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Last Updated on June 18, 2023 by Chase Manhattan
Leather car seats are a perfect touch of luxury to enhance the appearance and feel of a car’s interior.
In order to clean the dirty leather seats, you will need to vacuum and clean the surface with a microfiber towel or sponge before applying leather cleaner and conditioner to protect it
What You’ll Need
- Leather cleaner
- Leather conditioner
- Leather protectant
- Microfiber towels
- Microfiber sponge
It can be an expensive option that many people choose to have in their cars, but without proper cleaning and protecting, leather seats in your car will quickly become dirty and lose their luxurious effect.
This guide will teach you how to easily clean and protect leather car seats to keep them looking new!
Quick Navigation
What Is The Best Cleaner For Leather Car Seats?
You can purchase the complete kit which has everything you need to clean and condition (and more) or just the cleaner/conditioner on Amazon.
Additionally, Chemical Guys also make one of the best leather protectants which will work great with their other products (or by itself). It is also great because it won’t leave behind a greasy appearance like many cheap leather care products.
You can find this leather protectant on Amazon and it is totally worth it for the protection it will provide for years when applied regularly.
Recommended Article: 11 Great Car Interior Cleaning Tips
How To Clean Dirty Leather Car Seats DIY
The cleaning process is not very difficult and will make your car’s seats look brand new!
Follow the steps below to fully clean and condition your leather car seats.
Vacuum
Before cleaning the seats, vacuum up any loose dirt, crumbs, etc.
This allows you to see how much dirt is actually stuck to the surface of the leather car seats.
Be sure to thoroughly vacuum the crevices of the seats, as they can sometimes be difficult to clean.
Clean the Surface
Spray a generous amount of the leather cleaner onto the microfiber towel and scrub the seats.
Cover all areas of the seats using moderate pressure to remove all the dirt. Pay close attention to crevices in the seat, as it can be difficult to get them clean, but avoid soaking it with too much cleaner.
Wipe Away Residue
After cleaning the seats, you must remove any residue left over from the cleaner.
Use a clean microfiber towel and wipe away leftover product.
Check all areas of the seat to make sure it has been completely wiped up to prepare for conditioning leather car seats.
Conditioning Leather Car Seats
Now that your leather car seats are clean, you’ll want to condition them to restore the soft texture.
Conditioning your seats is extremely easy and can make them feel brand new!
Apply the Conditioner
Spread a thin layer of the leather conditioner onto a microfiber sponge with your finger or by folding the sponge over.
Using the sponge, apply the conditioner evenly, covering the entire seat. Make sure you reach the crevices in the seats.
Wipe Away Residue
Similar to cleaning leather car seats, there may be a residue left over from using the product.
Simply wipe away any residue using a clean microfiber towel. The seats should not be shiny, rather they should have a clean, natural appearance.
How Do You Make Leather Car Seats Look New?
To keep your leather car seats looking great, you’ll need to protect them from the sun damage, wear, dirt, and oils that they encounter every day.
You should protect leather car seats from the beginning, as it will keep them looking and feeling brand new for many years.Letting new leather seats go unprotected could leave damage and wear that can’t easily be fixed.
Chemical Guys makes a leather protectant which I highly recommend.
It doesn’t leave a greasy residue and provides great protection. It also has a classic, new leather scent, which will add the perfect touch to your newly cleaned leather!
You can find this leather protectant on Amazon and it is totally worth it for the protection it will provide for years when applied regularly.
The process is exactly the same as applying a leather conditioner.
1. Apply the Protectant
Spread a thin layer of the leather protectant onto a microfiber sponge with your finger or by folding the sponge over.
Using the sponge, apply the protectant evenly, covering the entire seat. Make sure you reach the crevices in the seats.
2. Wipe Away Residue
Similar to cleaning and conditioning, there may be a residue left over from using the product.
Wipe away any residue using a clean microfiber towel just like before. The seats should have a clean, natural appearance if you’re using the product I recommended above.
How Often Should You Clean Leather Car Seats?
Although cleaning leather car seats is quick and easy, you may wonder how often you should clean them.
Generally, your leather car seats should be cleaned once every 3 months, but this varies depending on the situation.
If your car is driven frequently or often exposed to dirt or the sun, you should consider cleaning them every 1-2 months, depending on the severity.
On the other hand, if the car is kept out of direct sunlight and not driven frequently, it may only require cleaning every six months. Use your best judgement to decide how frequent your cleaning should be.
Additionally, if you use the driver’s seat frequently but not the other seats, you should clean the driver’s seat more often than the rest.
Are Leather Car Seats Worth It?
Sometimes it can be tough to decide if leather car seats are worth it, so you should consider your situation before choosing them over other types of car seats.
If you own a higher-end car or a car that isn’t heavily driven, leather car seats are probably worth it if you can afford the extra cost.
High-end cars are typically fitted with leather seats to match the luxurious appearance of the rest of the car, therefore, without leather car seats you could lose some of that luxury feel.
Additionally, if your car isn’t driven much it will reduce the likelihood of the leather wearing down quickly from use.
If you have a daily driver or your interior often takes a beating, you may want to consider choosing a material other than leather for your seats.
Generally, leather car seats can be a great option for higher-end cars, but also other types of cars if it fits your lifestyle.
