How to Condition Your Car's Leather Seats

A guide to keeping your car's leather luxurious.

Brennan Sullivan | 

Jan 8, 2025 | 3 min read

Kia

Leather can be a particularly fickle material, with certain aspects of its upkeep depending on your location, climate, and the upholstery's color. All that said, many carmakers continue to opt for leather's distinctive look and feel in their vehicles, from the ultra luxurious — a bespoke leather interior from Rolls-Royce — to the more practical — the optional leather seats of the Kia Sorento.

Here's a guide to help you ensure your leather seats are always conditioned and cared for.

The Laws of Leather

Like all materials, leather has its slate of pros and cons. It can be more stain resistant than fabric and brings a luxurious finish that might add value to your car down the line. But it can also age faster, and light-colored leathers are particularly vulnerable to showing dirt and wear.

The interior experts at leather-care company Leather Honey say it's a good idea to clean your leather upholstery as often as you wash the exterior of your car. Many similar care guides recommend conditioning leather about every three months. Seats that are occupied more often will also need more regular care.

For example, a driver's seat will wear and dry quicker than a rarely used back seat. Lack of care can result in faded, discolored, or cracked seats, potentially leading to the leather breaking down over time.

Which Products to Choose

A host of easily accessible remedies are available, with guides on mixing your own leather conditioner all over the internet. A safer option, however, might be to look for a professional product from a well-known brand, such as Meguiar's, Adam's Polishes, Griot's Garage, or the Chemical Guys. There are often plenty to choose from at your local auto-parts store.

Many high-quality leather conditioners are oil based, which helps leather absorb the product fully. Some formulas will leave a glossy finish or enrich the color of the leather, while others specify that they will not change the material's appearance and simply strengthen the fibers.

A Step-by-Step Guide

Before focusing on your vehicle's leather, giving your interior a solid overall cleaning is often recommended. Vacuum out crumbs, debris, or dirt, and wipe up any messes that could get in the way of treating the leather. Be cautious when vacuuming, as sharp hose attachments can gouge seats if used too roughly.

Depending on the state of the seat, additional cleaning might be necessary — if so, consider using a formulated upholstery cleaner with a soft-bristled brush. Working the solution into a lather is designed to help lift any baked-in dirt out of the seat.

Once the leather is cleaned and dried with a microfiber towel, it's time to condition it. Follow the instructions specified on your product of choice and massage the product into the seat until the leather absorbs it — many leather-care guides suggest using microfiber or lint-free towels for this step.

Before committing to an entire seat, it's a good idea to do a spot check on a less visible section of the material. If the test goes well and you've applied a thin layer to the whole surface, let the leather completely dry. Wait times can vary by product, but according to Leather Honey, leaving seats overnight is generally advisable.

Brennan Sullivan

Brennan Sullivan is a writer and lifelong car fanatic. With an appreciation for all makes and models, Brennan is particularly passionate about the rich history of the automotive industry. In his spare time, he's the caretaker of a 1962 Sunbeam Alpine, and a Golden Retriever named Willow.