Yes! Absolutely! There’s no doubt about it! Fine leather is what makes a nice interior. There are few important parts to caring for the leather interior of your car: cleaning and conditioning. Being that your leather interior is the most delicate surface of your vehicle, it is necessary to clean and condition regularly in order to preserve it, protect it, and keep it smelling new. There is nothing better than a “new” leather smell. Whether you’re cleaning or conditioning, I recommend that you take one section at a time. This means when you have applied your cleaner or conditioner to one area, fully wipe down that area then proceed to the next, and so on. This process ensures that you cover all areas thoroughly. Work on an area no larger than 2-3 square feet at a time. There are a few different types of leather cleaner and conditioner. Leatherique is my choice for top quality leather treatments.
HOW DO I CLEAN THE LEATHER IN MY CAR?
Apply the leather cleaner of your choice one section at a time and work the solution into a nice lather. I like to use a microfiber towel. Microfiber is quite porous, so once it’s primed in the microfiber towel, a little will go a long way. If your leather is heavily soiled, use an upholstery (interior detailing) brush. When finished be sure to remove all soap from the surface with a damp towel. Rinse and wipe several times, then dry the leather with a fresh, dry towel. By the way, water will not hurt your leather. Most leather is actually made (tanned) in water. Just make sure to have a good, top quality leather conditioner, evenly applied to the surface at all times.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD I CLEAN MY LEATHER?
If you have a dark-colored leather interior, I recommend 3-4 times a year. Light-colored leather will need cleaning more often, even as much as every other month, depending on how easily the dirt is revealed. It always depends on how the leather is treated by the owner. In between cleaning your leather, use a clean damp towel to wipe down the surface completely. This removes the dust and light dirt so it won’t have a chance to work into your leather. There are two cleaning factors that cause the leather to wear. The first is dirt and the second is oil from your skin. The oil from your skin is actually the most damaging to your leather. This is particularly true if you wear shorts or a tank top, and have recently applied lotion or sunscreen to your skin. A good rule of thumb is to wipe the leather down with a mild cleaner about once a month. Avery a couple of months, apply a top-notch high-quality conditioner.
HOW DO I CONDITION MY LEATHER?
Apply the leather conditioner of your choice on one section at a time using a soft foam wax applicator. Work the conditioner in thoroughly. Allow the conditioner to sit (soak in) for a few minutes, then buff off the excess with a dry terry cloth towel. It’s important to buff off the excess. If you allow the excess to stay, your seats will be slippery. After a few minutes of soak time, your leather has taken in all the moisture it can. The remainder will simply evaporate, leaving that milky cloud on the inside of your windows, and we all know that cleaning windows is a pain!
WHY IS CONDITIONING MY LEATHER SO IMPORTANT?
Leather requires the replacement of natural oils or it will dry out and crack. Conditioning helps to restore these natural oils and keeps the leather soft and supple. You will also find, particularly with the Zymol and Pinnacle leather conditioners, that the smell of the leather will be enhanced. Remember how your car smelled when it was new? Leatherique also leaves an amazing, fresh, leather smell. It’s my first choice and what I apply to all my high-end vehicles.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD I CONDITION MY LEATHER?
I recommend once every 45 to 60 days depending on the climate condition in which you live. If you live in a climate that is humid, you won’t have to condition as often as someone who lives in a dryer climate. A cold, dry winter in the East can deplete your leather of its moisture causing it to dry and crack just like a hot dry summer in the West. Leather conditioner is not necessarily expensive, so it’s better to apply it more often than not. It’s a cheap return on investment once you attempt to sell your vehicle.
Thanks for reading!
-Clint
Yes! Absolutely! There’s no doubt about it! Fine leather is what makes a nice interior. There are few important parts to caring for the leather interior of your car: cleaning and conditioning. Being that your leather interior is the most delicate surface of your vehicle, it is necessary to clean and condition regularly in order to preserve it, protect it, and keep it smelling new. There is nothing better than a “new” leather smell. Whether you’re cleaning or conditioning, I recommend that you take one section at a time. This means when you have applied your cleaner or conditioner to one area, fully wipe down that area then proceed to the next, and so on. This process ensures that you cover all areas thoroughly. Work on an area no larger than 2-3 square feet at a time. There are a few different types of leather cleaner and conditioner. Leatherique is my choice for top quality leather treatments.
