How to Clean Leather Car Seats: A Step-by-Step Guide
Keeping your leather car seats clean will ensure a pleasant, germ-free drive and help your car maintain its resale value as it ages.
Americans travel more than 220 miles in their cars each week, according to the American Automobile Association. The average American drives at least 32 miles each day between commuting, running errands, and shuffling kids to activities. Keeping the interior of your car clean will make driving more pleasant and help your vehicle retain its value.
The interior of your car can carry harmful bacteria that can accumulate on frequently touched surfaces like the steering wheel, upholstery, and dashboard. Car interiors have 17,000 times more bacteria than most people’s homes, according to industry experts. Your car’s cup holder might have 228 percent more bacteria than the average toilet seat.
The cost of getting your car detailed on a regular basis can add up. Once you’ve cleared the decks, vacuumed out the dirt and wiped down all of the hard surfaces, it’s time to tackle your seats. If you have leather car seats you’re already ahead of the game. Leather car seats do not absorb as much dirt and grim as fabric seats, which means they can be easier to clean. Leather seats are a great option for people with allergies because they do not trap dust and grime. As an added bonus, they do not absorb odors.
Creative Colors International Inc., the leader in mobile leather and vinyl repair, can provide the lowdown on properly cleaning your leather car seats. It's likely you have most of the supplies you need at home already.
Never use products like bleach or ammonia-based cleaners on your leather seats because they can dry and damage the leather. Use a small amount of dish soap (1 part) mixed with water (10 parts) and wipe your seats down with a soft, damp cloth. Make sure not to use too much cleaning solution because it may pool in the seams of the seat and seep into the cushions. Water can also stain the leather. Dry the seats thoroughly with a towel.
If there are stains that don’t come up when you do an initial clean, you can experiment with alternative solutions to get the seat clean. If you eat on the go, it’s likely you’ll end up with a grease stain at some point. To get rid of a grease stain, apply a layer of cornstarch to the stain and let it sit for 10 minutes to soak up the grease. Use a vacuum to clean up the cornstarch. If you have ink stains or other hard to clean marks on your car seats, it’s a good idea to purchase a leather cleaner to get the job done. Make sure to test it in a small area before applying it to the entire seat. Car experts recommend keeping a container of baby wipes in your car to wipe up spills as they happen to prevent stains.
It’s a good idea to use a leather conditioner as a last step to prevent your seats from drying out. The conditioner can help prevent your leather car seats from cracking or fading.
Call the Experts at CCI
As you are wiping down your leather seats, you may notice they are looking faded or have some rips, tears, burns, or scratches. The trained service technicians at CCI can make your leather car seats look new. CCI offers on-site repair and restoration of leather, vinyl, and fabric for your car. We can repair or restore tears, burns, cuts, scratches, stains, color fading, and seam slippage for your seats. CCI can save you time and money by making repairs to your leather seats versus replacement costs. Whether you simply want to refresh your car’s interior, or you are considering trading up for a new model, having your leather seats in tip-top shape is a plus.
After conducting a thorough repair, CCI’s technicians can provide you with a leather care kit for future DIY jobs. The company also offers its own Sanitizer & Disinfectant to rid your car of bacteria, mold, odor, and protect you from COVID-19.
Whether you are an individual owner or have a fleet of cars that need sprucing up, CCI’s technicians can get the job done. To learn more about the services offered by CCI, visit: www.wecanfixthat.com.
