When you think of regular car maintenance, oil changes or replacing wiper blades with high-quality options such as those from Trico may be top of mind. However, it is also important to care for the interior of your vehicle, especially in terms of protecting its resale value.
Leather is one of the most notoriously difficult materials to care for in a car since the interior gets exposed to frequent sunlight and temperature changes. Without proper care, leather interiors can quickly fade and crack, which is both uncomfortable and unattractive. By investing some time into caring for your vehicle’s leather at regular intervals, you can keep it looking and feeling like new. Some tips to keep in mind when it comes to caring properly for your leather interior include:
Vacuuming seats to remove dirt
Leather seats often attract dirt, especially in the seams. Unfortunately, it can scratch the surface and lead to the breakdown of the leather. To keep this from happening, you should regularly vacuum your seats to remove the loose material before it gets worked into the seams. When you are doing so, take care not to damage the leather by using plastic attachments too roughly or dragging the cord along the surface, which can lead to scratches that are difficult to repair and compromise the integrity of the material. Ideally, you should vacuum the seats about once a month, though perhaps more if you track a lot of dirt into the material or use it more often than the average person.
Using a gentle scrub to remove grime
Despite your best efforts, grime is likely to build up on the surface of your leather. Over time, this dirt can make the leather appear old and dingy. Keep on top of it by gently scrubbing the leather on occasion before the dirt is readily apparent. To scrub the leather, invest in a soft toothbrush or microfiber cloth and a liquid cleaner that is specially formulated to be used on leather. Also, ensure that the cleaner is toxin-free to make sure that no one who rides in the vehicle gets sick. If you cannot find a quality cleaner, make your own by mixing equal parts vinegar and water.
Never spray your leather interior directly with a cleaner. Instead, dip the cloth or brush into the cleaner and then scrub gently. If your leather is perforated, use only a very small amount of the liquid cleaner as fluids can get trapped in the perforation, potentially harming the leather. Even with leather that is not perforated, using too much cleaner can cause the liquid to get absorbed into the material, which, in turn, can lead to mold formation. This is why it is so important to never spray cleaners directly onto the leather.
Conditioning the leather at least twice a year
One of the most important things to do to keep your leather looking new is to condition it. Over time, leather naturally loses its oil and dries out, which can cause it to crack. Conditioning the leather prevents this from happening. Using a leather conditioner is similar to conditioning hair. It provides additional moisture and makes the material appear hydrated and feel soft. You may be quite surprised by how much conditioning improves the appearance of your leather interior, especially if you have not used a conditioner in a long time.
Ideally, you should use leather conditioners that rely on natural ingredients. Many of the options on the market contain waxes, silicones, and petroleum distillates. While these ingredients can help make the leather appear healthy at the moment, they also build up over time and will eventually make the surface of your leather appear dull.
The ideal tool for conditioning leather is a microfiber cloth. Pour a small amount of the conditioner directly onto the cloth and then work it into the leather with a gentle motion. Allow the conditioner to soak into the leather for about an hour and keep the vehicle in a shady place during this time. Sunlight will interfere with the leather’s ability to soak in the conditioner. After an hour has passed, use a second clean microfiber cloth to buff the leather gently and remove any excess conditioner. Ideally, you should condition your leather interior two or three times each year.
Keeping the vehicle out of sunlight
One of the most damaging things for leather in a car’s interior is sunlight. Exposure to sunlight will cause the leather to dry out faster and can fade the color quite quickly. While it is impossible to avoid sunlight all the time, you should minimize exposure whenever possible. Always seek out shady places to park your vehicle and use a windshield blocker to prevent sunlight from coming in. If possible, park your vehicle in a covered location, such as a garage or a carport. Minimizing sun exposure will also help other surfaces in your car, including vinyl ones, as well as the paint on the vehicle.