6 Steps To Clean Leather Car Seats That Have Holes In Them
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If your car has perforated leather seats, you may be wondering how to clean them. In this article, we cover the steps of how to clean leather car seats with holes. How do you clean leather car seats with holes? What steps should you follow when cleaning perforated leather seats?
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How do you clean leather seats that have holes in them?
To clean leather car seats with holes, you will vacuum to remove loose dirt, apply a leather cleaner and scrub using a soft-bristle brush, remove stubborn stains using a gum stimulator, wipe them down with a microfiber towel, condition the leather, allow the conditioner to absorb, buff and polish.
In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to follow to clean perforated leather car seats and give them a fresh look. So, if your car has perforated leather seats and you are wondering how to clean them, this article will guide you.
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Overview
An increasing number of cars these days come outfitted with perforated leather seats or leather car seats with holes. These leather seats help to enhance a vehicle’s interior, thus giving it a luxurious, premium look and feel. Furthermore, leather car seats with holes can also help to boost a car’s resale value, thanks to their premium look.
Furthermore, leather car seats with holes tend to have better breathability. The little holes in these seats allow air to circulate freely, thus reducing excessive heat and sweating, while increasing the car’s comfort.
Also, car seats with holes can help to minimize slippage, especially when navigating tight corners at high speeds. In addition, they can help to reduce road noise, resulting in a smoother and comfier ride.
But, as much as car seats with holes come with all these benefits, they also tend to trap dirt, dust and other types of debris. Hence, these types of car seats will require constant cleaning and maintenance.
As noted above, leather car seats with holes can easily collect dirt, dust, food particles, grease, grime, and debris. And with time, this dirt and grime may begin producing undesirable odors. Furthermore, the dirt, dust, grime, and debris trapped in these holes can cause deterioration of your leather car seats. Regular cleaning of perforated car seats is necessary.
The good news is that cleaning leather car seats with holes is not as challenging as it may. Here are the steps to follow when cleaning leather car seats with holes.
Vacuum the Seats
Before anything else, you will first need to vacuum your perforated leather seats. Vacuuming them will remove dust, loose dirt, debris, sand, or food particles that may be trapped in the perforations and on the surface.
You have the option of using either a dry vacuum cleaner or a wet one. However, make sure that the vacuum cleaner you use has a soft brush head so that it doesn’t damage the leather.
When vacuuming, you should begin with the driver’s seat and then move to the passenger’s seat. Once you’ve finished this section, you should then proceed to the back seat. Also, make sure you don’t forget the headrests and armrests since dirt is also trapped there.
Apply a Leather Cleaner
Once you’ve finished vacuuming your seats, you should then apply the right leather cleaner for your seats. You can either buy a commercial leather cleaner from a local store or prepare one yourself by mixing two parts linseed oil with one part vinegar in a spray bottle.
Whether you’ve decided to purchase a commercial cleaner or you’ve prepared one yourself, you will first need to conduct a patch test on an inconspicuous part of the leather seats. If the results of the patch test are satisfactory, you can then proceed to apply it to the other parts of the seats.
Apply the leather cleaner onto a microfiber towel or piece of cloth, and then dab the seats. Make sure you don’t oversaturate the microfiber towel with the cleaner, since the excessive moisture can seep into the holes and get trapped. And, this can cause the growth of mildew and mold, which will damage the leather seats.
After you’ve finished applying the cleaner on all the leather surfaces, you should then use a soft-bristle brush or a soft toothbrush to scrub the seats. But, don’t be too aggressive when scrubbing the seats, as you may end up cutting, scratching or causing other forms of damage to your leather seats.
Remove Stubborn Dirt
After you’ve scrubbed the seats, you should conduct another inspection to check whether there are any particles, stains or debris that’s remaining in the perforations.
In case you find any dirt, sand, or particles lodged in the holes, you can use a gum stimulator to remove them. However, ensure the gum stimulator you are using has a rubber tip, to avoid damaging the seats.
From there, you then simply need to insert the rubber tip into the holes. It will then loosen any lodged materials in the holes. After that, you should follow it up with a vacuum cleaner to lift the dislodged particles from the holes. Repeat this process until the results are satisfactory.
Wipe the Seats
Once you’ve finished cleaning the seats and removing all the remaining dirt, it’s now time to wipe down your seats. You will use a fresh microfiber towel to wipe the seats. If you notice that the microfiber towel you are using is collecting too much filth lather, you should rinse it with clean water and squeeze it in between the wiping.
Ensure you absorb any excess moisture on the seats. As earlier mentioned, the excess moisture can seep deep into the seats via the holes, causing mold and mildew. Also, you should wipe off any excess solution on the surface.
Condition the Seats
Like any other leather product, it’s important to condition your seats, once you’ve finished cleaning them. Conditioning the leather seats after cleaning them will help to keep them soft, thus preventing cracking. Also, the conditioner will help to protect the leather surface against stains. Besides, it will keep your leather car seats looking great.
Make sure the conditioner you choose for your leather car seats is non-sticky and water-based. Also, it shouldn’t contain silicone or harsh solvents, since such substances may degrade the leather seats or dull their finish.
Before you apply the conditioner, it will be advisable to conduct a patch test on an inconspicuous part of the seats. If it works well, you can proceed and apply it evenly to the rest of the surfaces using a dry microfiber towel.
Again, you should avoid applying too much conditioner on the seats. The excess conditioner may seep into the holes on the car seats. And since it contains moisture, it may lead to mildew and mold. So ensure you apply it sparingly and moderately until you achieve the desired results.
Buff and Polish
After applying the conditioner, you should then allow the leather to absorb it. So, make sure you give the seats ample time. It will be advisable to park the car in a shaded place so that the conditioner can absorb into the seats properly. You should allow it to absorb into the seats for at least an hour.
Once the conditioner has absorbed into your leather car seats, you should then conduct a final wipe down. Use a piece of clean microfiber cloth to wipe your leather car seats thoroughly, making sure you remove any residue. At this point, your leather car seats should be spotless.
Wrapping It Up
Cleaning leather car seats with holes may appear challenging. But, it’s manageable. By following the steps and tips that we’ve shared in this guide, you should end up with your leather car seats looking as good as new – once you’ve finished cleaning them.