How To Clean Leather Car Seats - J.D. Power

See All Shopping GuidesHow To Clean Leather Car SeatsPeter Nelson | Mar 03, 2025

There are few interior car amenities that exude luxury like leather seats. Leather is also quite comfortable and nice to the touch, which definitely eases the pain of being stuck in the car for longer than one would like, such as in traffic.

However, that luxurious comfortability can fade away pretty quickly if the leather seats are not cleaned and maintained; they must undergo regular upkeep to preserve their supple softness. Luckily, cleaning and protecting leather seats is easy. Car owners can follow these simple steps to ensure their leather seats don’t crack or wear out too quickly.

Prepping the Leather

The key first step to cleaning leather is a thorough vacuuming. This pulls off dust, dirt, crumbs, or any other particle that could reduce the effectiveness of the cleaning solvent. Vacuuming is especially crucial with leather seats because they have a lot of small, near-microscopic crevices in the leather’s grain.

If the car owner doesn’t remove excess debris from the seats, the particles would mix into the cleaning solvent and act as a sort of sandpaper, which could scuff the leather. Taking one’s time and going over every inch of each leather seat multiple times ensures no particle-based contamination will cause any harm.

Adding In the Cleaning Solution

There are a lot of different types of leather cleaning solutions on the market, but they are not all the same in strength and ease of use. Reading reviews and descriptions can help car owners determine which cleaner will work best for their needs. Make sure to select one that’s either meant specifically for leather, or safe for it; other types could cause more harm than good.

For a less expensive option, some household cleaning solutions, like dish or Castile soap, are safe for use on leather seats. However, mix them very lightly—about one part cleaner to five parts water—to ensure the leather won’t be damaged in any way. Avoid anything harsher than these.

When it comes to application, it’s important to first apply it to a clean microfiber cloth rather than spray or dump it directly onto the leather. The latter will cause inconsistent results, and it’s generally wasteful. It’s far more effective to lightly rub it into the leather with a microfiber cloth and do multiple passes. Depending on how much grime is on the seats, it could take a while, so be sure to have several clean microfiber cloths ready. Using the same dirty cloth with built up gunk removed from the seats’ surface will reduce the cleaning solution’s effectiveness.

Some detailing accessory companies offer soft plastic bristle drill attachments that speed up the deep-cleaning process. But be sure to follow the directions and don’t get too aggressive with it. Too much pressure could leave permanent marks and damage the leather.

Condition After Cleaning

Cleaning leather seats can be a very rewarding experience. The car owners can see the seats go from a glossy to a more satin or matte finish, and feel the leather become more supple, and therefore are much more comfortable to sit on. If the cleaning solution has a nice scent to it, that doubles as an air freshener too.

Immediately after cleaning, apply another solution with a clean microfiber cloth that will condition and protect the leather. Rub it into the leather the same way as the cleaner–lightly, with multiple passes. This type of solution creates a protective layer that prevents dirt, dust, and moisture from working its way into the leather and wearing it out.

A lot of popular detailing product brands offer all-in-one solutions, meaning they’re a cleaner and protector/conditioner all in one. These work great but may not have such a lasting effect on the leather as focused individual products.

Finally, once the seats have been cleaned and conditioned, let them sit for a while to dry, ideally out of direct sunlight. It’s also a good idea to open the windows a tad to facilitate some air flow—interior chemicals can be a tad noxious.

Summary

Cleaning a car’s leather seats is a lot like cleaning its exterior. Prep is important, as it maximizes the cleaner’s effectiveness. Leather conditioner is a lot like wax or ceramic coating in that it prevents contaminants from entering the material’s finish and degrading it over time or causing it to crack and peel.

General guidelines recommend car owners clean and condition leather seats every one-to-two months, depending on how dirty they get. This may seem like a lot, but it’s worth it; the more frequently they’re cleaned, the less time each session will take, as dirt and debris won’t have a chance to bake into the grain.

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