Leather car seats are a must have for most of the car owners. They’re more comfortable, durable, smell great, and feel more luxurious than upholstered car seats. They can also help a car’s resale value if it’s trade in time but only if they’ve been kept in good condition. As they are durable, and easy to clean, leather seats also need some special care and attention to keep them looking good. Leather can start to look tired after a lot of daily use so it’s good to know how to keep your seats shining like new.
Check for holes
Take sometime to thoroughly check for holes tears and perforation in the leather if you find holes or tears than take care not to get water, cleanser or conditioner stuck down into the holes. And this can damage the inner foam of seats.
Vacuuming
Begin by vacuuming the seats thoroughly. Dirt is one of the biggest cause of leather breaking down. Use a wet or dry vacuum with a soft brush head carefully use the vacuum to remove every nook and cranny. Be careful while vacuuming not to scratch the surface. You can also use an air compressor to blow out dirt from in between the seat cracks.
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Remove surface dirt
If your seats are really dirty, you’ll be able to see a layer of grime on the leather; however, even seemingly clean seats will have a layer of dirt and grime that’s accumulated over time. Spray the cleaner on a microfiber towel and wipe over the seats. Use leather cleaner, saddle soap, or any other mild leather soap.You can also use a commercial cleaner for leather seats or make your own by combining 1 part of white vinegar with 2 parts linseed oil in a bowl or spray bottle.
Use a brush to deep clean the leather
Spray the cleaner directly onto your car seats and gently scrub the leather with a soft bristled brush.This will agitate the dirt and bring it to the surface.If you have perforated leather seats, than avoid spraying cleaner onto the seats. Instead you can spray the bristle brush and use it to scrub the leather seats. Then, wipe dry it with a microfiber cloth.Use a horsehair brush for the deepest and gentle clean. These kinds of brushes work the best on leather because they can clean deep material’s pores and scrub out tough stains.
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Wipe the seats clean
Use a clean and dry microfiber cloth to wipe off the cleaning soap that you scrubbed into the leather. You will notice dirt, oil, and grime on the cloth.
Regularly clean your seats
While you should lightly clean your seats every month or so,try to deep clean your seats 3 to 4 times in a year. You may need to do this more often if you have light colored leather or when you begin to notice grime building up.
Conditioning the Seats
Choose a water-based, pH neutral conditioner
Look for a good quality leather conditioner which does not contain silicone, petroleum distillates, or waxes. The purpose of using the conditioner is to replenish the natural oils in the leather, so choose one with top quality ingredients. Cheaper leather conditioners may stick to the leather and give a greasy finish.
Condition your seats
Apply the conditioner to the seats and use a clean microfiber cloth to gently massage or rub it into the leather. Avoid applying too much conditioner, because it can stick on top of the leather, making the seats greasy. If you still feel any grease take a clean dry microfiber cloth and lightly wipe over the conditioned seats to remove any excess conditioner.Give the conditioner some time out in the sun so it has a chance to set in without the bombardment of UV light. Let the conditioner sit for at least one hour.
Use a microfiber cloth to buff the seats.
Once the conditioner has sometime to soak into the leather, take a clean dry microfiber cloth and polish the seats. Use circular motions and take care to wipe up excess conditioner from the leather. Don’t over condition your leather seats most seats only need conditioning treatment a few times in a year.