Authentic leather used in making car seats look amazing right after the car is bought. But over time, like every other leather product, they get dirty too.
Leather is prone to several damages caused by wear and tear, body sweat, dirt and spillage of food and beverages. Although leather goods can last for a long time, without proper care they would be prone to damage and would eventually start wearing and tearing.
To avoid this and to take good care of leather seats, it is always good to use leather cleaners and conditioners on a regular basis.
Leather cleaners and conditioners resemble lotions that can make leather fabric soft and supple by feeding it with necessary oils. There are several leather conditioners are cleaners in the market, of which the best ones have been reviewed further in this article.
Before finding the right leather conditioner, it is important to understand the types of leather and how to use a leather conditioner on leather car seats.
Best Car Leather Cleaners & Conditioners for the Money
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Types of Leather and How to Identify Them
There four main types of leather that are used to make leather car seats:
- Aniline Leather: Although it is not used in making car seats today, this leather is made from the best of hides. Its rich color, soft touch and raw-unfinished leather feel makes it very appealing. However, it is not resistant to wear and tear and can be easily damaged.
- Semi-Aniline Leather: It is very similar to aniline leather and is dyed using aniline dyes. The only differentiating factor is the protective coat that is given to this leather which makes it resistant to damage.
- Full Grain Leather: This type of leather is commonly used in luxury cars. The leather retains the original texture of the hide and a protective coating is applied to avoid the damages caused by spillage, dirt or wear and tear.
- Corrected Grain Leather: This leather is the least natural of all the leathers and is most commonly used, as it is highly resistant to any damage. The leather is likely to have flaws that are corrected during the buffing process.
The simple way to identify the leather of the car seat is to pour small drops of water on a part of the seat. If it absorbs water easily, it is aniline leather. If the water is absorbed by the material at a very slow rate, it is semi-aniline leather.
If the water is not absorbed and slides, it is full grain or corrected grain leather.
Why Is a Leather Conditioner Important?
There are several myths surrounding leather car seats. Some of the common myths are:
- New leather cars do not require conditioning.
- The leather scent, once gone can never be regained.
- Stains on leather cannot be removed.
All of the above-mentioned myths are, however untrue. Whether the car seats are old or new, they need constant maintenance and conditioning for them to last longer.
Merely wiping the leather with water is not sufficient to enhance the look of the leather. Leather conditioners have the ability to go deep into the pores of the leather, clean the dirt and grime present in the seats and make them look brand new.
It cures the leather of everything right from the dust to the dullness caused by the dirt.
Test the Product Before Use
Despite the good reviews that a product may have online, it is not necessary that the product could work well for any leather. The product would definitely require testing before using it over any leather surface.
The best way to find if a cleaner or conditioner is best suited for the leather is by testing it on a sample surface. This could be done on a surface that is not easily visible to anyone who enters the car: for instance the side of the seat.
Use the product as per directions on this sample surface to see the outcome. This would indicate if the product causes discoloration or damages the surface of the leather.
Only after seeing a positive outcome should one use the product over all the leather surfaces.
How to Use a Leather Cleaner and Conditioner?
While most products come with instructions for use, there are certain general steps that everyone must adhere to while using a leather cleaner and conditioner.
- The first step is to ensure that the conditioner is consistent and not lumpy (this is common in cream conditioners). The conditioner must be brought to its regular consistency by using heat preferably from an object like a hair dryer.
- Before applying the cleaner or conditioner, ensure that the leather surfaces are completely dry.
- Using a micro-fiber cloth or terry cloth, apply the conditioner on the surface without missing any spot.
- Allow the conditioner or cleaner to seep into the pores and cleanse the leather. After it dries, the seats would look as good as new.
Best Car Leather Cleaners and Conditioners Reviewed
To make the decision of choosing the right leather cleaner and conditioner easier, some of the best conditioners have been reviewed below.
Leather Honey Leather Conditioner
Leather Honey Leather Conditioner is a concentrated formula that is suitable for use for almost any kind of leather.
Its non-toxic, pH balanced solution is sure to provide the best results. The conditioner removes any stain, dirt, grime or oil from the surface and leaves the leather looking as good as new.
