Leather car seats require a little extra care and regular maintenance than vinyl or cloth seats. The leather can dry out, which leads to cracks and discoloration. If you own a car that has leather seats, you need to know how to keep them clean without harming the leather. Before you begin cleaning your leather seats, you need to find out if they are coated or not. If you drip a little bit of water on the seat and the water soaks in, your seats are not coated. If the water beads and runs, your seats are coated with a light plastic. Leather that is not coated requires different treatment than leather that is coated.
Use the Right Kind of Cleaner
There are commercial cleaners available in most automotive stores that are designed specifically for cleaning leather seats. If you have leather seats that are not coated, you need to find a cleaner that is foam based. The foam will clean the leather without soaking in too deeply because it sits on the very top of the material. When you work with a cleaner that you have never used before, test it on a small hidden area of one of the seats to make sure that it does not cause discoloration.
Cleaners to Avoid
Leather seats should never be cleaned with any products that contain oil, silicone, or wax. These products will break down the leather over time, which will cause it to disintegrate. Avoid using items like furniture polish, baby wipes, or regular car upholstery cleaners. Car seats are made from a soft, fragile leather that will not stand up to the harsh cleaning power of something like saddle soap. The best thing you can do for your seats is to use a cleaner that is clearly marked as an automotive leather cleaner.
Take it One Section at a Time
Expect to spend some time cleaning your leather car seats. If you clean each seat a small section at a time, you will have better results than if you spray the whole seat at once. You need to control how long each section is covered in cleaner, which is easier if you use the cleaner in manageable sections. Spray the foam onto the seat and rub it in using a damp cloth. Allow the foam to work on the seat for about a minute, but no longer than two minutes. While the foam is on the seat, it will pull out dirt and stains. Use a dry cloth to wipe the cleaner completely off of the leather. Begin the process again with the next section of the seat.
Keeping the Leather Hydrated
Leather seats dry out very easily. The best way to keep them supple is to hydrate them once every few weeks. Dampen a cloth with clean water, then rub the water into the seats. The leather will soak up just enough water to maintain the right level of moisture. Do not use too much water on your cloth or you run the risk of getting the seats too wet.
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