Leather seat brushes are one of those accessories that you don't first think of when cleaning your car. Leather is like any car interior surface, it can be prone to becoming filthy over time. But unlike fabric or Alcantara, you can clean off the grime using a leather brush and some elbow grease. This makes that cleaning chore a little bit easier, which gives you more time to do the rest of the car by perhaps using one of these cleaning products.
Unlike some cleaning tasks, attending to the muck and grime on leather seats is actually a bit more technical. You'll need a good leather cleaner for a start, in order to get showroom results. A brush is only part of the equipment you'll need.
A leather brush may sound like a simple thing to go out and buy, but we at CAR want to ensure that you're not wasting any time or money. There are a lot of naff ones on the market which aren't built by trusted brands.
The best leather seat brushes at a glance:
Editor's pick: Nuke Guys 3-Piece Brush Set - buy from Amazon
The best simple leather brush: Geist Leather and Upholstery Cleaning Brush - buy from Amazon.
The most advanced brush: Turtle Wax Leather Power Out - buy from Turtle Wax UK.
With that in mind, we've drummed up a list of the best leather seat brushes available to give your interior a good scrub.
The best leather seat brushes
Editor's pick
Via Nuke GuysIf you don't think only one cleaning brush is for you, Nuke Guys will offer a set of three. The brushes offered differ slightly in materials and purpose, depending on what you need to clean in your interior.
The small brush is made of hard, plastic bristles and is catered for very stubborn stains. The medium and large brushes are made from softer horse hairs and are designed to tackle more or less everything else.
Pros
- Three different brushes
- Works on a range of materials other than leather
Cons
- Not everyone will appreciate horse hairs
The best simple leather seat brush
Via GeistAs far as leather seat brushes go, they don't really get much simpler than this. Geist is a relatively new brand that specialises in upholstery care, which extends from car seats to shoes.
This cleaning brush consists of a simple wooden handle and sets of synthetic bristles. It's a standard issue brush for all intents and purposes, and measuring in at just 12 x 4 x 3cm, it's compact enough to reach tricky areas.
Pros
- Simple as it gets
- Compact
Cons
- Not the softest bristles
The best value leather cleaning brush
Via Furniture ClinicWith a corner of specialism in automotive care, Furniture Clinic will provide you with a leather cleaning brush with your jobs in mind.
The soft, synthetic bristles ensure that the surface of the leather isn't damaged. It'll confidently attack the typical dirt and grime that builds up on the seats over the years. And the best part is that it only costs as much as a large oat milk latte.
Pros
- Soft bristles
- Simple
Cons
- Not the most compact brush
The most advanced leather cleaning brush
Via Turtle WaxIf a traditional brush isn't quite your thing, Turtle Wax is only happy to oblige. The Power Out leather seat cleaner is a spray married to a soft tip brush which attacks the layers of dirt. This combination means you don't require two hands for the scrubby job.
The downside is that it's pretty easy to get through 400ml of spray, and the brush won't be as effective as a singular one. But it remains a very interesting solution for the chore at hand.
Pros
- Two-in-one product
- Very effective spray
Cons
- The brush is quite small
- 400ml is easy to chew through
The most comprehensive brush and leather cleaning kit
Via Prestige LeathercareWe're cheating here slightly because this leather cleaning brush comes with some added extras to it. The kit in question consists of three 250ml bottles of leather cleaner and conditioner and a microfibre cloth.
The brush is the main crux of the kit though as it's what you'll be using to gently scrub off the dirty stuff. It comes with a handle, making it easy to hold while tackling the stains.
Pros
- Comprehensive cleaning kit with useful brush
Cons
- 250ml per bottle isn't great
What should I consider when buying leather seat brushes?
To be frankly honest, there's little advice to give on such a simple product. But ensuring your seats don't get damaged in the process is the number one priority. Cleaning your seats with a brush is a different principle to using a wheel cleaning brush.
You must be careful when using brushes with plastic bristles. Sturdier bristles are fine on wheel arch brushes, but scrub too hard on leather, and you could cause irreversible damage. Usually, soft synthetic or horse hair bristles are the way to go, but it may require more patience. An alternative of course, is to bag yourself a car cleaning kit with the solutions and items included.
What should I apply before scrubbing the dirt with the brush?
Your best bet is a decent car interior detailing product, such as a spray or solution from a bottle. Brands like Autoglym Meguiar's will certainly have your back when it comes to that leather shine. If you don't prefer to use a leather brush on your seats, a microfibre cloth is another strong alternative.
What are the best leather seats ever fitted to a car?
We're going for the curved buckets fitted to the BMW 3.0 CSL. You?
Aaron Hussain is a commercial content writer at Bauer Media writing for Parkers and CAR. He is obsessed with classic cars and anything with a fascinating story to tell.