How do you keep your leather seats protected from the kids?

[FifiLámour]

Well, some more girlie questions from me :blush: ...

We have 2 young boys. They are both still in booster seats. As you can imagine, cleaniness and consideration for our new car is not uppermost in their minds. In fact, the little guy has a bad habit of kicking the back of the seat in front.

This wasn't too bad in the old car - we had seat covers on. But with the Disco 3, standard seatcovers will stop some of the airbags from working.

Q1. Have any of you dealt with this issue of maintaining the leather? From scuff marks, food and drink spills, scratches from booster seats etc?

Q2. What have you done? Does it work well?

Q3. Are there any cleaners you would recommend?

Q4. Does anyone know of any custom seat makers for Discovery 3's that won't compromise the safety of the airbags? We are in North Brisbane, in case that helps.

Once again, many thanks.

PS Tried to search for help, but couldn't find anything.

[Chops]

Easy,,,Dont let them in the car,,,:D :angel:

Na,, whatever you use to clean leather furniture should be ok,, and remember not to get them shoes/sandles with buckles on them,, (they'll do the most damage, scratch wise)

[Tote]

We've got a pair of girls, 4 and 6 and they do their best to pour all manner of sticky substances and grind chips into the upholstry. I clean the leather properly every six months wth a leather cleaner, there are a couple of brands available. I get mine from woolies, about $15 for the cleaner and $15 for the conditioner.
After 18 months hard use including all of last July on the road the worst wear on the leather is on the drivers seat from my bum.
I think that the leather stands up to the abuse pretty well as long as you clean it properly on a regular basis.

Regards,
Tote

[WhiteD3]

I have two boys and I bought my D3 with black leather with this in mind:angel:. I have given up trying to keep them clean on trips (too stressful), what with sand, food, mud, etc.

After a trip I use a chux with warm soapy water to wipe them down, and leather conditioner say every 6 months.

[The ho har's]

I have two boys and I bought my D3 with black leather with this in mind:angel:. I have given up trying to keep them clean on trips (too stressful), what with sand, food, mud, etc.

After a trip I use a chux with warm soapy water to wipe them down, and leather conditioner say every 6 months.



are talking about the boys or the seats:eek::wasntme:


sorry couldn't resist:twisted:

and we do have leather seats in the disco but never had a problem with my girls on trips:)


Mrs ho har:angel:

[FifiLámour]

I have two boys and I bought my D3 with black leather with this in mind:angel:.

Well no surprises there with boys, although given my 4 year old's reaction to Catwoman at Movie World last week, perhaps they would have preferred black PVC and a leather whip. Mwah ha ha

Chops you're being cheeky again :p. Are you suggesting that we should put them in one of those luggage racks on the top perhaps?

But seriously, it sounds like the leather may be more hardy than we thought. We just need to watch for things that might scratch it, yes?

[Tote]

Yep,
best make sure the zippers on the catsuit have covers.
Regards,
Tote

[Chops]

Well no surprises there with boys, although given my 4 year old's reaction to Catwoman at Movie World last week, perhaps they would have preferred black PVC and a leather whip. Mwah ha ha
:TakeABow: to the boy,,,a true Aussie lad,,,

Chops you're being cheeky again :p. Are you suggesting that we should put them in one of those luggage racks on the top perhaps?
Hadn't thought of that,,,, good thinkin 99,,, ;)

But seriously, it sounds like the leather may be more hardy than we thought. We just need to watch for things that might scratch it, yes?
My sister had 4 kids and a leather lounge suite,, all the usual things they do,, food/pens/buckles/dirt,,,and untill the dogs got to the leather,, all good,, (almost 30 years old now)

[FifiLámour]

Okay Tote and Chops, thanks.

* Fifi makes mental note - change the zippers on the catsuit to velcro and keep the whippet's toenails filed.*

[big guy]

The reason for buying leather is because its so easy to clean.
Just give it a wipe or get your car detailer to do it for you.

[CJT]

I would have to agree that leather is easy to keep clean, both of our cars have leather and wood grain interiors and I have two boys, age 6 and 8.

I find it wears much better than fabric and generally does not stain.

Every couple of weeks when there is dust, dirt, mud, chips etc. on the seats I simply wipe the interior down with some ArmourAll wipes and then I get the cars detailed about once a year.

In my discovery the only seat with any real wear is the drivers seat from me sliding in and out a few times every day so I will be looking for a tinted leather treatment soon to keep the colour in the leather.

To save the back seats I could always put the boys in the third row seats with the moulded floor tub and some seat covers, that would be easy to keep clean.

[Crash68]

we said hang the expense and got geniune LR seat covers for the back, sandy coloured thin canvas also waterproof, fit beautifully, about $400 . Have 4 kids rangeing from feral 9 yr old:p to cute 2 week old:eek:.

[jonesy63]

Having four kids (and they have "all grown up"), I feel I am suitably qualified to answer this one!

The easiest solution I found, was to put a beach towel across the seat - before installing the kids seats. That way, their scraps and sandals hit the towel instead of the seat. The towel is held in place by the car booster seats. If it gets dirty, take it out and replace the towel.

Good luck!

Cheers,
Rob

[jonesfam]

4 Boys, 6,5,5,4.
We use those grey seat pads from Super Cheep to stop the boosters damaging the leather. They just have elastic around the back of the seat.
We got the leather X Factor treatment just because of the boys, at great expense.
After 6 weeks & 5000k it's all good.
Jonesfam

[Tassierob]

Though not guaranteed for Airbag use Talka in W.A make excellent seatcovers both in waterproof material and breathable cotton canvas.
See Waterproof Seat Covers (http://www.takla.com.au/productssc.htm)
I have had 2 sets now, one in the defender and now the D3 and could not be happier with the waterproof ones, they fit well, are easy to remove and put on and wear very well:)

Cheers

Rob

[Neil P]

Just put a bath towel under the booster seat. I sit on a cream coloured bath towel so that the colour from my Ruggers doesn't rub into the leather. Getting colour dye "off" is difficult. Dog owners often use old
towels on the back seat for their animals ...... Just toss in the washer
as required. Perforated leather really holds odours , because the surface
is not liquid proof.

[FifiLámour]

Thanks everyone - some great suggestions!