How to Take Care of Car Leather Upholstery

Bright sunshine, combined with excessive hot and cold temperatures, can wreak havoc on a car's leather upholstery. Unlike a fabric interior, leather requires special care when cleaning to protect its supple surface. In addition, leather requires periodic conditioning to keep it from cracking.

Instructions

1. Wipe down leather surfaces on a weekly basis with a soft, damp rag. Keeping them free from dust and spills is an ongoing process.

2. Smooth on a leather conditioner once a month, following the manufacturer's recommendations and wipe off thoroughly. Leather conditioners keep your interior soft and protect against cracking but don't use them too often or you'll block the leather from "breathing."

3. Apply a leather protecting cream every 3 months, after a thorough cleaning and conditioning. Use a cleaning product made specifically for leather surfaces. Other cleaners can dry and crack your upholstery.

4. Park your car in a garage whenever possible to keep the harsh sun's rays from aging your leather upholstery prematurely.

5. Purchase a windshield visor to place on your dashboard on sunny days to deflect harsh sunlight if you must park your car outside.

6. Tint your side and back windows to reduce the amount of ultraviolet light entering your vehicle.

7. Clean up any spills immediately. Water, soda and food products can damage the leather surface if not wiped off quickly. Use the smallest attachment on your vacuum to remove crumbs and debris from deep seams in the upholstery. Seams are a problem area in leather upholstery so pay special attention to them when cleaning and conditioning.