The look and feel of leather car seats are rather opulent. The comfort and elegance it offers would deteriorate, though, if ignored. If you don’t regularly clean and condition them, accumulated dirt, drying, and cracking can make the interior of your car unsightly and uncomfortable.
If you want to give the leather seats in your car the much-needed upkeep but don’t know how to do it, this article will show you how.
In a nutshell, the cleaning procedure entails inspecting for perforations or damages, vacuuming, wiping and scrubbing with cleaner, wiping dry, and conditioning. It’s that simple.
What You Will Need to Clean Leather Seats
Vacuum Cleaner
To avoid dragging dirt and debris on the car seats, which could be damaging, they must be removed before wiping and scrubbing. You could complete the task quickly by using a vacuum cleaner.
Air Compressor
If there are stubborn particles found in hard-to-reach areas, an air compressor would be useful. With the air compressor, you can simply blow them out.
Leather Car Seat Cleaner
A commercial leather upholstery cleaner would be ideal for cleaning the leather seats in your car because it was made for cleaning leather car seats. However, stay away from leather-damaging bleach and ammonia-containing cleaning products.
You can also create your own cleaning solution using natural ingredients.
One way to create a leather cleaner is to combine two parts linseed oil and one part white vinegar in a spray bottle.
Another way to make leather cleaner is to combine five parts of warm water and one part of dishwashing soap or Castile soap, a soap made from vegetable oil.
Microfiber Towel
A microfiber towel is a soft cloth that can be used to clean leather surfaces. It isn’t overly abrasive, but it can cause dirt to stick to its surface.
You would require two microfiber cloths, one for cleaning the car seats that would be sprayed with cleaner and another dry cloth for removing the cleaner and dirt from the car seats.
Soft-Bristled Brush
Leather furniture would need to be brushed in order to remove embedded dirt. So a brush with soft bristles would be required. For cleaning leather, its soft bristles would be both gentle and effective.
Leather Conditioner
Leather tended to dry out and crack because it gradually lost some of its natural oils. In order to keep leather car seats from drying out and cracking, car owners would need to maintain the moisture and essential oils in them with the use of a conditioner. The temporary protection from heat and abrasion that a conditioner can offer is also useful.
The conditioner could improve the vibrancy of colored leather in addition to the maintenance and protection it offers for leather seating.
Choose a pH-neutral, water-based conditioner for the best results. Also stay away from hair conditioners that contain silicone, waxes, or petroleum distillates. Use a high-quality leather conditioner as well, as cheaper ones have a tendency to stick to the leather car seats and leave a greasy finish.
Step by Step: Cleaning Leather Seats in a Car
Remove Obstacles and Large Debris
You probably have big items like a car or booster seat installed in your car if you have a child or a pet. You can effectively clean your seats by taking out these things, along with any trash or other major obstacles. The dirt and grime your children may have tracked in from their afternoon snack can also be seen and removed using this method. Additionally, it gives you the chance to clean these components before reinstalling them in your car. By doing this, you can prolong the fresh appearance and feel of your leather seats.
Vacuum the Seats
You can remove those bothersome crumbs and dust specks by vacuuming your seats and the area around them. If your vacuum has a brush attachment, you can use it to clean your seats without damaging them by gouging or scratching them. To collect as much dirt as you can, make sure to get in all the nooks and crannies. Using a cloth, you can clear any remaining dirt and dust from the seat’s various crevices.
Test Your Cleaning Solution
Test your leather cleaning solution on a small, inconspicuous area of your seats before using it all over your leather seats. This is crucial if you’re using a new cleaning product for the first time because it can help you avoid accidentally damaging or staining your leather seats. Any fizzing or melting are some reactions to watch out for because they mean you need to stop using that cleaner right away.
Consider reading your owner’s manual before selecting a new cleaning product because the manufacturer of your car might have made recommendations for a particular cleaner. To avoid any damage or stains to your seating upholstery when cleaning MB-Tex material, it’s important to use a gentle cleaning solution as opposed to a harsh leather cleaner.
Clean Off Additional Grime
The vacuum is excellent for removing any loose debris, but there may still be some dirt present. If this is the case, you can remove this grime by wiping it off with a microfiber towel that has been sprayed with the cleaner. When the sticky spots are removed, you feel a deep sense of satisfaction. This is great for any sticky residues left behind by your kids’ spilled juice or melted gummy snacks. You can begin deep cleaning your seats once the top layer of dirt and grime has been removed.
