Keeping Alcantara and Suede Looking Factory Fresh

Never, and I mean never, clean Alcantara in direct Aussie sun. If the fabric is hot, the cleaner will flash (evaporate) too fast and leave stains. Get it under a carport or in the garage.

Use your vacuum with the soft brush to get every bit of loose dust out. If you add liquid to dust, you get mud. Spend 10 minutes just vacuuming.

If you're doing seat inserts, tape off the leather bolsters. You don't want fabric cleaner drying on your leather, it can strip the oils out.

Find a tiny spot under the seat or on the back of the headrest. Apply your cleaner to make sure the dye doesn't bleed. (I've only seen this happen on cheap aftermarket covers, but better safe than sorry).

Open all the doors. You need airflow so the material dries quickly. A damp interior in 80% humidity is a breeding ground for mildew.

Lightly mist the Alcantara with distilled water. We aren't soaking it, just 'priming' the fibers so they don't drink up all the chemical cleaner at once.

Do NOT spray the cleaner directly onto the seat. Spray the foam onto your boar's hair brush. This gives you total control.

Using very light pressure, work the brush in small circular motions. You'll see the foam start to turn grey, that's the dirt lifting.

Take your clean microfiber and press it firmly into the area you just agitated. Don't scrub! We want to 'wick' the dirt into the towel.

Rotate to a clean section of the microfiber after every few blots. If the towel is coming up clean, move to the next section.

On steering wheels, you'll have flat, shiny spots. Use a bit more foam and a slightly firmer circular motion here to 'unlock' the fibers.

Once a section is clean, take a fresh towel dampened only with distilled water and wipe the area once. This removes any leftover soap residue.

Use a final, bone-dry microfiber to buff the area. This helps stand the fibers up while they're still slightly damp.

Use your suede brush to brush all the fibers in one direction. This is like combing your hair; it ensures it dries uniformly.

Leave the car for at least 2-3 hours with the windows cracked. Don't sit in it yet! You'll crush the fibers while they're vulnerable.

Once completely dry, go over it again with the suede brush. You should see that classic 'shimmer' when you run your hand across it.

Apply a light coat of fabric protector. This is vital in Australia to stop sweat and UV from destroying the material. Two light coats are better than one heavy soak.