With constant daily use, it is inevitable that dirt, soiling and other contamination will become attached to the surface of the leather in your car. Added to that, the constant wear on the leather plus the extreme heat which cars are exposed to, can create the perfect storm for the destruction and deterioration of your upholstery.

To prevent your car leather from wearing out prematurely, regular cleaning and conditioning should be added to your maintenance program. Keeping your leather clean will not only make it more appealing as far as look and feel is concerned but will also prolong its life, thus avoiding expensive restoration and upholstering costs.

Here are 3 simple steps to cleaning your car leather:

STEP 1:- Avoid Cleaning In Direct Sunlight
When cleaning your leather, do not work in direct sunlight. When your seats are hot, the cleaner will evaporate before it gets a chance to lift the soiling from the surface. Also, wet leather can shrink if it is exposed to intense heat, and cause permanent damage.

STEP 2:- Vacuum To Remove Loose Soiling
The next step is to vacuum the leather to remove soiling, dirt, dust and other contamination which hasn't yet adhered to the surface. Pay particular attention to areas such as:

• Along the edge of the piping
• Where leather is stitched
• Between where two surfaces meet such as seat bottoms and uprights.

Be careful not to use vacuum attachments with sharp edges which can potentially scratch the leather surface.

Once the loose soiling has been removed, then it's time to use the leather cleaner.

STEP 3:- Cleaning The Leather

• Choose a small area on your seat such as panel and evenly spray the leather cleaner onto the surface.
• Dip the leather cleaning brush into clean water, flick off the residue and lightly scrub the seat panel.
• With a clean towel or cloth, wipe off the soiling and cleaner residue.

You may need to repeat this 2 or 3 times if your leather is heavily soiled.

Once cleaned and dry, apply a good quality leather conditioner and protector for improved suppleness and added protection.

WARNING: Only Use An Approved Leather Cleaner

There are many products and remedies being offered on the internet as leather cleaners such as: household cleaners, floor cleaners, detergents. Some websites are even suggesting hairspray, toothpaste and shaving cream!

Independent leather testing has revealed that all of these products are potentially harmful to your leather and can very quickly ruin the leather finish.

So I strongly suggest you only use a leather cleaner which has been tested and approved by an independent leather testing authority.

Cleaning car leather is very simple to do and if done on a regular basis, it will stay in good condition for many years longer.