Associated with luxury, leather upholstery offers comfort and class. Maintaining the luxurious feel of leather requires regular cleaning and conditioning. Identifying the type of leather upholstery ensures the purchase of proper cleaning products. The best way to clean car leather upholstery involves the removal of debris and applying the appropriate cleaning and conditioning products in a two-step process. Cleaning your upholstery ensures years of use and preserves the beauty of your leather interior.
Determine the type of leather in your vehicle. Most vehicles with leather interiors have top-coated or NuBuck seats. Understanding the type of leather in your vehicle helps you choose the proper products to clean them. Determine your type by squeezing a few drops of water in a discreet location. NuBuck will absorb the water while top-coated leather repels it. You can also contact your car manufacturer to find out which you have.
Purchase products for your leather type. Leather upholstery requires cleaning and conditioning. Purchase soft cleaning cloths, an upholstery brush, cleaner and conditioner. Never use household detergents or other products as they may damage your interior. Many products come in several forms including liquid, wipes, gels and lotions. Using a cleaning and conditioning product not only removes soil but also conditions the hide to protect against cracking. Meguiars Gold Class, Lexol and Zymol leather cleaners and conditioners are good choices. Visit the resources section of this article for links to products.
Remove any dirt and loose debris. Carefully brush away any dirt in the cracks and surface of each seat. Gently brush any material to the floor of your vehicle with a soft bristle brush.
Clean your seats. Carefully review the manufacturer's instructions on applying the leather cleaner. Apply the cleaner to your cleaning cloth and work the product into your seats. You may need to use another cloth if your upholstery has substantial staining. Repeat the process for each seat in your vehicle.
Condition your upholstery. Review the manufacturer's instructions on applying the leather conditioner. Apply the conditioner to a clean cloth and begin working the product into your upholstery. Conditioning your upholstery will extend its life by returning moisture and preventing cracks.
