Here is an article I wrote for a trade magazine. thought I should share. Gary

Preserving the leather seats in your car is not difficult, and you will discover the time is well spent. I have seen quite a few cars where the leather has not been cared for and the seats are cracking and splitting. Because leather is a natural fabric, it needs to breathe. Leather will dry out over time, and exposure to heat or direct sunlight can hasten the drying out process. Moisture can and should be restored to the leather by rubbing conditioners in on a regular basis. I suggest doing this 3-4 times a year. This conditioning also helps leather repel some substances that might soak into a dried-out seat.
Leather hides can be categorized as one of several types, depending on the process used to preserve the hides. The piece can be smooth, suede (yes suede is leather also) dyed in a variety of ways, coated or tanned naturally. Most automotive leather is color dyed to match the interior. Your leather interior is the most delicate surface of your car. Cleaning and conditioning car leather is important in order to protect it and to keep it looking new. Taking care of leather consists of two important steps: cleaning and conditioning. The oil from your skin and everyday dirt takes a heavy toll on the leather in your car and can make it weather quickly. Never use a caustic cleaner on your leather; it can remove the dye in the seats and damage it. Only use a PH-balanced cleaner safe for leather. A horse hair brush is a great tool to use for cleaning leather and is available at any janitorial supply store. The procedure for cleaning is as follows: first vacuum the seats, then spray the leather cleaner on a section and use the horse hair brush (a soft towel will also work) to rub the cleaner around that area, then remove with a soft rag. Do this a section at a time to all the leather in the car. This procedure should remove most soil from the seats. For hard-to-remove stains, contact your local janitorial supply store for solutions. Always test an inconspicuous area first before applying product to entire seat.
After the cleaning process is finished, you should condition the leather. Most quality conditioners are lanolin based to restore the oils in leather. Using a foam applicator pad, apply some conditioner to the pad and work the product into the leather. You will immediately see the leather coming to life as you work the conditioner into the seat. When you have conditioned all the seats, go back and buff the seats out with a soft cloth. I like flannel for this process. By doing this procedure 3-4 times a year you will keep your car’s leather looking new. Keep your applicator pad in a zip lock bag; this way you won’t use it by mistake on your paint.
If you have an older car, chances are you have vinyl seats and trim. In this case it is not wise to use conditioner. Vinyl will not absorb like leather will. In this case you should use a high quality water based dressing on the seats. Think of dressings as a surface protectant. Dressings are divided into two categories: solvent based and water based. Stay away from solvent based dressings; not only can they damage paint, they are greasy as well -- not something you want in your interior. Water based dressings are extremely versatile. Use it on tires, wheel wells, vinyl, rubber and molded plastic. For tires, spray on a clean wet tire, do not wipe off excess, allow to air dry. Spray in clean wheel wells to preserve a clean look and repel dirt. For seats, spray on a section at a time and remove with soft cloth. For trim and rubber, spray dressing on an applicator pad, and wipe on trim, allow to air dry.
Most quality water based dressings have UV protection, so you should use it on your dash as well. I use a water based dressing on the engine after it is cleaned to seal the rubber and plastic to bring new life to the engine bay.
If you have cloth seats, extra care must be taken when cleaning. Never spray heavy amounts of cleaning solution on your seats to the saturation point. The material is thin, and what happens is the chemicals go through the material right back into the cushions. You can never get the solution out of the cushion, and mold can develop. Here is the proper way to clean fabric seats. First vacuum to remove surface dirt, then put a small amount of laundry detergent into a bucket. Fill half way with water. Take a terri towel and soak it in the bucket and squeeze out water solution as much as possible so that the towel is damp. Using the towel, clean the seats making sure you get uniform coverage. Repeat process as towel becomes dry. After you have cleaned all the seats, get a fresh bucket of water and a new towel. Squeeze out excess water and proceed as above. This is the rinse cycle. When you are finish, get a dry bath towel and rub all the seats, this creates friction which will promote the drying process. For stubborn stains, consult a janitorial supply store for products that work on fabric. Always test an inconspicuous area first before using any cleaner.

 

Good post,

My 05 has the gray leather seats and they are thick and plush. I use good old saddle soap for cleaning and then finish with ARMOR ALL, aerosol leather treatment.

I also have an 01 ESCAPE with leather. That leather is more like cardboard, but using the above method, those seats are in excellent shape after five years of use.

I remain impressed with the quality of the 05 leather, feels very soft and thick and looks very elegant.