The upholstery always gets dirty
The leather upholstery of your car or truck gets dirty without you noticing. The problem with leather is that it often goes unnoticed, but eventually a layer of greasy dirt forms. You don't want that. It's not hygienic and it's not good for the leather upholstery itself. To perfectly clean leather upholstery, you can follow the steps below. In principle, it's very similar to cleaning fabric car upholstery. The difference is mainly in the products you need to use.
Cleaning leather upholstery
In truck cabins, and also in cars, you often come across leather upholstery. It looks beautiful and adds an extra touch of luxury to the interior! But to ensure that your leather seats always look like new and retain their comfort, it is important to clean them regularly and maintain them well. In this article, we explain step by step how to best clean and maintain your leather car seats.
Please note: The explanation below is the basis of cleaning leather. Always read the instructions for use of the products you use and always follow them, as this can differ per product.
1. Vacuuming
Before you start cleaning your leather car seats, it is important to remove loose dirt and dust. Use a soft brush and a vacuum cleaner to thoroughly clean the surface of the seats. This is a very important step in the leather cleaning process, as it prevents dirt and dust from being rubbed into the leather during cleaning. This can cause scratches and damage, which is something we want to avoid!
2. Choose the right leather cleaner
All dirt particles sucked up? Then it is time to choose the right cleaner. This is very important, because using the wrong products can damage the leather. This is a huge shame of course! Therefore always choose a cleaning agent that is specially designed for leather. These cleaners are mild and help to remove stains and dirt without damaging the leather. An example of a leather cleaner is Smartwax Smart Leather. This product cleans and conditions.
3. Test on an inconspicuous area first
Leather can of course vary greatly, not only in terms of the type of leather but also in terms of finish and colour. Before cleaning the entire leather upholstery, it is wise to test the chosen cleaner on a small, inconspicuous part of the leather first. This way you can see if it does not cause a negative reaction, such as discolouration. If everything seems fine, you can continue cleaning the rest of the leather upholstery.
4. Clean with a soft cloth or leather brush
Ready to get to work? Apply a small amount of leather cleaner to a soft, lint-free cloth or a soft leather brush. Be careful not to use rough materials that could scratch the leather! Clean the leather seats with light pressure in circular motions, this will allow you to gently remove dirt and stains.
5. Wipe the leather clean
Have you rubbed in the leather cleaner well? And are you satisfied with the result? Then you can now wipe the leather clean with a clean, dry microfiber cloth. This will remove any remaining cleaning agents, dirt and moisture. By polishing the leather upholstery well, you will get a shiny and clean surface. This way, your leather interior will look like new again! Then let the seats dry well.
6. Learn to Condition
Is the leather dry? Then we recommend treating the seats with a high-quality leather conditioner. This nourishes the leather, protects it from drying out and cracking and ensures that the leather remains supple. Are you using the Smartwax Smart Leather? Then you can skip this step! This product not only cleans the leather, but also works as a leather conditioner.
Prevention is better than cure
Avoid UV radiation
Did you know that leather can be damaged by prolonged exposure to sunlight? UV rays can cause the leather to dry out and discolor, which you want to prevent! Therefore, if possible, try to park your truck or car in the shade or use sun blinds to protect the leather upholstery. The previously mentioned cleaner and conditioner from Smartwax also helps to prevent damage from UV rays.
Regular cleaning sessions
We understand that you may not always feel like it, but to prevent serious damage to your leather chairs, we recommend cleaning the leather regularly. This ensures that the leather remains supple and prevents it from cracking.
Learn to clean
Of course you can also choose to have your interior cleaned outsource! For this you can go to Truckwash 1 Group. In addition to cleaning the exterior of your truck, they are also ready to give the cabin a thorough cleaning.
Cleaning the dashboard, panels and windows in the truck
After cleaning the upholstery, it is time to take care of the final surfaces. Clean each part and surface with a high quality microfiber cloth.Start by cleaning the windows. For this we can recommend the Smart Glass or the Wissen Vision Window Cleaner from Great Lion. Both products easily and quickly remove grease, dirt and other contaminants. This with a streak-free cleaning.
After the windows, you finally tackle the dashboard and panels. You do this with the Dashboard Dressing. This Dashboard Dressing gives a beautiful look in combination with a soft silky gloss. This enhances the look of the dashboard without it becoming extremely shiny or looking greasy.
