How do you clean dirty leather seats?

You need to use a good quality water based foam leather cleaner. (LTT Leather Shampoo) With light coloured leather dye transfer from clothing can be a problem although using a good quality leather protector (LTT Leather Protect) will help inhibit this. Black obviously does not show this problem.

DO NOT use anything containing oils, waxes or silicones. (Most 'conditioners' contain waxes or oils) and furniture polish (pledge) contains silicones which will eventually destroy the finish on the leather. Most car cleaners also contain oils or waxes so should not be used as they leave residues on the surface of the leather which attract more dirt which eventually leads to cracking.

BABY WIPES are the worst thing you can use as they will destroy the finish on your leather. They are very strong alkiline cleaners to neutralise urine (acid) on babys skin so they are not the right thing to use on leather.

Saddle soap is too harsh to use on todays leathers.

A lot of leather wipes contain chemicals which will also destroy the finish or leave residues on the leather which will damage it. They are not cheap in the long run as you would need a lot to clean. A bottle of foam cleaner should do your car about 3-4 times.

Fairy liquid contains more salt these days to get dishes clean and this will break the finish down on your leather. This has been verified by the manufacturers (as with the baby wipes).

You should also follow cleaning with a good water based leather protector which will act like a 'scotchgard' and inhibit dirt and stains from being absorbed and make cleaning easier the next time.

Dry leather needs rehydrating with water and oils and waxes should not be used as the natural oils do not dry out of leather. Wiping over with a damp cloth regularly will help to do this.

It is important to maintain a regular cleaning regime cleaning dirt off the surface regularly and inhibiting the absorption of body oils into the leather with a protector is the best way of doing this. The only 'moisturizer' a leather needs is from water.

The alternative is a brand new product on the market called Lazy Leather. This is the latest technology in cleaning and combines an effective cleaner with a protector. It is quick and easy to use and should be used as a maintenance product once your suite has been cleaned or from new if you have just bought it.

Using incorrect care products is usually the cause of deterioration in the leather as unfortunately most car care products contain waxes and oils or silicones which do not do the leather any good.

Source(s):

http://www.LTTsolutions.net
Leather care consultants to the furniture and cleaning industries
Professional knowledge

Answer

If you own a car with leather seats, you will need to buy some kind of leather conditioner and cleaner. A lot of the leathers used on domestic vehicles are treated with a thin plastic which is used to protect them. You can treat these leathers with the same products you would use on vinyl upholstery. European cars often feature uncoated leather upholstery. You should use a specialized leather product on these leathers. To find out the kind of leather you have, put a drop of water on an inconspicuous part of the upholstery. Uncoated leather will absorb the water, while coated leather will not. Before you use any leather cleaner or conditioner, test it for color fastness or marking on an inconspicuous spot. Use a leather cleaner first by rubbing a generous amount into the upholstery. To get rid of those dirt wrinkles, you may have to use a stiff nylon nail brush. Make sure there is no cleaner residue left. Then apply the leather conditioner to restore the oils, life and sheen.

First answer by Ranger22. Last edit by Leather agony aunt. Contributor trust: 34 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 28 [recommend question]