Suede, and its more durable synthetic cousin Alcantara, are two smooth, sporty types of interior fabric. They perform better than other materials, but they get dirty much easier than traditional leather. Here's how to safely clean your car's suede or Alcantara. Watch all our Autoblog Details videos for more quick car care tips from professional detailer Larry Kosilla.
[00:00:00] Suede's more durable synthetic cousin, Alcantara, is my favorite type of interior fabric. It's smooth, soft, and luxurious, but it gets dirtier much easier than traditional leather, so we're gonna show you how to safely clean your car's suede, or Alcantara, on this episode of "Details." My name is Larry Kosilla and I'm a professional detailer. Together with Autoblog, we're creating the ultimate collection of quick car care videos.
[00:00:30]This is Autoblog DETAILS. Here are the items you'll need for this task. Most road-going cars today that have the look and feel of suede typically have Alcantara,
which is a blend of polyester and polyurethane, giving it its durability and stain-resistance. First, work in small areas no larger than one by one. Spray fabric cleaner into the tip of a soft bristled interior brush and then another very light mist on the
surface you're working.
[00:01:00] Avoid over soaking the material, as this will take longer to dry than normal cloth. Next, gently tickle the Alcantara surface, until a uniform lather is created. The bristles of the brush will agitate the dirt to the surface, and suspend the particles within the suds. Before the suds dry, scoop the lifted dirt with a clean, dry microfiber towel. Avoid pushing, twisting, or crushing the Alcantara fibers during the cleaning process, as this will only flatten the texture, and destroy the feel and finish of the material over time.
[00:01:30] Once the area is clean, use a vacuum with a narrow crevice tool attachment to help wick the remaining moisture away from the material and to pull each individual fiber upwards for a fresh, clean look. When I get a new vacuum attachment, I quickly sand any plastic burrs off the tip of the tool with two or three thousand grit sand paper to ensure a smooth, scratch-free glide if any contact is made with this soft material. Lastly, with a soft bristled brush,
[00:02:00] gently encourage the fibers to stand up in a uniform pattern, or to create stripes like on a baseball field or living room carpet, just for fun. Alcantara is an amazing fabric. Steering wheels, shifters, seats, door cards, headliners, and even dashboards are covered in this durable and popular material, and with a little extra care now, it'll last you a very long time. For more how to car care videos, visit autoblog.com/details. I'm Larry Kosilla from ammonyc.com. We'll see you next time here on Autoblog DETAILS. [00:02:31]
[00:00:30]This is Autoblog DETAILS. Here are the items you'll need for this task. Most road-going cars today that have the look and feel of suede typically have Alcantara,
which is a blend of polyester and polyurethane, giving it its durability and stain-resistance. First, work in small areas no larger than one by one. Spray fabric cleaner into the tip of a soft bristled interior brush and then another very light mist on the
surface you're working.
[00:01:00] Avoid over soaking the material, as this will take longer to dry than normal cloth. Next, gently tickle the Alcantara surface, until a uniform lather is created. The bristles of the brush will agitate the dirt to the surface, and suspend the particles within the suds. Before the suds dry, scoop the lifted dirt with a clean, dry microfiber towel. Avoid pushing, twisting, or crushing the Alcantara fibers during the cleaning process, as this will only flatten the texture, and destroy the feel and finish of the material over time.
[00:01:30] Once the area is clean, use a vacuum with a narrow crevice tool attachment to help wick the remaining moisture away from the material and to pull each individual fiber upwards for a fresh, clean look. When I get a new vacuum attachment, I quickly sand any plastic burrs off the tip of the tool with two or three thousand grit sand paper to ensure a smooth, scratch-free glide if any contact is made with this soft material. Lastly, with a soft bristled brush,
[00:02:00] gently encourage the fibers to stand up in a uniform pattern, or to create stripes like on a baseball field or living room carpet, just for fun. Alcantara is an amazing fabric. Steering wheels, shifters, seats, door cards, headliners, and even dashboards are covered in this durable and popular material, and with a little extra care now, it'll last you a very long time. For more how to car care videos, visit autoblog.com/details. I'm Larry Kosilla from ammonyc.com. We'll see you next time here on Autoblog DETAILS. [00:02:31]
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