Cleaning and caring for your car's leatherette: the essential steps for long-lasting seats

Preventive care of your car's leatherette seats is the key to an interior that holds its value over time.

Unlike genuine leather, which needs moisturising, skai and leatherette call for a specific routine: regular cleaning and protection with lacquer.

Sofolk, a French manufacturer since 1989, guides you in preserving the shine and suppleness of your car upholstery with simple steps and professional products.

Our products for cleaning your car's skai

Which product should you choose to care for your car leatherette?

Cleaner / stain remover, the foundation of preventive care

The Sofolk cleaner / stain remover is the first step in your care routine. This multi-material product gently cleans dust, fingerprints and everyday dirt without attacking the plastic coating of your seats.

Its bactericidal action sanitises the interior with every use. Compatible with skai, leatherette, leather, Alcantara and automotive plastics.

Clear skai lacquer, long-lasting protection

After cleaning, the clear skai lacquer rebuilds the protective wear layer of your seats. Available in gloss, satin or matt finishes, with anti-UV options for exposed vehicles.

In a can for application with a damp sponge, or as a ready-to-use aerosol. A 200 ml can is equivalent to a 400 ml aerosol and covers 3 m² in one coat.

Protect your seats for the long term with our professional lacquers

The Sofolk tip

Care for your leatherette seats every 2-3 months for the best results. This frequency preserves the original shine and prevents ingrained dirt from building up.

For complete care including the repair of minor wear, discover our all-in-one car renovation kits

Skai vs leather: why different care?

Skai and leatherette are synthetic materials made up of a thin plastic coating (polyurethane) on a textile backing.

Unlike genuine leather, which is a living material that needs moisturising, skai does not dry out, but its wear layer dulls with everyday friction.

Never use nourishing leather products on your skai seats: nourishing milk, moisturising cream or oil.

These products create a greasy film that attracts dust and can make the surface sticky. Skai care is limited to cleaning followed by protection with lacquer.

When should you care for your leatherette seats? The warning signs

• Dull appearance: the natural shine fades, a sign that the protective layer is wearing

• Dust build-up: dirt sticks more easily to a worn surface

• Hardening to the touch: the skai loses its original suppleness

• Visible micro-scratches: repeated friction marks the surface

• Partial fading: some areas whiten or change shade (Give your leatherette a vibrant colour again with our paints )

Leatherette care routine: 7 steps for a professional result

1. Vacuum first: remove crumbs, dust and debris with a vacuum cleaner fitted with a soft brush

2. Microfibre dusting: wipe a dry microfibre cloth over the whole surface to remove fine dust

3. Applying the cleaner: spray the cleaner / stain remover onto a lightly damp microfibre cloth

4. Gentle cleaning: rub delicately in circular movements, area by area

5. Intermediate wipe: go over with a clean, dry microfibre cloth to remove residue

6. Applying the lacquer: apply the Clear skai lacquer with a damp sponge (can) or by spray (aerosol), and flatten any bubbles

7. 24 h drying: leave to dry completely before using the vehicle

Always work with the vehicle in the shade and the surface warm (never hot). Applying lacquer to a hot surface creates bubbles and an uneven finish.

Choosing the lacquer finish: gloss, satin or matt?

Respect the original appearance of your seats. Most automotive skai has a satin finish. Gloss suits dashboards and armrests, and matt suits areas that are very exposed to friction.

The anti-UV option is a must if your vehicle is regularly parked in the sun.

Preventive vs corrective care: the economics

Regular care every 2-3 months (cost: around €15 of products for 6 months) preserves your seats and avoids the cost of a complete renovation.

Renovating degraded skai requires deep cleaning, repair of cracks, recolouring and protection: a budget of €80-120 if you do it yourself, €300-600 with a professional.

Effectively repair cracks and tears on your skai seats!

Preventive care multiplies the life of your car upholstery by 3 and maintains the resale value of your vehicle.

Care mistakes that permanently damage skai

• Nourishing milk for leather: creates a greasy film that is impossible to remove and attracts dust and dirt

• Harsh household products: fade and crack the plastic coating

• Steam cleaner: excessive heat makes the skai blister and peel

• No protection: unprotected skai wears 5 times faster than skai protected by lacquer

• Applying lacquer to a dirty surface: traps the dirt and creates a gritty appearance

Why choose Sofolk to care for your car leatherette

A French manufacturer since 1989, Sofolk masters every type of automotive skai and leatherette: grained, smooth, matt, gloss, with or without perforation.

Our care products are formulated specifically to preserve synthetic materials without attacking them.

Our unique expertise allows us to offer lacquers suited to each original finish. Made in our workshops in Bordeaux, our products benefit from more than 30 years of customer feedback and continuous improvement.

Our photo advice service helps you identify the care routine suited to your vehicle.

Discover the full Sofolk range for car skai renovation

Frequently asked questions: car leatherette care

How often should I care for my leatherette seats?

Care for your skai seats every 2-3 months under normal use: cleaning + protection. Increase the frequency if you smoke, carry pets or use your vehicle intensively.

Weekly dusting with a microfibre cloth is enough between full care sessions.

Should I nourish skai like genuine leather?

No, never nourish skai. It is a plastic material that does not dry out like animal leather. Nourishing products (milk, cream, oil) create a greasy film that attracts dirt and can make the surface sticky.

Skai only needs cleaning and protection with lacquer.

Why are my seats sticky after cleaning?

A sticky feel reveals too much product or insufficient rinsing. Wipe with a microfibre cloth dampened with clean water, then dry.

If you used the wrong product (nourishing milk), degrease with diluted Degreasing Stripper before carrying out the care correctly again.

Which lacquer finish should I choose: matt, satin or gloss?

Respect the original finish of your seats. The majority of automotive skai has a satin finish (neither matt nor gloss). Matt suits areas that get a lot of rubbing, and gloss suits armrests and the dashboard.

If in doubt, satin remains the most versatile choice.

Is care enough if my skai is already cracked?

No, cracks first need repairing with the skai tear repairer before the usual care. Simply cleaning + lacquering cracked skai does not hide the defects and can even accentuate them.

Is anti-UV lacquer essential?

Anti-UV lacquer is a must if your vehicle is regularly parked outdoors. UV rays degrade the plastic coating and cause fading, then cracking.

In a garage or covered car park, standard lacquer is enough.