A set of luxurious seats can give your car a luxurious edge; however, with great style comes great responsibility. Whether you accidentally spilled food on them or you’re coming home from a road trip, your car seats are bound to get a little messy.
One stain or tiny crumb might not seem like a huge deal; however, it can seriously cramp your ride’s overall appeal. Additionally, you can’t clean your leather seats with just any type of cleaner because one false move and your leather seat might be ruined for good.
Leather seats are pricey; therefore, you must take good care of them. Here are some tips on cleaning your leather car seats to ensure that they look good:
How Do You Remove Ingrained Dirt From Leather Car Seats?
If you’re thinking of removing ingrained dirt from leather car seats, you will need the right tools to help you achieve the best cleaning results. You will need the following tools to help you clean the leather seats:
What You Need
You will need the following to get the job done:
Vacuum cleaner
Before doing any wiping and scrubbing, you will have to remove dirt and debris on the car seats to avoid dragging them on the seats because doing so can be damaging. Using a vacuum cleaner will allow you to do the job quickly.
Air Compressor
An air compressor is useful when dealing with stubborn particles found in hard-to-reach areas. You can blow the particles out with the air compressor.
Soft-Bristled Brush
You will need to do some brushing to get rid of ingrained dirt on your leather car seats. A soft-bristled brush is gentle enough for the work and effective for leather cleaning.
Leather Car Seat Cleaner
A commercial leather seat cleaner would work perfectly for your car’s leather seats. However, it’s best to avoid leather cleaning products that contain bleach and ammonia because they can damage leather.
Microfiber Cloths
You will need two microfiber cloths for this process; one for wiping out dirt and grime on the seats and another dry one for wiping the cleaner and dirt from the car seats.
Leather Conditioner
Leather tends to dry and crack due to losing some of its natural oils over time. However, conditioning leather car seats prevents them from drying and cracking. A conditioner provides a temporary protective coating from heat and abrasion and enhances colored leather’s vibrancy.
Choose a water-based conditioner with a neutral pH if you want the best results.
Procedure
Once you have all the necessary cleaning materials, you’ll need to follow the following materials to ensure that you have clean seats:
Look for Any Perforations or Damages on the Seats
Before cleaning your leather car seats, it’s best to check whether they have perforations or damages such as scratches, holes, tears, and frays. You should deal with car seats with holes cautiously because there’s a risk that the cleaning agent will accidentally seep through the wear and tear on the leather car seats and damage their inner foam.
If you find holes in the leather seats, do not spray the cleaning solution directly on them. Instead, the best way to deal with them is to apply the cleaning solution on the soft-bristle brush and brush it on the leather seats. After that, wipe them with a microfiber cloth.
If the cleaning solution accidentally seeps in through the cleaning solution, it’s best to dry it quickly with a hairdryer and a clean cloth.
Vacuum the Ingrained Dirt from the Car Seats
You should remove all the dirt and debris on the car seats using a vacuum cleaner before wiping because the dirt and debris could be dragged along and scratch the seats when you start wiping. It’s best also to be careful to ensure that the vacuum cleaner doesn’t scratch the seats as well.
Start by vacuuming dirt and debris lodged in the crevices. Next, you might use an air compressor to remove stubborn particles in hard-to-reach areas.
Do a Spot Test
Before you begin wiping and scrubbing your car seats with a cleaner, do a spot test. Doing a spot test is necessary if you use a cleaner for the first time because it helps you avoid ruining your leather car seats.
To do a spot test, you will apply a small amount of the cleaner in a small inconspicuous area of the car seat. If you don’t notice any issues in the area where you applied the cleaner, such as fizzing or melting, the cleaner is safe for use.
Clean the Dirt and Grime not Removed by the Vacuum Cleaner
A layer of dirt and grime can accumulate on your car seats over time, especially if you don’t clean the seats often. Some of the dirt might not be sucked by the vacuum cleaner, and it will remain behind.
You will have to clean this dirt using a microfiber cloth sprayed with the cleaner. After this, gently rub the microfiber cloth on the seat section by section to remove any stains.
