Best Way to Clean and Condition Leather Seats in a Car

Nothing says luxury quite like leather seats, but if you are the owner of a car that has leather seats, you likely know that keeping them in shape can be difficult. Over time, leather can become worn, or begin to lose its color. There are some ways to avoid this, and we thought it would look at a few of the ways that you can care for your car’s leather or leatherette seats.

Now that spring is here and summer is coming up quickly, there is no better time than now to get your leather seats cleaned in time for the warmer weather.

Before you begin, you should always consult your owner’s manual, as you will likely find suggestions about how to care for the seats in your car there. You may want to avoid certain cleaning products, or there may be certain steps that you should take, but the only way of knowing for sure is to check the owner’s manual.

This is especially true if you have any perforated areas or parts of the leather that have holes. These help the seats to breathe, and if too much water or a cleaning agent ends up on the seat, it could leak through and ruin the seat cushion. Rather than spraying directly onto the seats, it may be best to spray the scrub brush that you use and then to use the brush on the seat. This will keep there from being a lot of liquid.

If you head to your local hardware or auto parts store, you’ll find that they have various brands of leather cleaner, but if you are looking to clean the seats on a budget, you can make your own by combining one part white vinegar and two parts linseed oil. Mix them in a bowl or a spray bottle and wipe down the seats with the mixture. You’ll find that it not only helps to clean the seats, but helps to give them a great shine.

To make sure that the work that you put into cleaning the seats lasts a while, you should use a high-quality leather conditioner. Find one that does not contain petroleum distillates, silicone or any waxes, all of which can leave a greasy finish on your leather seats. A good conditioner will help to seal the leather and to keep it looking nice, new and shiny for a few good months. Be sure not to over-condition the seats.

For more information similar to this, we highly encourage you to check out the rest of the Zimbrick blog, where you will find plenty of information about how to maintain just about every aspect of your car.

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