I have a Sport Version with Alcantara seats, but I don't know how to clean the sides/headrest sections since they look like either leather or synthetic leather. Similarly the cover to the middle console looks like leather, but I'm not sure if it is. 

Presumably if these sections are leather it is worth treating them from time to time with a larger cleaner? Any advice on this is welcome.

 

Edited 28 February, 20251 yr by WallyBazoom
Double photo by mistake.

I’m a former detailer and have had plenty of conversations with guys who are specialist in leather seats. Essentially, not much of it is leather, it’s more Polyurethane (known as PU leather) which is built up of layers: a base material layer, a colour layer and a clearcoat. Basically, most automotive interior cleaners (properly diluted down if need be) will be fine with a microfibre cloth or leather brush on, and off with a microfibre cloth which helps to get into the pattern a little more.

Best advice is to go to somewhere like Leather Repair Company or Colourlock and get a product from an actual dedicated leather company.

Be gentle, nothing abrasive or harsh chemicals like All Purpose Cleaners. The clearcoat is designed with UV inhibitors to protect the colour and once this goes you can start to experience the classic fading and cracking.

 

Armrest is the same. 

 

Most of all, do your steering wheel! Ideally with the brush to really get into the pattern. Steering wheels get dirty/oily pretty quickly. If it’s black leather, it shouldn’t be black and shiny, it should be charcoal and matt.

Best way to tell really is to poke it, if you see like creases then it’s leather.

 

Looking at your pictures, the thin strip around the seats will be leather, headrest, strip under the headrest and the armrest.

 

When I clean my seats I use Gliptone, smells like you’ve fisted a cow afterwards though (leather smell not poop). I use it on all of my seats which is more real leather than not (backs and side fake stuff)

 

https://gliptoneeurope.com/product/leather-conditioner/

 

https://gliptoneeurope.com/product/intensive-cleaner/
 

 

Edited 28 February, 20251 yr by Danoid

2 hours ago, travs said:

The clearcoat is designed with UV inhibitors to protect the colour and once this goes you can start to experience the classic fading and cracking.

Interesting .... so to preserve if is paramount to use proper leather care products, all compatible with PU leather?

If the clearcoat goes, it is paintable again? I've had had interiors remade by a leather treatment company, mxed results, mostly good, but then some were very difficult to rejuvenate ...

2 hours ago, leolito said:

Interesting .... so to preserve if is paramount to use proper leather care products, all compatible with PU leather?

If the clearcoat goes, it is paintable again? I've had had interiors remade by a leather treatment company, mxed results, mostly good, but then some were very difficult to rejuvenate ...

As with most things, preservation will keep it looking better for longer. Clearcoat can be put back yes. This is always applied when there is restoration work done by leather professionals so there are products out there.

 

When you get jeans dye transfer (classic on light leather colours), it can usually be cleaned off quickly. If left, the dye eats through the clearcoat and into the colour layer. At that point, the clearcoat needs removing, the colour layer re-dyed and then clearcoat put back over.

 

Some higher end vehicles use aniline or semi-aniline leather - this is much more like the real stuff and I think more porous. Volvo have used it, and I’ve seen a C5 RS6 with it but I don’t have much knowledge of it.

 

Whether it’s real or PU, the layers are the same though. 
 

Geist restoration - go to 10:58 - this shows clearcoat. Sprayed on and then heat-treated to dry.

I stopped using denim on leather years ago, especially as I have a knack for light interiors, most of my past and present rides are such.