The natural oils and ingredients used in this conditioner are ideal to make the leather look richer.
Pros
- There is no stickiness and it does not leave behind any residues after application.
- It is non-toxic and odor free.
- It is snow and water repellant.
- It comes with a complete kit that makes cleaning and conditioning very easy.
- One good conditioning can last for almost six to eight months.
Cons
- It cannot be used on faux leather or faux suede car seats.
Where to buy?
This product is available on Amazon here.
Verdict
The solution, being absolutely versatile, can be used on almost any kind of leather car seat.
With an economical price and conditioning that lasts for a maximum of six months, it is definitely one of the best leather conditioners in the market.
Trinova Leather Conditioner and Cleaner
Trinova Leather Conditioner and Cleaner is a two-in-one solution that serves both, the purpose of cleaning and conditioning, with the use of their product.
The solution comprises vital nutrients that nourish any leather product it is applied on. The ingredients in the conditioner make the leather soft and supple after application.
The chemical components go deep into the pores clearing the leather of all hidden dirt and preventing the leather from cracking caused by wear and tear.
Pros
- It serves both as a conditioner and a cleaner.
- It helps to enhance the life of the leather.
- It prevents any chance of cracking and makes the leather very soft and supple.
- It eliminates the chance of any wear and tear.
Cons
- There are rare cases where it could discolor the leather.
- There is no UV protection.
Where to buy?
This product is available on Amazon here.
Verdict
The two-in-one product is great for those looking to clean and condition their leather car seats with ease.
If the leather seats need to be refreshed and made to look brand new, this product would be the right choice. It would also ensure that the lifespan of the leather car seats is extended.
Chemical Guys Leather Cleaner and Conditioner
Chemical Guys is a brand known for making some of the best high-quality cleaning agents. The product comes with a complete kit comprising a cleaner and conditioner that removes all the contaminants without causing any harsh effects to the leather.
The pH balanced solution has favorable ingredients that deep cleans the pores of the leather and conditions the leather to look soft and supple.
With the high-quality ingredients in this product, there is absolutely no chance of the leather deteriorating in quality.
Pros
- With a simple wipe, the cleaner completely rids the leather of any dirt or contaminants that are present.
- It does not leave any residue after application and avoids fiber deterioration.
- The ingredients are absolutely leather friendly and help to improve the life of the leather.
- The essential oils present in the product restore the strength of the leather fabric.
Cons
- Certain users have found the smell of it to be slightly unpleasant.
- Time and patience is required to use the product since both the products take time to dry.
Where to buy?
This product is available on Amazon here.
Verdict
The product comes with a complete kit that is very easy to use. To restore the strength of the leather fabric, this product can be very useful. The product can come in very handy, especially if the leather seats are being cleansed and conditioned after a very long time.
Car Guys Super Cleaner
Car Guys Super Cleaner is one of the most versatile cleaners that can be used on almost any surface.
The cleaner comes with a spray nozzle, which makes it easy to spray on the leather surface and wipe off the dirt easily.
The nanotechnology used to create this cleaner removes any dirt or grime from the surface it is used on, even at the molecular level.
Pros
- The cleaner does not leave any residue or gloss.
- It is suitable for all kinds of seats irrespective of the material of the car seat.
- The easy to spray nozzle makes cleaning the surfaces a lot easier.
- It comes with UV protection.
Cons
- It does not necessarily condition the leather, like in the case of other products.
- Its effects are not long-lasting and would require regular cleaning.
- It is expensive.
Where to Buy?
This product is available on Amazon here.
Verdict
The product is a great cleaner, although it does not condition the leather. For cleaning the interiors of the car, this product is very effective.
Regular use of the product would be needed to keep the dirt away but on every single use, the dirt is completely removed from the surface.
Final Thoughts
With the number of myths surrounding the long life of leather seats, most car owners do not give importance to maintaining their car seats.
Maintaining the car seats by using conditioners and cleaners ensures that the leather seats look soft, supple and as good as new all the time.
Regular cleaning and conditioning of car seats can improve the life of the leather car seats.