Deep Clean the Leather Seats With a Soft-Bristled Brush and Cleaner
You will have to do a deep cleaning to remove any ingrained stains on your car seat. For deep cleaning, spray the cleaner directly on the car seats and gently scrub the seats with a soft-bristled brush. Scrubbing using the cleaner and soft-bristled brush will help agitate grease stains or deep-seated dirt on the car seats and bring them out onto the surface.
Scrub gently because too much pressure on your leather seats can damage them. Additionally, do not apply too much cleaner because too much liquid can saturate the seats, which might lead to mold growth or cause a bad odor.
Spraying and scrubbing leather car seats gently would effectively and quickly get them cleaned.
Wipe the Leather Seats Clean
Wipe away the cleaner and dirt on the leather car seats with a dry microfiber cloth after you scrub them. Ensure you don’t leave any residue because leaving some behind can make the car seats sticky and smelly.
Failure to wipe your car’s leather seats can also cause the leather to warp and crack.
Condition the Leather Car Seats
It’s best to do a spot test before applying conditioner to ensure it’s safe for your leather car seats.
You can do the spot test by applying a small amount of conditioner in a small inconspicuous area and rubbing it gently with a microfiber cloth. If the conditioner doesn’t damage or discolor the leather, then you can proceed to condition the car seats with the product.
You will need to use a good conditioner on a microfiber cloth; however, use moderate amounts because too much of it would leave the car seats moist and greasy. Once you have the correct amount of conditioner on the cloth, rub it gently onto the leather in circular motions.
Let the conditioner sit on the car seats for at least an hour to soak and cure the leather. It would be best to park your car under a shade to prevent interference with the absorption of the conditioner into the car seats.
After soaking and curing the leather, polish the car seats by buffing them out with a microfiber cloth. Doing so would also help remove any excess conditioner.
What are Some Good Leather Car Seat Cleaners and Conditioners?
Leather is a natural material; therefore, you should treat it differently from other synthetic materials and fabrics.
It’s best to understand that only some cleaners can work on leather, and leather-specific cleaners are safer than generic solvents and solutions. Search for brands that specify that they’re safe for leather and ensure that the ingredients won’t stain or mark when working with white or lighter-colored leather.
It’s better to avoid some ingredients such as alcohol, acetone, and other cleaners made for glass or plastic because they can be detrimental to leather.
Here are some good leather car seat cleaners and conditioners:
Best Leather Conditioner- Leather Honey Leather Conditioner
A conditioner is a great way to restore a natural sheen back to your leather seats. A small drop of Leather Honey Leather Conditioner can leave your car seat with an extra shine. The best thing is that you can also use it on your leather shoes, bags, and other accessories.
There are thousands of reviews on this product, many of which report amazing results, even with cracked or worn leather. However, some reviewers also note that this product can also darken leather, which can be positive or negative depending on your needs.
Best Cleaner for Car Leather Seats- Leather Honey Leather Cleaner
Leather Honey Leather Cleaner is a non-toxic and ready-to-use leather cleaner. Although it doesn’t contain honey or beeswax, this product is close to the consistency of honey, and just a small portion of it can cover a big surface.
Best Leather Cleaner and Conditioner- Chemical Guys Complete Leather Care Kit
Chemical Guys Complete Leather Care Kit is a well-known name in automotive care. This kit has everything you need to keep your car leather seats looking and feeling luxurious, with two separate bottles for cleaner and conditioner.
Many user reviews have documented impressive results, and they enjoy the mild leather smell that the conditioner leaves behind. The Complete Leather Care Kit also has a great track record of removing tough stains.
Best Leather Cleaner and Conditioner on a Budget- Meguiar’s Gold Class Rich Leather Cleaner & Conditioner
If you’re on a budget, then Meguiar’s Gold Class Rich Leather Cleaner & Conditioner is a great product for you. The product is a true bargain because it costs a fraction of most top leather conditioners and cleaners.
However, this is a two-in-one product; therefore, you shouldn’t expect it to outperform a dedicated cleaner or conditioner. Nevertheless, user reviews still report great results because the product provides plenty of cleaning power and even some extra luster.
Simple Home Products You Can Use to Clean Your Leather Car Seats
Simple home products can help you clean your badly dirty leather car seats. However, it’s best to avoid bleach or ammonia-based cleaners because they can damage the seats.
