What is Vinyl?

The word "vinyl" comes from the chemical name polyvinyl chloride or PVC for short.

Vinyl is widely known as a soft flexible material used mainly for upholstering furniture and automotive interiors. Vinyl is made of PVC resins, fillers and plasticisor oils. Plasticisor oil is a petroleum product that gives vinyl its flexibility. A wide range of vinyls are produced for different upholstery applications.  Many of the leather-look vinyl lounge suites are unbacked vinyl. These are vinyls which don’t have a cloth re-enforcement (the base of the vinyl).  Higher quality vinyls have some type of reinforcement giving them a far more durable and long life. Manmade finishes allow the use of printed effects (darker vinyl lacquer ink) applied to their top surface to obtain a two-toned effect.

How can I care for Vinyl?

Sunlight, heat and dirt breakdown vinyl upholstery. The colour of some automotive vinyls fades very quickly on exposure to sunlight. Shading vinyl from direct sunlight will greatly lengthen its life. Heat also has a detrimental effect on vinyl due to plasticisor migration. This is especially true for vinyl used on dashboards. With intense heat the plasticisor oils leave the vinyl in the form of a gas  (which can actually be seen as a grey fog around the edge of the windscreen). Ultimately the vinyl becomes hard and cracks. To protect your vinyl, keep it as cool as possible by shielding it from heat.  You can actually stop damage by conditioning the vinyl with plasticisor oils and/or protector  to counteract migration. Dirt/dust can become ingrained onto the surface of vinyl. Clean the vinyl with a mild cleaner and soft cloth/pad.  A soft textured pad or brush will allow you remove dirt embedded in the grain.  Pen marks should be quickly cleaned off. Biro and texta marks that are left on vinyl migrate right into the plastisol and cannot be removed. Wipe first with methylated spirits (do not scrub). If this does not remove the stain, try nail polish remover. Using any solvent will affect the surface so if it has a print coat this will be dissolve some colour.  Always test these cleaners on an inconspicuous area to make sure they do not dissolve the surface coat of the vinyl. Perspiration and hair products can also accelerate the hardening of vinyl. Covering high wear/soiling areas like armrests and headrests will decrease the chance of these areas cracking in the future

Can damaged Vinyl be repaired?

Yes! New Life Repair Servicess has researched and developed equipment and compounds that successfully repair all types of automotive and upholstery vinyls  with excellent results. Repairing small tears and scuffs, stain removal, refinishing and recolouring vinyl are processes that are available to you at a fraction of the cost of reupholstering or replacement.

Service can usually be carried out on-site for your convenience. Contact your local New Life Repair Services Technician for fast, friendly service and an obligation free quote. New Life Repair Services offers professional cleaning as well as DIY cleaning and protective kits.

How effective are the processes?

Our skilled Technicians make a living out of repairing damaged upholstery.  The processes we have developed are the world’s best practice.  Repairs are hardly visible and will match the surrounding area.  Refinishing of the colour coat surface provides a new look to tired upholstery and gives great durability.  We guarantee our workmanship and materials for six months.