How to Clean Leather Car Seats: A Quick Guide

When you bought your BMW with premium luxury leather seats, you probably weren’t thinking about how to maintain them over time. But like premium natural stone countertops or teak wood furniture, BMW leather seats are among the “finer things” that require a little bit extra care. On the flipside, they’re usually easier to wipe down in a pinch than cloth upholstery, so learning how to clean leather seats can be easier than learning how to deep-clean cloth seats & upholstery! But let’s not get distracted here — you came here to learn how to clean leather car seats, and that’s what you’re going to get! Without further delay, here are some tangible steps to take to clean your BMW leather seats, brought to you by Pacific BMW. If, while reading, you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our service team!

Here’s How to Clean the Leather Car Seats in Your BMW

Ready to renew your BMW leather seats and get them looking their very best? Here are some easy steps to follow:

1. Vacuum any dust, dirt, or debris off your leather seats.
2. Apply a pH-neutral cleaning solution to your leather seats, making sure you avoid saturating any perforations with liquid.
3. Agitate the leather gently with a soft-bristle brush to get all contaminants to the surface. Then wipe with a clean, dry microfiber cloth.
4. Apply a premium leather conditioner to your seats, working in in with a microfiber cloth. Let it dry and buff it out with another clean microfiber cloth. While it might be tempting to skip this step, leather is a natural product that can dry out and crack over time if cleaned but not conditioned, similar to what can happen to skin when you apply a harsh soap and no lotion.

A Note on the Cleaning Products You Use to Clean Leather

Wondering what type of cleaning products you should use when asking yourself how to clean leather car seats? You can use a colorless damp rag if dusting seats. Warm water and a small amount of soap (or, better yet, a dedicated leather cleaner) can be used too. Consult your vehicle’s owner’s manual for more leather care tips. Cleaning agent temporarily aside, here’s what you’ll want to avoid using when learning how to clean leather car seats, or any car seats for that matter:

• Dark cloth that can stain
• Furniture polish
• Sharp objects that can scratch
• Harsh household cleaners
• Detergents and chemical astringents

More Leather Care Tips from Pacific BMW

Now that you’ve learned how to clean car seats and leather upholstery, you probably have a better understanding of what goes into caring for your BMW interior. Still, here are some other tips to consider following:

1. Keep leather cleaner and microfiber cloths on-hand when you travel so you can keep your BMW spic & span on Los Angeles adventures.
2. Do you have a garage in your house, condo, or apartment? Store your vehicle there as often as possible to help preserve your leather from high temps and harmful UV rays.
3. Headed out around Hollywood or Burbank to run errands or go to work? Try to park in the shade (away from trees where birds can deposit acidic paint-damaging droppings), whenever possible.

Learn More About How to Clean Car Seats with Pacific BMW

Our service experts here at Pacific BMW want to help you with all your automotive needs! Contact us today if you have any more questions about how to clean your leather car seats or require any other service tips & tricks, like how to clean the inside of your windshield. We’re ready, willing and able to help you make the most of your BMW ownership experience!