Caring for Leather Car Seats

You bought a new car and decided to go with the leather seating option. The leather seats not only look nice, but they feel great in the hot and humid summer too. But like most fancy things, it requires a little bit of TLC to keep it looking nice. Here are a few tips on caring for your leather seats.

A Little Care Goes a Long Way

Leather is a lot like your skin. It likes to stay moisturized, it likes to stay out of excessive sunlight, and it likes to be treated gently. If leather gets to dry, it can begin to crack. UV radiation from sunlight can expedite this process, as well as fade your seats. Being gentle on them is also a no brainer. For example, if you keep your keys hanging from your belt, take them off before you slide across the seat. And just like regular washes and waxes are necessary to keep your paint job healthy, a similar process is good for your seats, too. Here’s the step-by-step:

• Get your equipment: putting together a leather cleaning kit in a box or bucket may not be a bad idea. That way you can store it in the garage and always have it on hand. You kit should include:
  • Microfiber rags, disposable shop cloths, or another lint-free cloth
  • A soft-bristled brush
  • A leather or vinyl cleaner free of petroleum solvents, silicone oils, or gloss agents
  • A leather conditioner
• Apply the cleaner: using a rag or the soft-bristled brush, apply the cleaner, following the directions on the bottle. When using the brush, work gently; don’t scrub. You don’t want to damage the seat. Use a slight agitating motion to open the pores of the leather so the cleaner penetrates properly.
• Apply the conditioner: cleaners are absorbed into the fibers of the leather, helping to moisturize and strengthen them. Following the directions on the conditioner’s bottle, apply it to the seats.
• Park in the garage or shade overnight: the last thing you want is for the sun to attack your leather seats while the conditioner is setting. Park it in a shaded, cool area to make sure that it sets properly.

Do a once over with a rag the next morning: take a microfiber rag or towel and go over all the conditioned seat surfaces to get up any excess conditioner.