How To Clean Leather Car Seats

Whether your vehicle sports cloth or leather upholstery, knowing how to clean car seats will help preserve your car’s interior quality for years to come. Read on for step-by-step tips and our favorite cleaning products at Cactus Jack's Auto, and don’t hesitate to reach out or visit us near Mesa with further questions about how to clean leather car seats, how to clean your floor mats, and how to wash your car’s exterior.

How to Clean Leather Car Seats

Your car’s leather seats will require periodic deep-cleans at a service center near Surprise or Glendale, but there’s a lot you can do at home between your car’s scheduled maintenance to protect the leather from damage and scratches:

Supplies

• Leather cleaner, saddle soap, or mild leather soap
• Or make your own cleaning solution: 1 pt white vinegar + 2 pts linseed oil
• Microfiber towels
• Soft-bristled Interior brush (not a carpet brush)

Instructions

Before you begin, find out if you must avoid any particular cleaning products. Your owner’s manual should provide model-specific interior cleaning instructions. Then follow these steps:

1. Vacuum the seats to remove all particles. This step ensures that any loose debris or particles won’t scratch the leather as you clean. Use small attachments or an air compressor to get into crevices.
2. Spray the microfiber towel with leather cleaner and wipe down the seats to remove surface dirt and oils.
3. Next, spray leather cleaner directly onto the seats, and gently scrub with the soft-bristled brush.
4. If you have perforated leather seats, do not spray cleaner directly on the seat. Spray onto the brush before scrubbing, which ensures that the leather cleaner doesn’t seep through the perforations.
5. Wipe the seats with a clean and dry microfiber towel.

How to Clean Cloth Car Seats

Supplies

• Car upholstery cleaning spray for fabric (not all-purpose cleaner)
• Or make your own fabric cleaner: 1 C white distilled vinegar + 1 gallon or hot water + a few drops of dish soap.
• Soft- or medium-bristled interior brush
• Microfiber towels
• Tool to remove pet hair from cloth seats (such as a pumice stone)

Instructions

Before you begin, make sure you can leave ample time for the seats to air dry afterwards. Then follow these steps:

1. Roll down windows and open your car doors for ventilation.
2. Vacuum the seats to remove any particles like pet hair. Keep in mind that pet hair may require a pet hair removal tool!
3. Turn the spray nozzle on your cleaner to the mist setting and spray onto the area you want to clean. Avoid saturating the fabric to avoid mildew.
4. Working in a small area, massage the cleaning solution into the fabric with the interior brush.
5. As suds appear, be ready to wipe them up right away with a microfiber towel. If the fabric dries before you do this, the dirt will be pulled back into the fibers.
6. Repeat steps 3 to 5 until the area is clean, then move on to the next section.
7. To speed up drying, vacuum the seats after cleaning. Allow the seats to air dry completely before using the car.

Reach Out to Cactus Jack's Auto for Expert Car Care Advice!

Give us a call to find out why Phoenix drivers trust us for first-rate car care advice. Our certified auto technicians are available to answer your questions about maintaining your used car, from how to clean car seats, checking your oil, or removing smoke smell from your car cabin.