remove dents from leather car seats because leather as a material can easily take shape when pressure is applied to it and can be difficult to reverse.
- Scratches
Another common problem with leather car seats and child seats is scratches. Child seats can scratch leather car seats when they are not correctly installed.
The friction from the seat moving around can also cause scratches. To prevent scratches, ensure the child seat is installed correctly and use one of the methods I will show you.
- Stains
Leather car seats are also susceptible to stains from child seats. This is often caused by food or drinks spills from the child seat.
- Wear And Tear
Over time, child seats can cause wear and tear on the leather car seats. In addition, the constant movement of the seat can cause the leather to break down and deteriorate.
This is why it’s important to take measures to protect your leather car seats from child seats. By taking some simple steps, you can keep your leather car seats.
- Discoloration
Lastly, child seats can cause discoloration of leather car seats. Again, this is often caused by sun exposure. When you have child seats installed, those areas are obscured from the sun rays, so you will often find that the leather in those areas is darker than the rest of the seat.
How To Protect Leather Car Seats From Child Seats
Now that we have looked at the possible dangers that await our leather car seats if we do not take measures to protect them, let’s look at some ways we can do that.
1. Cover The Seats With A Blanket Or Towel
One of the simplest and most effective ways to protect your leather car seats from child seats is to cover them with a blanket or towel.
My father recommended this when we had problems with our leather car seats. But I did don take his word for it until it was almost too late.
I saw in another blog post that Kwabena mentioned this was one of the most viable options.
A blanket or towel will protect the leather from scratches, spills, and stains. It will also help to keep the leather moisturized.
You can find various blankets and towels. Just make sure it’s big enough to cover the entire seat. And be sure to check it regularly to make sure it’s not slipping or shifting.
2. Use A Leather Conditioner
Another way to protect your leather car seats from child seats is to use a leather conditioner.
Leather conditioners help to keep the leather moisturized and prevent it from drying out and cracking.
They also create a barrier that helps to protect the leather from spills, stains, and scratches. Using a leather conditioner on leather car seats is a common practice and one that I recommend.
Despite all the things we got wrong regarding our leather car seats, we never forgot to condition our leather seats.
There are a variety of different leather conditioners on the market. You can find them at your local auto store or online like this one on Amazon!
Just read the reviews before you purchase one to ensure it’s a good quality product.
Applying a leather conditioner is relatively simple. Just follow the instructions on the bottle.
But as a general rule, you will want to clean the leather seats first and then apply a small amount of conditioner to a soft cloth.
Then wipe it down in circular motions until the conditioner is evenly distributed. You don’t need to use a lot, just enough to create a thin layer.
And be sure to avoid getting any on the stitching as it can cause the stitching to deteriorate.
Once you’re done, let it sit for a few minutes so the conditioner can soak in, and then wipe off any excess with a clean cloth. It would help if you conditioned your leather car seats every few months or as needed.
3. Install A Car Seat Protector
This is the best way to protect your leather car seats from child seats. Car seat protectors are specially made to protect car seats from child seats. Car seat protectors are made from special materials that are durable and easy to clean.
They are also designed to fit snugly over the seat, so they don’t slip or slide around. Most car seat protectors also have a nonslip backing to help keep them in place.
You can find car seat protectors online or at your local baby store. They are relatively inexpensive and well worth the investment.
We finally decided to invest in a car seat protector, which was one of the best decisions we ever made. Not only did it protect our leather seats from the child seats, but it also made them easier to clean.
The car seat protector we have is this one from Amazon, and we love it! It’s easy to install and fits snugly over the seat. It also has a nonslip backing that keeps it in place and helps to protect the leather from scratches.
I highly recommend getting a car seat protector if you have leather car seats. It’s the best way to protect your investment.
4. Use A Car Seat Cover
Another way to protect your leather car seats from child seats is to use a car seat cover. Car seat covers are made from various materials, including cloth, vinyl, and leather.
They are designed to fit over the car seat and provide a layer of protection. So when you use this method, you kill two birds with one stone in the sense that you are also protecting your leather car seats from becoming damaged as well.
Most car seat covers are easy to install and can easily remove. They are also usually machine washable, which is a huge bonus.
When it comes time to clean them, remove the cover and toss it in the wash.
Vinyl and leather car seat covers will be the most expensive option, but they will also offer the most protection. So if you have the budget for it, I recommend going with one of these options.
Cloth car seat covers are a more affordable option and offer decent protection.
They are not as durable as vinyl or leather, but they will do the job. The cloth is probably the way to go if you are on a tight budget.
5. Use Shelf Liner Paper
If you are tight on money, you can use shelf liner paper to protect your leather car seats from child seats. These papers are known as “grippy” papers because they have a sandpaper-like texture that helps keep things in place.
They are designed to line shelves and drawers, but they work just as well for protecting car seats. All you need to do is cut the paper to size and then place it over the seat.
The good thing about this method is that it is entirely reversible. So if you ever decide to remove the paper, peel it off, and you’re done.
Another good thing about this method is that it is very affordable. For example, a roll of shelf liner paper will only cost you a few dollars and will last you a long time.
The downside to this method is that it is not as durable as the other methods on this list.
6. Have Your Child Seats Professionally Installed
If you’re not comfortable installing the seats yourself, you can always take them to a professional. Many car seat installation companies will have someone come to your home or office and install the seats for you.
This is often the best option if you’re not confident in your ability to install them correctly.
Another option is installing the seats at a local car seat check event. These events are typically held at police or fire stations, and someone will be on hand to help you install the seats correctly.
Finally, many retailers that sell car seats will also offer installation services. Again, this is usually a good option if you buy the seats from the retailer.
7. Regularly Uninstall, Clean, Condition & Reinstall Your Child Seat
It’s important to regularly uninstall, clean, condition, and reinstall your child seat. This will help to keep the seat in good condition and prevent it from becoming damaged.
Uninstalling the seat is relatively easy and can be done by following the instructions in the manual.
Cleaning the seat can be done with a damp cloth and mild soap. Be sure to remove all the soap before reinstalling the seat.
Conditioning the seat is important because it will help to keep the leather from drying out and cracking.
There are many different products on the market that can be used for conditioning, but I recommend using a product that is specifically designed for leather seats.
Reinstalling the seat is just as easy as uninstalling it and can be done by following the instructions in the manual.
By regularly uninstalling, cleaning, conditioning, and reinstalling your child seat, you can help extend its lifespan and keep it looking new.
Conclusion
There you have it! These are seven ways to protect leather car seats from child seats. Following these tips can help keep your seats in good condition and prevent them from being damaged.
Our favorite method is using a car seat protector because it offers the most protection from child seats and is very easy to install.
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