If you’re wondering how to clean your car’s leather seats, it means you know two things:
Whether the leather is from the factory or aftermarket, we know you have fresh, new leather in your vehicle and you want to keep it looking that way for as long as possible. If that’s the case, it’s fairly straightforward. New leather has a protective top coating that makes water bead on the top rather than being absorbed by the leather, as well as providing UV protection. If water does NOT bead and is absorbed into the leather, it might need some attention from a professional. You might think that leather should shine, but really it should be a matte finish. If you see shine in your leather, it's from oils and spills and needs to be cleaned.
Do not use harsh chemicals like adhesive removers or rubbing alcohol on your car’s leather seats. These harsh chemicals will break through the top coating and absorb into the leather. This is what causes drying, cracking, and discoloration in leather because it alters the pH balance. As the name top coat suggests, it’s only on the top. If your leather has all the punched holes in it known as perforation, then unwanted liquids and chemicals have direct access to unprotected leather, so be careful!
Light colored leather is known to transfer dye from jeans or other dark clothing. If the mild cleaning doesn’t remove it, there are other cleaners on the market, but should be handled by a professional detailer. The dye has absorbed too deeply into the leather and it will need to be prepped, re-colored, and a new top coat will need to be applied. If this has happened to you, please call Revival Auto Aesthetics right away so we can clean and reseal your leather properly.
