One of the best feelings a driver can experience is stepping into a BMW with well-maintained leather upholstery. This is a big factor in everything from the comfort of your drive to the resale value of the vehicle. A mistake can compromise your interior, so let’s find out how to get it right.

Being Mindful

As with most aspects of car care, it’s always a good idea to check with the owner’s manual of your BMW before you do anything else. It may recommend or rule out certain techniques and products that are prone to cause damage to your upholstery. Interior leather surfaces can vary more widely than you think, from soft, smooth aniline to velvety nubuck and vinyl-like pigmented types. Does your upholstery contain any perforations? This will also affect your cleaning technique, as you want to avoid letting any fluids or gunk get trapped in these small holes. In short, know your interior well if you want to give it a proper detailing!

Technique and Materials

Regardless of what kind of leather your interior is comprised of, cleaning and conditioning it will almost always involve a few fundamental steps. Think of it as a layered process. You’ll first want to clear the surfaces of any abrasive materials such as grit and dirt in a way that doesn’t wear anything down. This can be done with careful vacuuming, clearing out small nooks using compressed air, and using microfibre towels to smoothly wipe unfriendly material away. A deep clean with the right saddle soap followed by proper conditioning and wipedown is often what follows, but the exact products will vary based on your particular interior.

The Summer Sun

Of course, the process of cleaning itself isn’t the only thing contributing to healthy leather upholstery. You also need to be attentive to everyday conditions. Obviously, avoiding things like contact with shoes and accumulation of dirt and debris is essential. However, many drivers neglect to properly protect their leather from the sun, particularly during summer. This is one element that can take a significant toll over time, especially when it comes to your steering wheel, dashboard, centre console, and even driver and front passenger seats. Be careful of where you park and be sure to use a high-quality sun shade on your windshield!

How is your BMW looking these days? If you want to keep your favourite vehicle in top condition, call (403) 768-3169 to make an appointment!