How To Clean Leather Car Seats

So you splurged on leather seats. You’re living in the lap of luxury. The dream comes to a screeching halt once the leather seats become dingy and dirty.

Properly caring for your car’s leather seats will maintain the level of comfort and luxury you’re used to, and the vehicle’s value, too.

Here’s how to clean leather car seats:

• Vacuum the seats. Use an attachment and open up the leather seat’s seams to get into the creases. Over time, as you get in and out of the seats, movement and friction with these particles will act as an abrasive and damage the material.
• Start with the gentlest method. Purchase a leather cleaner from your dealership and test it on a small portion of the leather. Spray the cleaner or moisten a clean, dry cloth with it, and apply medium pressure over the seat. You can clean the seats this way every month or so to take care of dirt.
• Go bigger. If stains persist, use a brush with a soft bristle and gently move back and forth over the area. If this doesn’t work, use the cleaner over the area, and then agitate the soiled area with the brush. Once you work up a lather, quickly wipe it away with a dry but soft cloth.
• Tackle stubborn stains. Take a scrub pad designed for use on interior car upholstery, but be careful to use light pressure. At most, only employ medium pressure, as this method can damage the leather. If the area in question is aged and worn, using a scrub pad may permanently damage the area, as it will be vulnerable and weak.
• Condition. After cleaning the leather car seats, apply a leather conditioner to care for the material. This will help keep it clean and prevent cracks in the leather, too.

If you’re concerned about your leather seats or you want to be proactive and take great care of your car, contact Serra Subaru Akron with your questions!