How to Clean Leather Car Seats

Leather seats are more luxurious than their cloth counterparts, but they also require a bit more upkeep so they stay in top condition. If you drive a car in Virginia Beach with leather seats and surfaces, you’ll want to take special care to maintain them. The service team from Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Norfolk has some tips in the guide below for leather seat care, including the kind of products to use and some maintenance advice.

Tips on How to Clean Leather Car Seats

Here is the general process of how to clean leather car seats. Follow these steps and your upholstery will be looking like new in no time!

1. Vacuum all the crevices of your seats to remove any surface-level dirt and debris that’s accumulated.
2. Apply a pH-neutral cleaning solution to the upholstery. Take care not to get any liquid cleaner into the perforations, as this can damage the seats.
3. Using a microfiber cloth and a soft-bristled brush, gently clean all over the leather seats and surfaces.
4. Once the seats are clean, use an approved brand of leather conditioner to the upholstery alongside a clean microfiber cloth.
5. Let the conditioner dry, and buff the seats with another microfiber cloth. This keeps the seats supple and avoids cracking the leather.

What Cleaning Products Should Be Used?

It’s important to use the proper products when cleaning leather upholstery in your Chesapeake-area car. Use a colorless damp rag, warm water, soap, or a specially-made leather cleaner for optimal care. For recommendations as to the ideal leather cleaner or other products, check your owner’s manual.

Here are the products that you want to avoid when cleaning a car with leather seats:

• Sharp objects that may scratch
• Household cleaner
• Dark cloths
• Detergents
• Furniture polish

Additional Leather Care Tips

1. To save time when cleaning your leather seats, keep a travel bottle of cleaning solution and some microfiber cloths on hand to get rid of dust and debris as soon as they show up on your upholstery.
2. Store your vehicle in a garage whenever possible, to avoid excessive heat or cold. Extreme temperatures can quickly wear out leather upholstery.
3. Park in shaded parking spots whenever possible, to prevent bleaching and damage from leaving leather in direct sunlight.

Learn More About Car Care with Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Norfolk

Want to know more about leather seat care, or taking care of your vehicle in general? Contact our office or come by our Suffolk-area service center! We’re happy to answer any questions you have about keeping your car in top condition. And if you need to bring your vehicle in for any kind of maintenance, be sure to check out our service specials to save on your next appointment.