Class is in session for Leather 101. This video and article are all about leather - how to safely clean heavily dirty leather surfaces in your vehicle, how to restore neglected or dried out leather, and how to maintain these surfaces afterward once you have them clean and looking factory-new again. More and more modern vehicles are utilizing some type of leather or leather-like vinyl material for seats due to the overall durability of leather compared to thinner fabrics used in cloth seats that can wear worse over time. Higher trim levels will use premium leather in even more surfaces, such as the dashboard, center console, and high-traffic areas like the steering wheel, arm rests, shifter handles, door inserts, and more. Leather does require care and maintenance though in order for it to look nice and last for the lifetime of the vehicle.

If the leather in your vehicle hasn't been cleaned or conditioned in quite some time, you don't want to go straight to applying Leather Conditioner. Just like you should wash, clay, and polish the exterior paint for best looks and to allow your protection product to bond to the clear coat properly, you should clean leather surfaces first for best overall results. Adam's Leather & Interior Cleaner combined with an Edgeless Utility Towel makes a powerful combination for removing dirt, food or drink stains, make, sweat stains and more out of leather. Like the name implies, Leather & Interior Cleaner isn't just for leather. It can be used on vinyl and plastic as well, like center consoles, steering wheel buttons and turn signal levers that get covered in grime, and more. For large areas like seats, spray it directly onto the surface to be cleaned, and then for smaller or more delicate areas with a lot of buttons, spray into the Edgeless Utility Towel instead and then wipe the area. Keep your towel folded into fourths, so that it cleans better - having a towel bunched up into a mess won't allow it to scrub surfaces properly.

There are two other optional tools that you can use to really deep clean heavily soiled leather or get into tight areas where a towel may not easily reach. The Interior Scrubbing Mitt uses hundreds of prickly fibers, almost like a cactus, to remove significant dirt and sweat buildup. It's abrasive enough to remove heavy dirt, but it will not damage leather, vinyl, or plastic surfaces. You will be amazed how you can turn a white or tan armrest multiple shades brighter after using the Interior Scrubbing Mitt with Leather & Interior Cleaner - the before and after differences are huge. The mitt is also great for steering wheels, since it conforms to your hand as you gently scrub around the wheel. But what about small and tight areas like window switches, air vents, seat belt clips and more? The Interior Detailing Swab 10-Pack will make cleaning these tough-to-reach areas a breeze. Simply mist a spray or two onto the end of the Detailing Swab, and carefully clean around the area in question, then wipe up any excess liquid with the Edgeless Utility Towel.

Leather & Interior Cleaner will leave surfaces completely bare and clean, without any protection, so now you will need to decide which step to take next. If the leather feels dry or tough and is not pliable, and might be looking a bit dull in color, you may want to consider something with more restoring ability than the Leather Conditioner mentioned earlier in this writeup. That is where Leather Rejuvenator Oil steps into the process. Leather Rejuvenator Oil penetrates into the pores of the leather to rehydrate leather, making it more soft and pliable, rather than stiff and dried-out. You can think of Leather Rejuvenator Oil like oiling a baseball glove to get it ready for the new season of baseball. It will help reduce the chance of the leather cracking in high-traffic areas like the side seat bolsters where your legs brush up against almost every time you enter and exit the vehicle. Pour a few drops of Leather Rejuvenator Oil onto a foam applicator like our Blue & Red Patriot Applicator and spread it onto the surface evenly. Allow the oil to soak and penetrate into the leather surfaces for 20-30 minutes, then use an Edgeless Utility Towel to wipe up any excess oil. Using the Utility Towel will also even out the appearance as you knock down the excess sheen on the surface, leaving a fresh, factory-new look to the leather surfaces once it has fully dried.

Once you have older or neglected leather refreshed and restored, or if you're looking to maintain new leather to prevent it from drying out, Adam's Leather Conditioner is a premium spray formula that you can and should use often to keep leather and other surfaces protected and looking perfect. While the rejuvenator oil is something that you use periodically a few times per year when necessary, Leather Conditioner can be used much more frequently, every few weeks if you drive the car often or if it sits outside in very high-heat areas with lots of UV exposure. The Blue & Red Patriot Applicator works perfect for Leather Conditioner as well, so you can spray directly into the applicator and then spread it evenly over one section or area at a time. On some types of leather, the leather may "drink up" a lot of the conditioner, so you may have to reapply over that area again for an even and uniform look. Leather Conditioner will darken the leather, giving it a more rich, satin-like look, without being overly shiny or greasy. As with the Leather Rejuvenator Oil, wipe away any excess residue with an Edgeless Utility Towel and you're all set! You can use it on plastics like the dashboard as well, and since it doesn't leave that sticky, greasy feeling, you will notice less dust buildup.

Last but certainly not least, all three of these chemicals - Leather & Interior Cleaner, Leather Rejuvenator Oil, and Leather Conditioner - aren't just for your car. You can use them around the household on your furniture, your boots, jackets, and more. We hope you enjoyed this quick overview on all things leather - now it's time to go refresh some leather - class dismissed!