Driver's Seat Cleaning
Thread Starter
Pit Crew
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 202
Likes: 156
From: Alaska
Driver's Seat Cleaning
First off, my apologies if this has been discussed here previously. I did try the search function and all I can say is "wow"! I didn't even know where to start...... The owner's manual is no help either so here goes.
For all of you folks that are knowledgeable with interior detailing/cleaning, I would appreciate some help. My 23 Luxury has the Macadamia interior which until today I have had no issues with staining or cleaning for almost two years now. I drove with a new pair of dark blue sweat pants today that apparently hadn't been washed yet. Within 15 minutes the driver's seat is covered in blue stains
.
So I need some help identifying what I assume are at least two, if not three, different materials used in the driver's seat so that I can use the proper cleaners:
1) The flat seating area, smooth feel/look. This is perforated for the cooling. Leather?
2) The side "bolsters", textured feel (like fleece)/not smooth. Ultrasuede?
3) The top portion of the sides and extending down the outside part of the seat on both sides to about halfway down, smooth/feel, look. Leather?
I am tempted to just use Woolite on all of these areas but I cannot help but think that using the wrong cleaner is probably worse than using no cleaner.
Thanks so much in advance for any and all help!
For all of you folks that are knowledgeable with interior detailing/cleaning, I would appreciate some help. My 23 Luxury has the Macadamia interior which until today I have had no issues with staining or cleaning for almost two years now. I drove with a new pair of dark blue sweat pants today that apparently hadn't been washed yet. Within 15 minutes the driver's seat is covered in blue stains
.So I need some help identifying what I assume are at least two, if not three, different materials used in the driver's seat so that I can use the proper cleaners:
1) The flat seating area, smooth feel/look. This is perforated for the cooling. Leather?
2) The side "bolsters", textured feel (like fleece)/not smooth. Ultrasuede?
3) The top portion of the sides and extending down the outside part of the seat on both sides to about halfway down, smooth/feel, look. Leather?
I am tempted to just use Woolite on all of these areas but I cannot help but think that using the wrong cleaner is probably worse than using no cleaner.
Thanks so much in advance for any and all help!
I would look at the manual to see if they have the recommendations for each material. Woolite should be there, but double check.
The mfg. knows the composition of the specific material better than anyone else and best to start with the least aggressive method and then you can move to some of the other product recommendations.
I typically would start with a light, flat top, brush and swirl it into create a foaming effect and then follow with slightly damp towel pressed into the stain to attempt to pull out the solution that contains the unwanted dye.
More recently, I found a product called a Scrub Ninja that has a more aggressive scrubbing capability that works great to bring steering wheels and seats back to their matte factory finish, and also may help with more deeply embedded stains.
The mfg. knows the composition of the specific material better than anyone else and best to start with the least aggressive method and then you can move to some of the other product recommendations.
I typically would start with a light, flat top, brush and swirl it into create a foaming effect and then follow with slightly damp towel pressed into the stain to attempt to pull out the solution that contains the unwanted dye.
More recently, I found a product called a Scrub Ninja that has a more aggressive scrubbing capability that works great to bring steering wheels and seats back to their matte factory finish, and also may help with more deeply embedded stains.
Last edited by BMGS; Apr 30, 2025 at 02:52 AM.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 1,618
Likes: 916
From: TX
Ultrasuede is a microfiber textile. https://www.ultrasuede.us/support/care.html
The rest of the seating surface is semianiline leather on the luxury seats.
The rest of the seating surface is semianiline leather on the luxury seats.
Thread Starter
Pit Crew
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 202
Likes: 156
From: Alaska
Thanks for the suggestions everyone.
enduro963 and jmills115: I have not used these products but I will see if I can source some locally.
BMGS: I agree with using the owner's manual 100% and this is where I first started. But while it does give some cleaning instructions for both leather and synthetic leather fabrics, it does nothing to help identify what materials are leather and what materials are synthetic or where they are used. While I am no expert, it seems that using a leather cleaner on synthetic leather (or synthetic leather cleaner on real leather) is probably not a good idea. So the purpose of my post is to identify what materials are used where so that a proper choice in cleaners can be made.
Ulrik: This is the information that I was looking for. Thank you for the confirmation!
I'm not sure when I will get around to this project but I will update with my results when I do. Thanks again everyone!
enduro963 and jmills115: I have not used these products but I will see if I can source some locally.
BMGS: I agree with using the owner's manual 100% and this is where I first started. But while it does give some cleaning instructions for both leather and synthetic leather fabrics, it does nothing to help identify what materials are leather and what materials are synthetic or where they are used. While I am no expert, it seems that using a leather cleaner on synthetic leather (or synthetic leather cleaner on real leather) is probably not a good idea. So the purpose of my post is to identify what materials are used where so that a proper choice in cleaners can be made.
Ulrik: This is the information that I was looking for. Thank you for the confirmation!
I'm not sure when I will get around to this project but I will update with my results when I do. Thanks again everyone!
Pit Crew
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 100
Likes: 32
From: Fl
We have a similar issue. We have the 2033 RX Premium Plus with macadamia interior. The front seat and the sides panels are getting darker. We were told at the dealer that it was due to body lotion. We tried Woolite, but it did not remove the darker areas. We now installed seat covers to prevent further damage. Have you experienced a similar issue? Any suggestions? Thanks.
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Rookie
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Not looking to hijack this thread but possibly add to it. Can others share what products they are using to clean the dashboard? I read somewhere in the past that I cannot find through search now, that the dash scratches very easily.
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Instructor
Joined: Jan 2023
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From: British Columbia
DO NOT use a Mr. Clean Eraser! They are a melamine sponge and are abrasive. You will remove the surface coating on vinyls and pleaters, etc.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 1,243
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From: British Columbia
Thread Starter
Pit Crew
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 202
Likes: 156
From: Alaska
Any other good leather cleaners that folks can recommend? Of course all of the cleaners on the market claim to be good but I would prefer first-hand experience.
Thread Starter
Pit Crew
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 202
Likes: 156
From: Alaska
A quick glance at this product does look impressive. But I have not been able to verify if it can be used on leather. If I cannot come up with anything else I will get some and give it a shot in a small, out of the way area. Thanks for the suggestion!
Thread Starter
Pit Crew
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 202
Likes: 156
From: Alaska
The Ultrasuede is quite wet after rinsing out the Woolite solution so it of course just looks dark. I really won't know how well it worked until it dries out. Thank you for the ideas!