Car Leather Seat Care

If you have leather seats in your car, you chose this option for a reason.  You didn’t look in the car and say “Oh, does it really have to have leather in it?”  If you did, you are in the minority. Many people enjoy the comforts and even the luxurious feeling leather can bring to an automobile. Yet, it is shocking how many people don’t know how to treat and care for their leather to extend the life and comfort of those leather seats they paid extra for.  We are here to remedy that.

Like shampoo and conditioner, treating leather properly is a two-step process.  First it must be cleaned; second, it should be conditioned.  To begin cleaning, you need the right tools.  A microfiber towel is a must.  Consider also purchasing a leather brush to disturb (in a good way) the pores in the leather to encourage dirt and oils to the surface to be promptly wiped away.

Pick a reputable cleanser that is free of petroleum products.  Petroleum based solvents may appear to clean your seats, but there are three significant drawbacks:

• Glue goo- many leathers are glued before they are stitched, cleaning with petroleum solvents can dissolve the glue causing discoloration at the seams.
• Smell-  Petroleum solvents can often leave a noticeably unpleasant odor behind
• Discoloration- Because of their effectiveness, petroleum based solvents can not only remove the dirt and oils in your leather seats, they can also remove the leather dye along with it!

Once you have removed the dirt and grime from your leather seats it’s a good idea to condition them.  There are many brands to choose from but one thing remains constant—forget the promises on the bottle and get a pH balanced, WATER BASED conditioner for your leather.  Silicone, petroleum, and other ingredients in bottles disguised as leather conditioner can actually do the exact opposite of what they claim to do harming your leather and its integrity.

Lastly, the obvious question is “How often should I do a deep cleaning/conditioning?”  The obvious answer is “As often as needed”, but a good rule of thumb is at least once every six months.   For this and more tips on how to care for your car turn your attention to the experts of the Roseville Automall.  Whether you are looking for new or used cars in the Sacramento area, we are here to help.

The Roseville Automall – Driven To Be the Best!!!