This article was co-authored by Chad Zani. Chad Zani is the Director of Franchising at Detail Garage, an automotive detailing company with locations around the U.S. and Sweden. Chad is based in the Los Angeles, California area and uses his passion for auto detailing to teach others how to do so as he grows his company nationwide.
wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 20 testimonials and 92% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status.
This article has been viewed 1,064,909 times.
It's easy to neglect your car's interior, especially when it comes to keeping the seats clean. However, keeping the leather seats in great condition can really make your car stand out. You'll want to remove surface dirt, clean the leather, and condition the seats regularly. While this may sound labor intensive, the steps are actually quite simple, and when done regularly, cleaning is a breeze.
Steps
Cleaning the Seats
-
1Check to see if your car seats have any perforated areas. If so, take care not to get water, cleanser or conditioner stuck down into the holes.[1]
- Consult your car manual. Before you clean or apply any products, refer to your car's owner's manual. There should be specific instructions on how to properly care for the leather upholstery, as well as products to avoid.
-
2Vacuum the seats. Use a vacuum hose and attachment or wet-dry vac to suck up any large particles of dirt. Use extreme care so you don't scratch the leather. You could also use an air compressor to blow out dirt from in between the seat cracks.[2]Advertisement
-
3Remove 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 a microfiber towel with cleaner and wipe over the seats. Use leather cleaner, saddle soap, or another mild leather soap.[3]
- You can use a commercial cleaner for leather seats or make your own: Combine 1 part white vinegar and 2 parts linseed oil in a bowl or spray bottle.
-
4Use a brush to deep clean the leather. Spray the cleaner directly onto your seats and use a soft-bristled brush to gently scrub the leather. This will agitate the dirt and bring it to the surface.
- If you have perforated leather seats, avoid spraying cleaner onto the seats. Instead, spray the bristle brush and use it to scrub the leather. Then, wipe dry with a microfiber cloth.
-
5Wipe the seats clean. Use a clean and dry microfiber cloth to wipe off the cleaning agent that you scrubbed into the leather. You should notice dirt, oil, and grime on the cloth.
-
6Regularly clean your seats. While you should lightly clean your seats every month or so, try to deep clean your seats 3 to 4 times a year. You may want to do this more often if you have light-colored leather or if you begin to notice grime building up.
Conditioning the Seats
-
1Choose a water-based, pH neutral conditioner. Look for a high-quality leather conditioner that does not contain petroleum distillates, silicone, or waxes. The goal of the conditioner is to replenish the natural oils in the leather, so choose one with top-quality ingredients. Cheaper leather conditioners may cling to the leather and have a greasy finish.
-
2Perform a spot test. Choose an inconspicuous area and apply a little conditioner. Gently rub it in using a microfiber cloth or sponge. Make sure the cleaner doesn't damage or discolor your seats.
-
3Condition your seats. Apply the conditioner to the seats and use a microfiber cloth or sponge to gently massage or rub it into the leather. Avoid applying too much conditioner, which will sit on top of the leather, making the seats greasy or slick. If in doubt, take a clean dry microfiber cloth and lightly wipe over the conditioned seats to remove any excess conditioner.
- Be sure to follow the product directions.
-
4Park your car in the shade or in your garage overnight. Give the conditioner some time out of 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.
-
5Use a microfiber cloth to buff the seats. Once the conditioner has had a chance 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.
- Don't over-condition your leather seats. Most seats only need conditioning treatment a few times a year.
Expert Q&A
Did you know you can get premium answers for this article?
Unlock premium answers by supporting wikiHow
-
QuestionHow do you make leather car seats look new?
Chad ZaniChad Zani is the Director of Franchising at Detail Garage, an automotive detailing company with locations around the U.S. and Sweden. Chad is based in the Los Angeles, California area and uses his passion for auto detailing to teach others how to do so as he grows his company nationwide.
Auto Detailing ExpertUse a horsehair brush for the deepest clean. These kinds of brushes work the best on leather because they can clean deep material's pores and scrub out tough stains.
Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.
-
QuestionHow do I clean mud off leather car seats?
wikiHow Staff EditorThis answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Staff AnswerwikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerBefore adding a cleanser of any sort to the mud-stained areas of the leather car seats, brush off as much of the mud as possible using a soft household brush (of the sort that comes with a dustpan), or use an old toothbrush. Sweep the mud that comes off easily into a bag or simply onto the ground outside the car. Make a mild cleanser by diluting a few drops of Dawn detergent (or similar mild detergent) in a small bucket of warm water. Dip a cleaning cloth into this mixture, wring out the water to remove as much liquid from the cloth as possible, then rub gently over the muddy parts of the seat. Rinse, then dip into the detergent mix, wring and repeat until all mud has been removed. Wipe all wet areas of the seats dry with a soft cloth or chamois, then finish with leather re-conditioner to restore the leather’s condition.Support wikiHow by unlocking this staff-researched answer.
-
QuestionWhat household items can I use to clean the leather in my car?wikiHow Staff EditorThis answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Staff AnswerwikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerHousehold items that can be turned into a cleaner for leather include vinegar, olive oil, gentle soap, Woolite, coconut oil, etc. However, each of these ingredients usually needs to be mixed with something else like water, to make the cleaner. To help you, just check out the recipes for leather cleaners using household items in this article: How to Clean Leather Naturally.Support wikiHow by unlocking this staff-researched answer.
Warnings
- Avoid using a household cleaner on your leather seats, even if it's diluted. The chemicals in such a cleaner will dry out the leather, causing it to crack and even tear. It can also strip the protective coating, which will cause fading and open the leather up to staining.⧼thumbs_response⧽
- Avoid contact between certain cleaners and other parts of the car. Depending on the chemical and the part of the car, the chemical can cause damage.⧼thumbs_response⧽
References
- ↑ http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/repair-questions/keep-those-leather-car-seats-new-16097295
- ↑ http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/12/detailing-your-car-s-interior/index.htm
- ↑ http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/12/detailing-your-car-s-interior/index.htm
- Videos provided by World Mechanics
About This Article
To clean your leather car seats, first vacuum each seat thoroughly with a hose attachment. Use a thin vacuum attachment to reach in between any crevices and pleats in the leather. Then, check the seats for any cuts or tears. If you find any, cover them with masking tape so you don't get any cleaner inside of your seats. Next, liberally spray your seats with a cleaner designed specifically for leather. You can also make your own cleaner by mixing 2 parts white vinegar and 1 part olive oil. Scrub your leather seats with a soft-bristled brush to work the cleaner into them and remove any dirt and grime. Next, get a non-abrasive scrub pad and wipe each seat thoroughly with the broad side of the pad to lift up any dirt or crumbs you knocked up with the brush. Finally, wipe your seats with a microfiber cloth to remove any leftover cleaner. Let your car air out by opening the doors or windows for around 30 minutes. If you want to learn how to protect your leather seats in between cleanings, keep reading!
