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Oct 14, 2024

The Best Leather Conditioners for Cars of 2024, Tested by Experts

Thanks to these top picks, your car's interior will be looking as good as new in no time.

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

A cracked steering wheel or stained seats can make even the most luxe car with leather interior look like something you blindly drove off the used car lot. Thankfully, there's a secret weapon that can make a well-loved ride look as good as new: leather conditioner.

Whether you're looking for something that's easy to use while on-the-go (say, your drink dribbled on your seats) or a multi-step process to help condition and protect your car's leather from whatever may come its way, our Good Housekeeping Institute cleaning experts did the research to find the best car leather cleaners and conditioners. We spent hours researching the top brands and testing popular products in our Cleaning Lab, considering factors like ease of application, finish and efficacy. We also took into account price, ingredients, UV protection and more.

If you want your car's leather seats to look almost as good as they did when they were brand new, Weiman's Leather Conditioner might just become your favorite cleaning product. This Good Housekeeping Seal star is a combination cleaner and conditioner, so you don't have to worry about getting two separate products (and figuring out where to store all those extra bottles).

We appreciate that this two-in-one has a UV protectant to help guard against the damaging sun rays that can dry out and fade leather, causing to it turn brittle. It also comes with a microfiber towel for easy application. Overall, it's hard to go wrong with this product, but if we had to find something to complain about, it's the strong smell.

This budget-friendly option did a great job of cleaning off our car's seats, console, door panels and steering wheel during our tests. While it won't get that expert-level clean that some multi-step kits will, we liked that its fine-mist spray was easy and neat, and wiped away quickly with a microfiber cloth.

We also found that Turtle Wax left the leather clean, shiny and supple and even removed some stains from our door panel. It's does more than just clean too — the spray adds a layer of UV protection to your car's interior. After spritzing this leather cleaner in your ride, the seats, steering wheel, console, and dash will be less prone to fading, discoloration and cracking due to sun exposure.

Did you put off cleaning your car leather for a bit too long? If your ride is in need of a serious deep clean and total restoration, this kit from Furniture Clinic will do the trick. Unlike some other products that may not get the full job done, this three-piece set, which earned the Good Housekeeping Seal, does it all, and doesn't sacrifice on quality to fit everything into a single bottle — as long as you're willing to commit to a multi-step process to get the results.

We love that the cleaner was able to get deep into the leather to remove grime that had been embedded in the grain. While testing, we also found that it eradicated tough spots (like blue dye stains from jeans!), helped make future stains easier to remove and kept leather supple and shiny.

Plus, our experts noted that the kit's Re-Coloring Balm comes in 16 different colors for different leathers and worked very well when restoring the color to leather that was worn and faded, helping blend it into the rest of the seat.

This product has been on the market for more than 55 years, and is still one of the most trusted names when it comes to cleaning and conditioning leather — whether it's your car's interior or furniture, shoes, bags and more. It also works on vinyl, plastic, rubber and faux leather.

According to the brand, a single bottle can remove tough stains, oil and dirt. Users backed up this claim, noting it effectively removed dye stains from blue jeans and left the leather in their car's interior glowing. It does need to be diluted before use. Unfortunately, the brand's leather conditioner is sold separately, and this is a key step if your car needs a little more TLC with a supple moisturizer.

Stash this container of wipes in your car for an on-the-go, car-cleaning solution. Unlike the other products on this list, these simple wipes are especially convenient since you don't need an applicator or towel to use. You can take care of any cleaning emergencies immediately, like when someone accidentally spills on your nice leather seats.

They can also be used on other leather products in a pinch — shoes, baseball gloves and more. Users appreciated the convenience of this product, and noted that the wipes actually did a pretty good job for a quick fix. One thing to keep in mind is that these wipes are more for light cleaning than deep conditioning or heavy cleaning and aren't quite as conditioning as some other products.

The Chemical Guys dream team of leather conditioner and cleaner gets positive reviews all around. They not only smell great, but they also effectively clean and condition your car, sofa, jacket, bags... any leather goods, really.

The kit involves a simple two-step process. According to users, the cleaner does a good job of lifting dirt and debris, while the conditioner helps keep leather supple and soft. We also appreciate that the conditioner helps protect against UV rays, so you can avoid any sun damage while driving around town.

For true restoration, though, you may want something a little bit tougher — like the Furniture Clinic Complete Restoration Kit — to get the job done.

