Keeping Your Leather Mates Happy: A Real-World Guide to Conditioning

Vacuum everything. And I mean everything. Use the crevice tool to get deep into the folds of the seats. I once found three bucks in change and a petrified hot chip in a customer's BMW, that stuff ruins leather if it sits there.

Quickly look for any loose threads or tears. If you've got a rip, don't go shoving wet cleaner in there or you'll rot the foam underneath.

Never do this in direct sunlight. If the leather is hot to the touch, the cleaner will flash dry and leave streaks. Park it in the shade or do it in the garage after the car has cooled down.

Always, and I mean always, test your cleaner on a hidden bit of leather first. (I'm telling you this because I once ruined a custom dyed interior by being cocky, never again). Check for colour transfer on your cloth.

Don't spray the cleaner directly onto the seat. Spray it onto your horsehair brush. This prevents 'spotting' and gives you much better control.

Work in small sections, maybe 30cm by 30cm. Use circular motions. You're looking for the cleaner to foam up slightly, that’s the dirt being lifted out of the grain.

Use a damp (not dripping) microfibre to wipe away the dirty foam. If the towel comes away black, repeat the process. You'd be surprised how much 'leather' colour is actually just human sweat and grease.

Take a fresh, dry microfibre and buff the area. The leather should look 'matte' now. If it's shiny, it's still dirty. Truth be told, clean leather isn't shiny, it has a soft, satin finish.

Chuck a small amount of conditioner onto an applicator pad. Less is more here. If you glob it on, it'll just sit on the surface and get on your pants later.

Work the conditioner into the leather using overlapping circles. Pay extra attention to the bolsters and the areas that get hit by the sun (the tops of the rear headrests are classic for drying out).

Give the conditioner at least 15-20 minutes to soak in. If it’s a stinking hot arvo, maybe leave it a bit longer. (Your partner will thank you when they don't get 'conditioner bum' on their nice clothes).

This is the most important part. Take a clean microfibre and buff off any excess. You want to remove that oily residue so it doesn't attract dust. If you leave it sticky, that red Aussie dust will stick to it like glue.

If you have cooled/heated seats with those little holes, make sure no product is trapped in them. Use a toothpick or a quick blast of compressed air if you’ve been a bit heavy-handed.