Leather car seats: How to care for them

 If you took the plunge and bought a car with leather car seats, then it's critical that you know how to care for them. While leather can make your car feel ultra-luxurious and keep you comfortable when you're behind the wheel, it's also extremely susceptible to wear and tear, staining, and other damages as the years roll by. Check out these easy tips from Toyota of N Charlotte on how to care for leather car seats. 

Tips for caring for your leather car seats 

Tip #1: Protect your car. Heat and strong sunlight can damage the leather by both fading it and drying it out, making it more susceptible to cracking and tearing. Our N Charlotte Toyota car care specialists recommend using a sunshade in the windshield to keep sunlight out, and tinting your windows to keep the interior of your car cooler and darker. You can even invest in seat covers and a steering wheel cover if you're really worried about damage to your leather car seats, especially if you have pets. 

Tip #2: Vacuum your N Charlotte Toyota out before you start cleaning. Any sand, crumbs, dirt, or other debris on your leather car seats can cause scratching and other damage if you try to clean over it. (Kind of like how if you have sand on your can or your sponge while washing it, it can cause little scratches in the paint.) 

Tip #3: Clean leather car seats regularly. Dirt, stains, and bacteria build up over time. You should routinely clean leather seats with a cleaner that's specifically formulated for them - using other cleaners can stain or damage the leather, so be sure to check with our N Charlotte Toyota parts store. They can help you find the right products. Here are a few other points to remember: 

• Don't use cleaners that have ammonia or bleach in them (they're more likely to damage leather). 
• You can make your own cleaner if you want to go natural. Mix five parts warm water to one part Castile soap (it's a vegetable-based soap) and put it in a spray bottle. 
• Don't spray directly onto the leather; instead, spray your cleaning solution onto a soft microfiber cloth and use that to apply it to the seats. 
• Try not to soak the leather car seats. Use a damp cleaning cloth to work on them; wet leather takes forever to dry and can actually get moldy faster than you'd think. 
• Use a little elbow grease when necessary - you might need it to get rid of tough stains. Be sure to work in sections and let your seats dry all the way before moving to the next step in your detailing process. 

Tip #4: Condition your leather car seats. You'll want to work this step into your car cleaning process monthly - trust us. Conditioner helps leather stay soft and supple so it's less likely to crack or tear. Additionally, it forms a type of protective barrier layer on top that can help fend off dirt, grime, and stains (kind of like car wax protects the exterior paint). You should use a microfiber cloth to apply leather conditioner and again, go light with it - don't soak the seats. Let them dry for 4-6 hours before you drive anywhere. 

Get the right products for your leather car seats at Toyota of N Charlotte 

Whether you need help finding the right products to clean your leather car seats or want more tips, we've got you covered. Call Toyota of N Charlotte today at (704) 659-2040 or stop by! We're just off I-77 at exit 23 in Huntersville at 13429 Statesville Road.