Say goodbye to dirt and debris with this leather cleaner by Lexol. The 16.9-ounce bottle helps lift grime out of your leather so you can easily wipe it away, revealing a good-as-new car interior. While it does wonders for your car, this leather cleaner is also great for handbags, shoes and furniture, according to the brand.

Users said it does a good job of removing spots, stains and markings from well-loved leather and recommended using it in conjunction with the leather conditioner (if you're willing to sacrifice the amount in each bottle, you can also snag a set) for a supple and smooth finish that looks almost as spanking new as the day you got the keys to your car.

The Good Housekeeping Institute's cleaning and auto pros have tested dozens of upholstery cleaners and furniture polishes over the years, many of which are formulated for use on leather. When we test, our experts try out the cleaners on dirty leather purses, car seats, shoes, test swatches with stains and more.

We consider factors like ease of application, how well each product removes stains and whether or not they leave the leather with a gentle shine or just greasy. We also take into account other important attributes like ingredients, UV protection and overall value.

✔️ Ingredients: Our Lab pros say mild, water-based cleaners are best. As for conditioners and protectants, oils, like mink oil, or waxes, like beeswax, are great ingredients to look for. Stay away from any harsh solvents.

✔️ Use: Are you looking for just a leather cleaner or a conditioner and protectant as well? Some cleaners come with conditioners and protectants in the same package, while others require a separate purchase.

✔️ Application: You can find your favorite cleaners in a variety of styles, like spray bottles, wipes or regular bottles. Spray bottles are easy to apply directly to leather in a fine mist, while wipes are great for on-the-go. Regular bottles of product should be applied to a towel first to avoid using too much or too little product.

✔️ Versatility: We've specifically vetted these leather cleaners for use in your car, but many can be used on other items in your home including furniture, accessories (belts, shoes and purses), sports equipment (baseball gloves and even horse saddles) and more. Check product labels to be sure.

If you're truly looking to revive your seats, it's best to get both a leather cleaner and a leather conditioner. There are quite a few two-in-one or three-in-one options that have both a cleaner and conditioner, but some products are sold separately.

While a leather cleaner will help lift dirt and debris out of the leather so you can easily wipe it down and remove all stains and impurities, a leather conditioner is what will will help quench your leather's thirst and replenish any dried-out oils from everyday use and sun exposure.

Many leather conditioners also tend to have some protectant qualities, and help make it easier to lift away stains and dirt in the future when cleaning again. Using a leather cleaner and leather conditioner regularly can also help protect your leather from harmful UV rays which can crack and discolor your car's interior.

Former GH Institute analyst Jamie Spain has nearly five years worth of experience testing and reviewing consumer goods, including auto products like car organizers and booster seats. To curate this list of the best leather conditioners for cars, she worked with Home Care and Cleaning Lab Executive Director Carolyn Forté. Together, they researched and tested some of the most highly-rated, top-selling options on the market today.

Brigitt Earley, a freelance writer with more than 15 years of industry experience, also contributed to this guide. She's spent the bulk of her career evaluating the best products, whether automotive accessories or cleaning agents.

Jamie (she/her) is a parenting and pets reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she spends her time testing, researching and writing about pet and family products. Prior to starting at GH in 2021, she worked at BuzzFeed and People, covering a combination of product reviews and lifestyle content. She's a graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and psychology and a master’s degree in journalism.

Brigitt is a writer, editor and craft stylist with nearly 15 years of experience. She specializes in lifestyle topics, including home, health, parenting, beauty, style, food, entertaining, travel and weddings. She has written for Glamour, People, Good Housekeeping, Women's Health, Real Simple, Martha Stewart, Apartment Therapy, The Spruce, and more.

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This Good Housekeeping Seal star is a combination cleaner and conditionerits fine-mist spray was easy and neat, and wiped away quickly with a microfiber clotheradicated tough spots (like blue dye stains from jeans!), helped make future stains easier to remove and kept leather supple and shinytake care of any cleaning emergencies immediately, like when someone accidentally spills on your nice leather seats. the cleaner does a good job of lifting dirt and debristhis leather cleaner is also great for handbags, shoes and furniture✔️ Ingredients:✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ Use✔️ ✔️ Application✔️ ✔️ VersatilityJamie SpainCarolyn Forté.Brigitt Earley
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