Leather Cleaners

Leather cleaners lift the grime, body oil and jeans dye that build up in the grain of seats, steering wheels and gear gaiters, and are made to be gentle on the coated finish of car leather. The range includes AutoBead Leather Cleaner, a pH neutral cleaner and conditioner, Sonax PROFILINE Leather Cleaner for worn, shiny seats and Sonax XTREME Leather Care Foam for heated and perforated seats. Our leather cleaner guide compares them in their makers' own words.

How to choose

• Liquid or foam: a liquid worked in with a soft brush suits most seats. A foam stays on the surface, which helps on perforated or ventilated seats where liquid can soak into the holes.
• Leather and fabric: an all-surface interior cleaner such as Stjarnagloss Inni is listed for leather seats as well as fabric and plastics, handy on seats that mix the two.
• Alcantara and suede look like leather but need their own products: see Alcantara Cleaners.

Good to know

• Test on a hidden area, apply the cleaner the way its maker says, work it into the grain with a soft brush from Leather Brushes and wipe off with a clean microfibre cloth.
• Cleaning leaves the leather bare. Follow with Leather Conditioners or Leather Protection, especially on the driver's seat bolster, where wear shows first.

What is the best thing to clean car leather with?

A dedicated leather cleaner, made to be gentle on the coated finish of car leather, such as AutoBead Leather Cleaner. Apply it the way its maker says, work it into the grain with a soft leather brush and wipe it off with a clean microfibre cloth. On perforated or ventilated seats a foam cleaner is safer, because it stays on the surface instead of soaking into the holes.

How do you make leather car seats look new again?

Clean first, then put something back. A cleaner lifts the grime, body oil and jeans dye from the grain and leaves the leather bare, so follow it with a leather conditioner or leather protection, especially on the driver's seat bolster, where wear shows first.

Related: Leather, Plastic & Trim, Leather Conditioners, Leather Protection, Leather Brushes. Popular brands here: Autobead, Sonax, Stjarnagloss, CarPro.