7 Tips to Protect Your Leather Car Seats

Leather car seats are chic and elegant, and to keep them looking new and vibrant, maintenance is key. Most new vehicles offer the option to upgrade to leather, and there are plenty of synthetic leather options in the developing world.

Synthetic leather is a viable alternative if you are concerned about animal rights and a carbon footprint.

1. Tread Carefully

Leather is built to last, but it’s vulnerable to sunlight, scratching, and body oil.

The more natural and genuine the leather, the more vulnerable it becomes. Professional tanners put so much effort into their work to achieve five-star leather for a reason. Check your owners manual for specific guidelines on cleaning and long-term care.

2. Block Out Sunlight

Sunlight is notorious for causing fading. The problem originates from the ultraviolet rays.

Ultraviolet rays fade because they attack an object’s chemical bonds, including the compounds responsible for colour. The bleaching effect is prominent in everything from leather car seats to clothes.

The best way to protect your leather car seats is to figure out a way to block out the sunlight. Keeping your car in the garage is one option, but investing in window tinting is better.

Window tinting is a proven way of keeping ultraviolet rays out. Depending on the extent of your tint, you will also be able to block out a considerable amount of visible light. Just be aware that every state has its own rules on how much your windows can be tinted.

Speak to a professional specialising in window tinting in Roanoke, TX, for more information on the pros, cons, and costs of tinting your windows.

3. Apply a Gentle Cleaner

Vacuuming your seats is the easiest way to remove any dirt and debris that you can see. Always clean the seats thoroughly before conditioning. A cleaner is stronger and more adept at removing the dirt and stains you could not catch through vacuuming.

Make sure that you use a cleaner specifically designed for leather seats. The wrong cleaner can ruin your interior. 

4. Clean with Cotton over Paper

Paper towels may be the go-to option for cleaning most services. However, genuine leather is highly sensitive to friction.

Although paper towels may seem relatively smooth, they can scratch your seats. The ideal alternative is an old t-shirt.

Most car manufacturers suggest cleaning your leather interior at least every one to three months.

5. Apply Conditioners to Leather Car Seats

Leather car seats are unlike any other surface. Genuine leather needs special care and maintenance to prevent fading and cracking.

Conditioner for leather is designed to nourish and re-energize your leather from the inside out. When applying conditioner to your leather car seat, you first apply it to the cloth and not directly to the seat. Letting the leather set for at least 10 minutes is key. 

6. Buff Your Seats

A terry cloth towel is great for buffing your leather interior. Buffing the seats dry will enable them to shine. Leather has a natural lustre that far surpasses any other seat material. Only by regular buffing can you get the shimmer that marks out a genuine leather seat from a synthetic leather seat.

7. Open the Car Windows

The temperature in your car is another factor to keep your leather seats in prime condition. Temperature can be an issue throughout the summer months. High levels of heat can damage leather furniture by drying it out. The cleaning and conditioning process maintains moisture within the leather itself and prevents discoloration.

During the summer, consider opening your car windows a crack for an hour or two at a time to mitigate high in-car temperatures and keep it in the garage or shade when possible.

Auto owners often underestimate how hot it can be within their vehicles. For example, a relatively comfortable 80 degrees outside of your car can mean a temperature of 110 degrees inside the car.

Leather seats require extensive care and maintenance. If you’re not up for doing your own detailing, find a mobile detailer or luxury car garage to take care of it for you.

 

Feature Photo by Johannes Giez on Unsplash