Apply a Cleaning Solution
Apply the cleaning solution to the remaining seats in your car after testing it on one area first. You can create a lather with the cleaning solution by working it with a soft-bristled brush. This can aid in dissolving stubborn stains, dirt, and creases in the upholstery. Make sure to use a minimal amount of cleaner when cleaning the seat rather than soaking it. To avoid stains or discoloration from the cleaning solution, it’s also a good idea to work in small sections at a time.
Apply the cleaning solution with care if your seats have any holes, dings, tears, or other perforations. To prevent further harm to your seats, you might think about using a microfiber towel instead of directly applying the cleaner to the seat material. Use light pressure to clean the surface after working the solution into a lather. You can safely and gently remove stubborn stains and dirt by sweeping the bristled brush in circular motions.
Wipe the Seat With a Damp Towel
You can wipe away the cleaning agent from the seats now that they have been cleaned. Start by removing the extra cleaning solution from the seats with a towel that is just a little damp. You can stop dirt and grime from falling to the floor of your car by using a damp towel to pick up any particles you might have missed while cleaning. Consider getting floor mats while you’re thinking about your car’s floor so cleanup is simple when crumbs from your seats eventually find their way to the floor.
Dry Seats With a Microfiber Towel
You can follow up with a dry microfiber towel after completing your initial wipe-down. As a result of the excess moisture being removed from the seat’s surface, mold and mildew are less likely to develop. To further help prevent the seats from wrinkling or cracking, make sure to wipe them until they are completely dry.
Apply a Leather Conditioner
Applying leather conditioner after cleaning is a good idea. Most seats don’t require that much maintenance, despite some sources’ recommendations that you clean them once every three months. A recommendation for how frequently to use their product on your seats is frequently included by conditioner manufacturers. Due to its ability to prevent cracks, tears, and stains, a leather conditioner can lengthen the useful life of your seats.
Make sure to test the conditioner on a discreet area of your seats before using it on the rest of them if this is your first time using it. The leather conditioner can be used on your seats after being tested. Use small circular motions to massage the conditioner into the seat when applying it. Before embarking on your next adventure, allow the conditioner to sit and air dry for at least an hour.
Tips for Cleaning Leather Seats
Stay Still and Scrub Down
Varela advises letting your leather cleaner sit for a few minutes before using a soft bristle cleaning brush to scrub the surface. This will help the cleaner do its magic. Use a very gentle, circular motion while using your brush.
Use Leather Conditioner Sparingly
Although leather conditioner may help keep the interior of your car soft and supple, you shouldn’t use it every time you clean the seats. You should apply leather conditioner once every three months, according to Varela.
Explore the Alternatives
What should a driver do if leather cleaner and conditioner alone are ineffective at making their car seats shine? There are many other options, as Sokolowski explains, so don’t worry. Aerosol hairspray could be used to remove permanent marker stains, and a solution of equal parts warm water and rubbing alcohol could be used to get rid of mold and mildew. The grease can be removed with a small amount of baking soda.
What about those ominous stains? Use lemon juice and cream of tartar to remove red wine or fruit juice. Then, using a damp sponge, remove the stain after letting this sit on it for about 10 minutes. After removing the lemon juice from the leather, condition it if you used it.
Simply use your imagination and you’ll have a clean car in no time.
Consider Using Seat Covers
If you frequently transport people or animals in your car, you might want to install seat covers on the leather seats to prevent further deterioration. Seat covers are also a smart idea if you frequently transport items in your back seats. Finding designs and materials that suit you is simply because there are so many seat cover options available. You’re searching for a modern black design. A lot of those, for sure. You prefer flames that look like cartoons or 1990s-era flowers. Please refrain from passing judgment because those are also widely available.
Consult Your Car Dealership Or Original Owner
It’s a good idea to speak with the original owner or the dealership where you bought the car if you’re unsure of how the leather seats were previously cared for and treated. This gives you the chance to find out if your seats have ever been redyed, which may have an impact on how you clean them. Knowing this information in advance can help you avoid any unintentional damage or stains to your redyed seats. Some cleaning agents and leather conditioners may react with redyed seats.
Close Note: Clean Regularly
Halter the deterioration of your leather car seats. By following these instructions on how to clean leather car seats and condition them for maintenance, you can keep them feeling and looking luxurious. Also, remember that they need to be cleaned and conditioned on a regular basis. Additionally, you can discover more cleaning techniques for materials like white leather, suede, and clean cloth.
