8 things you must not use to clean your leather. 

We all love a clean, glossy, well protected car but what about the interior?

We enjoy our Porsche the most when we are behind the wheel and driving our beautiful cars so let’s take a look at an interior topic – leather cleaning! Or more to the point – what NOT to use when caring for your leather. This applies to other leather items as well e.g. sofas.

To begin, let’s start with an understanding of leather. Leather is a natural product and is intertwined collagen fibers (protein); the density of the intertwining varies from species to species. Density can differ significantly in an animal’s skin. The most common animal species for automotive leather is predominantly from cows, the hide of which is essentially a by-product from beef farming.

Unless you are in the market for an incredibly rare 1of1 vehicle this is the case for the overwhelming majority of vehicle brands.

When cleaning automotive leather, it’s important to AVOID the following to ensure your leather remains in good condition:
Harsh Chemicals or Cleaners: Avoid using household cleaners as they can strip the leather’s natural oils and cause cracking or fading. This includes Automotive All Purpose Cleaners (APC’s), many of which are Alkaline and will damage your leather top-coat and dry out the natural oils in your leather.
Excessive Water: Leather is porous and can absorb water, leading to stains or damage. Always use a damp lint free cloth rather than soaking the leather with water.
Abrasive Materials: Avoid using rough sponges (such as magic erasers), brushes, or abrasive cloths as they can scratch the leather’s surface and damage its texture, topcoat and finish.
Heat: Don’t use direct heat sources (such as hairdryers or direct sunlight) to dry leather, as this can cause it to dry out, crack, or fade.
Non Automotive Leather Conditioners: Not all leather conditioners are suitable for automotive leather. Stick to products designed specifically for car leather to avoid buildup or color change.
Too Much Product: Over-application of leather cleaner or conditioner can leave residue or make the leather feel greasy or sticky.
Shoe polish: Whilst it may be tempting to try and improve the aesthetics of a worn leather bolster with some show polishing, this will not penetrate modern leathers as it has a clear top-coat (similar to the clear-coat on your coachwork) so the leather is sealed. If the topcoat has failed then seek a professional leather repair.
Pledge or similar: Do not use furniture sprays to make your leather shiny. They contain silicone and shiny leather is either dirty leather or has a product applied to make it shiny. Clean leather has a soft matt finish.
By following these precautions, your leather will remain soft, clean, and last longer for your enjoyment.