Leather Seat Care - Keep Your Inside Looking Great

Too often we wash and wax our vehicles but forget about taking care of the inside. And sensitive interior surfaces, like leather, require special attention.

Leather has been a mainstay in luxury automobiles for years, but now leather seats are becoming increasingly popular in sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks - and even in mid-priced vehicles. Ziebart International Corp. is a world leader in automotive aftermarket accessories and services; and offers the following leather-care tips for consumers:

Seek advice early
To ensure the best results when cleaning leather, it is important to learn about proper care and maintenance early, before any damage has occurred.

Don't use all-purpose cleaners and detergents
Damage to leather seats occurs most often when people use products that are not designed specifically for leather. Don't use all-purpose cleaners, household soaps or detergents; they increase the likelihood of damaging the leather with their harsh chemical ingredients.

Never rub leather when cleaning.
Discoloration appears when the dye in the seat, which is like a paint on the surface, is rubbed or worn away or becomes dried out and cracks.

Don't try to do it yourself.
Because proper treatment and care are so critical, many manufacturers recommend that car owners actually do nothing to their leather seats, since the risk of damage is so great.

Still thinking about doing the job yourself? Ziebart's auto care experts offer the following suggestions to car lovers who want to refinish their own leather seats and interiors.

• Check the owner's manual to determine the care that the manufacturer recommends for leather.
• Blot up spills immediately with a clean, dry terry cloth.
• Do not rub cleaner into the leather surface. Go over the surface lightly with a damp (water only) cloth. Then dry and buff with a different clean, dry cloth.
• Keep your leather clean. Leather seats are extremely susceptible to scratches, even from the smallest specks of dirt.
• Be careful about what you carry in your pockets. Sharp objects, like keys and credit cards, have been known to cause serious scratches and rips in leather seats.