Here are some home products you can use to clean your leather car seats:
Warm Water and Dish Washing Soap
You can make a leather seat car cleaner using warm water and dishwashing soap. Here’s how to do it:
What You Need
- Dishwashing soap
- Warm water
- Bucket
- Microfiber cloths
Procedure
- Mix dishwashing soap and warm water in a bucket using a ratio of five parts water and one part soap.
- Dampen a microfiber cloth with the solution and wipe down the seat surfaces.
- Be careful not to saturate the leather because too much water could pool in the seams and seep into the seat. Additionally, excess water can also stain the leather.
- Wipe clean with a second damp microfiber cloth and dry thoroughly with a towel.
Vinegar and Olive Oil
Vinegar is a miracle product in terms of its cleaning properties:
- It’s a solvent and can dissolve substances such as grease or dirt.
- As a result, it’s an extremely efficient disinfectant.
- In addition, it’s a great deodorizer.
Olive oil is a great leather conditioner and can also break down any stains and smudges on the surface of your seats.
Here’s how to clean your leather car seats with vinegar and olive oil:
What You Need
- ½ cup of olive oil
- ¼ cup of vinegar
- Spray bottle
Procedure
- Put olive oil and vinegar in a spray bottle and shake well.
- Spritz on the seat, let it sit for five minutes, and wipe.
Cream of Tartar and Lemon Juice Blend
Lemon juice is one of the greatest natural cleaners due to the following:
- Its low pH
- It has a high citric acid content
- It has well-known antibacterial properties
What You Need
- 1 cup of lemon juice blend
- 1 cup of cream of tartar
Procedure
- Mix lemon juice and cream of tartar in a dish.
- Apply the paste directly onto the stain on your leather car seat and let it sit for 30 minutes.
- Use a moist sponge to wipe the blend away; the stain should come off along with it.
It’s best to use the above remedy on light-colored seats because its bleaching effects can ruin darker-colored leather.
What Will Ruin Your Car Leather Seats?
Many things can ruin your car’s leather seats and leave them looking terrible. Here’s a list of the things that can ruin your car’s leather seats:
Food or Drinks
It’s best to avoid eating or drinking in your car if you have leather seats. Food and drinks spilled on your leather seats can ruin them, especially if you spill something acidic like coffee or ketchup.
Excessive Heat or the Sun
The sun’s UV or excessive heat can ruin your leather car seats. It’s best to use a car cover if you have leather upholstery. Doing so prevents the sun from beating down on the leather seats when parking your car.
Dirt or Dust
Keeping your leather car seats clean is best because dirt and dust can scratch and ruin them. You also risk getting road grime all over your car seat if you drive with your windows down.
Wrong Cleaners
Cleaning your leather car seats is necessary; however, you should use the right cleaners. Using harsh chemical cleaners on your leather car seats is the quickest way to damage them.
It’s best to use a leather cleaner recommended by the seat manufacturer. Additionally, be sure to treat the leather regularly as well.
Pets
If your dog loves riding in the car with you, it’s best to keep its claws trimmed to ensure that it doesn’t dig into your leather upholstery.
The safest way for your dog or cat to ride with you is to ensure it’s in a crate. Doing so ensures your pet doesn’t tear up your leather upholstery while panicking.
How Do You Clean White Leather Car Seats?
Cleaning white leather car seats is not an impossible task. You can clean the seats with liquid or non-liquid cleaners.
You can make a liquid solution by mixing one part mild soap with eight parts warm water, then spraying the solution on any stains. Once done, you can use a cloth to rub the area gently.
Non-liquid soaps include cornstarch or saddle soap.
Remember that maintenance is the key to keeping your white leather seats in pristine condition. It’s best to wash them at least once per week. However, if you bought a used car, you might have little control over the damage that’s already done due to neglect from the previous owner.
If the leather is soiled or badly cracked, it’s best to enlist a professional detailer’s services to help restore the seats.
Cleaning black or white leather seats does not have to be a problem. The tips above should help you get started. Remember that regular cleaning, maintenance, and avoiding things that can ruin your leather car seats is the best way to ensure they remain in pristine condition.