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Interior · 8 of 10
Leather Clean & Treatment
Clean it gently, condition it thin, leave it soft — not shiny and not slippery.
What you’ll need
- Leather cleaner (the one your store stocks)
- Leather conditioner
- Soft leather brush (horsehair)
- Microfiber towels and a foam applicator
- Vacuum with crevice tool
- Safety glasses and 5-mil nitrile gloves
Before you start
- Real leather or vinyl? Same steps, but vinyl doesn’t need conditioner.
- Perforated seats (heated or cooled): keep everything barely damp so nothing gets into the holes.
- Test the cleaner on a hidden spot first.
- Cracks, tears or worn color? Photograph and report before you clean.
- Never use plastic dressing (M2) on seats. It makes them slick.
Cleaning steps
- Vacuum the seams and between the cushions.
- Spray leather cleaner on the brush, not on the seat.
- Scrub one small section at a time with light pressure.
- Wipe it right away with a microfiber.
- Repeat until the towel comes back clean. Do the steering wheel and shifter the same way.
Treatment steps
- Put leather conditioner on the applicator.
- Work it in thin, one section at a time.
- Let it sit a few minutes.
- Buff off with a clean towel. The seat should feel soft and dry, not greasy.
- Skip conditioner on the steering wheel — it needs grip.
Quality check
- Even color, no shiny patches
- Nothing left in the seams or perforations
- Not slippery when you slide across it