How to Clean Leather Car Seats

When it comes to car care in San Antonio, there are some tasks that are best left to a professional service center, while others can pretty easily be performed at home – like cleaning your leather car seats! If you’re new to the world of DIY car maintenance and are searching for some tips on how to clean car seats, you’ve come to the right source. In this comprehensive guide, Aston Martin Houston covers how to clean leather car seats and how to condition them, plus some additional leather care tips and interior car detailing tips.

How to Clean Leather Car Seats

Before getting started, you’ll need to gather up a few supplies:

• Leather cleaner, saddle soap, mild leather soap, or 1 part white vinegar/2 parts linseed oil solution
• Microfiber towels
• Interior brush (soft-bristled, NOT a stiff carpet brush)

Instructions:

1. It’s a good idea to consult your owner’s manual before you start cleaning, just in case there are any products that are not recommended for use on the specific type of leather your seats are upholstered with.
2. Using a delicate hand, vacuum the seats thoroughly to remove any loose particles, being careful not to scratch the leather. Switch to the smaller attachments or an air compressor to get into hard-to-reach areas.
3. Spray your leather cleaner directly on your clean microfiber towel, then wipe the seats clean to remove surface dirt and oils.
4. Now spray your leather cleaner onto the seats, and gently scrub the surface with your brush. (If you have perforated leather seats, you should spray the cleaner on the brush to apply to the seats.)
5. Wipe the seats with a clean, dry microfiber towel.

Steps for Conditioning Leather Car Seat Fabric

To help maintain the integrity of your leather seats, it is recommended that Sugarland drivers also condition them on a regular basis. Conditioning leather helps prevent it from drying out and cracking and preserves the supple quality it had when you first bought your car. Conditioning leather seats is different than cleaning them, but the steps are just as easy to follow:

1. Your leather conditioner should only contain natural ingredients – you should leave products with ingredients like petroleum distillates, silicones, and waxes on the shelf.
2. Apply a small amount of conditioner to a clean, dry microfiber cloth.
3. Using gentle circular motions, work the conditioner into the leather.
4. Allow about 60 minutes for the conditioner to soak into the leather before you touch it.
5. During the above step, it’s best to keep your seats out of direct sunlight if possible. This will help the leather to fully soak in the conditioner.
6. Once your seats have fully absorbed the conditioner, you can gently buff them with a new, dry microfiber cloth.

Additional Leather Seat Care Tips

Knowing how to clean car seats that are appointed with leather will do a great deal to maintain the initial look and feel of your leather seats, but there are some additional tips you can practice in-between cleanings and conditionings to maintain their luxurious nature:

1. Always have a few clean and dry microfiber cloths and a leather cleaning solution stored in your vehicle so you can quickly take care of any major spills like coffee or soda. This can do a great deal to prevent long-term damage to your leather interior, as dark liquids can soak in and stain quickly if they’re not tended to right away.
2. If you have access to a garage, park your vehicle in it as often as you’re able to. Protecting your leather interior from exposure to extreme temperatures and prolonged sunlight may help extend the life of the leather.
3. When you’re out and about in The Woodlands, practice the above tip of keeping your car out of the sun. Try to park in shady areas whenever possible to help avoid sun bleaching and other sun damage.

Learn More DIY Car Care Tips With Aston Martin Houston

Whether you need to know how to clean leather car seats or you’re looking for tips on fuel-efficient driving, you can count on the team at Aston Martin Houston to provide information you can trust. Consult our online service information center for features on how to check tire tread depth, how to wash your car at home, and how to clean car mats!