Why Your Leather Seats Need a Proper Detail | Leather Seat Detailing

For any new car, having leather seats is a luxury that many are lucky to have.  Given how comfortable, stylish, and durable they are, it’s the smart choice to spend the extra money and get leather seats for any vehicle.  But, over time, leather in your car can, and will, crack, deteriorate, fade, and start to come apart.  And as anyone who’s paid for leather restoration knows, it's expensive to get it fixed!  That’s why taking care of your car’s leather is VERY important when it comes to maintaining the look, feel, and value of your car.  But how?  Well, as a mobile car detailer, we’ll explain how we handle leather seats, and how a consistent detailing of your vehicle can save your leather seats from damage and cracking!

Cleaning Leather Seats

In order to get dirty leather seats back to factory condition, it's important to complete a proper cleaning of the leather seats.  For the cleaning chemical of choice, it's important not to choose a harsh chemical or degreaser, as it may harm the leather (as for us, we use P&S’ Interior Detailer).  Also, make sure not to spray any product directly onto the seat, as this oversaturated area can be damaged.  Steam should also not be used on leather seats, as it can quickly damage the seats during cleaning.  As for what tools to use, a detailing brush or microfiber scrub pad should be used exclusively.  Any tools such as a drill brush or its alternatives are too harsh for the leather.  And, make sure especially NOT to use a Magic Eraser, as this product is essentially soft sandpaper, and will quickly damage the leather if used, despite being a common practice.

Conditioning Leather Seats

Here’s where the protection magic happens—the conditioning.  Applied using a brush, microfiber scrub pad, or microfiber applicator, the right leather conditioner can make or break the look and feel of the leather seats.  To apply, simply use the conditioner with the aforementioned tools, wait for a short while, and buff off the seats with a microfiber towel to remove any excess conditioner.  With the right conditioner, the leather seats have a restored, deep shine, a new feel, and, most importantly, hydration and protection for the future.  With a conditioning, your leather seats are further protected from cracking and premature aging, as well as UV ray damage if the conditioner contains a protection agent.

Remember, conditioning of leather seats needs to be done regularly in order for it to be effective.  A one-time conditioning will help a small amount, sure, but to help give your leather seats the best chance of holding up over time, getting a conditioning with your interior detail every 3, 6, or 12 months is needed.  And, of course, leather conditioning is not a magic solution to all leather deterioration.  High traffic/use will physically wear down leather over time (just ask anyone with leather seats in a heavy-use work truck), and a conditioning isn't going to fix or prevent that from happening.  But, from a general use perspective, it’s worth it to keep your leather looking good for as long as possible.

That’s all you need to know about leather conditioning and detailing!  And, for anyone on the South Shore or Cape Cod in MA, I have good news—as a part of our standard interior detail, we include a full leather conditioning, every time!  Including a leather conditioning for free is the best way we can help maintain our client’s leather seats (not to mention the amazing finish after applying!).  So, if you’re ready for a clean car & conditioned seats, contact us here, and we’ll get you a quote for your vehicle.  And, if you’re hungry for more detailing information, the rest of our blog is jam-packed with all the info you’ll need to keep your car in tip-top shape!