A leather interior gives your vehicle an expensive and luxurious appearance, but the leather inside an automobile needs some special care and attention. In order to keep the leather looking its finest, you will need to routinely clean and condition the material. A little bit of maintenance is much easier than having to repair or replace your car’s leather interior.
What Happens to Leather When It is Not Cleaned and Conditioned?
When leather is not properly cleaned and conditioned, it starts to dry out and crack. The leather may also begin to peel, leaving behind undyed areas. The beautiful sheen is replaced with a dull, drab appearance. Leather interiors tend to age faster in warmer climates, but exposure to rain and other types of moisture can also prematurely age the material. At some point, the damage cannot be repaired with any level of conditioning.
How Do I Take Care of My Leather Interior?
Taking care of your leather interior is a two-step process. First, clean the leather using a high-quality cleaner that is specifically designed for leather interiors. Avoid products that contain heavy oils that may leave behind a residue or create streaks on the material. Cleaning is needed because, like other materials, leather can be covered with dirt, oils, and other substances. Specialty leather products not only clean the leather but also help moisturize the material and provide a layer of protection. You should use a high-quality microfiber cloth to apply the cleaner, and use a different section of the cloth as it becomes covered with dirt and oils. When you apply the cleaner, you do not want to scrub the leather. Instead, move the cloth back-and-forth and in a circular motion to agitate the surface. This will open the pores of the leather so that dirt and oil can be removed deeper in the leather.
Conditioning Your Leather
After the leather is completely clean, you need to condition the material. Again we recommend a high-quality specialty leather conditioner. The purpose of conditioning the leather is to moisturize and nourish the fibers of the material. Properly conditioned leather ages more slowly and is more resilient to wear and damage. When choosing a leather conditioner, avoid products that contain silicone, silicone oils, gloss agents and petroleum distillates, as these substances leave behind a greasy film that attracts dirt and can even transfer onto your clothing. The best leather conditioners have pH-balanced, water-based formulations. Some of these products also provide waterproofing and stain repellents for the leather.
Just a little care and attention goes a long way with your leather interior. By cleaning and conditioning the leather using high-quality products, the material maintains a beautiful sheen, resists damage caused by the sun and elements and withstands the stress of normal use. For more information on proper vehicle maintenance, contact Dallas European Auto today to speak to a professional.
