this is typically referred to as denim transfer. this is common on all lighter leather interiors. (also other non-automotive leather products. anyone on here with a wife or gf who loves handbags can tell you it's more common on handbags/purses than car seats and more difficult to remove.) the problem lies in not protecting the leather to begin with but since you are past that the proper course of action is to remove, repair and protect. before you use any product test a small area to avoid creating more damage. not all leather is the same and not all product work the same on every type of leather.

 

I noticed this on the tester that I drove at the dealership. I was totally going to go for the amber leather , as it looks great in photos and in person when it's brand new, but I saw all these marks on the test vehicle seats, so I ordered black instead.

 

The discoloration comes off surprisingly quickly with a leather cleaner. Basically a one swipe process.

 

frequent cleaning will breakdown the leather quicker and it will wear poorly. the key is protecting not cleaning.

 

Products such as CQuartz Leather or Opti-Guard Leather & Vinyl will protect against this pretty effectively.

 

I've used Zaino leather cleaner followed by their leather conditioner. It takes everything out and leaves the leather feeling nice (not greasy), and my car smells like a leather factory. I've tried plenty of other stuff, this was the best. I also use it on shoes and other stuff around the house.

It will take that Jean discoloration right off - this happened in our ML 350.

 

I've used Zaino leather cleaner followed by their leather conditioner. It takes everything out and leaves the leather feeling nice (not greasy), and my car smells like a leather factory. I've tried plenty of other stuff, this was the best. I also use it on shoes and other stuff around the house.

It will take that Jean discoloration right off - this happened in our ML 350.

I use the same

 

I found a good trick, believe it or not is to use a magic eraser. I read about that technique in a Swedish motoring magazine. It is very gentle, gives a good deep clean and it also is good at removing the shiny patina that leathet gets from too much skin contact. I didnt believe it at first but it worked very well and leather looks like new again. I have never had an leather discoloration or damage occur. I used it on my previous xc60 and was able to keep the leather looking almost as good as the day I bought it for 4.5 yrs.

 

Check your glove box or rear storage area. I do know that Blonde interior cars have a leather protection and cleaning wipe kit included, I am not sure about the amber interiors. The Volvo leather care cleaning and protection kit is designed to work well with the Volvo leather interiors. You can find it at any Volvo dealer. It definitely removes denim stains from the light leather interiors (personal experience as I have always had blonde leather interiors on my Volvos).

 

I just used Griots interior cleaner followed by their 3 in 1 leather care to add some protection. Worked great on our blond interior. The cleaner even worked wonders on our blond rubber floor mats, which are a nightmare to keep clean.

 

Here in Dallas, I am seeing a lot of XC90's with blond interior on the lots.
They seem to not be selling as well as the darker interiors...

I have 3 teenagers, is a blond interior do-able with older kids? We *should* be out of
the messy stage, but they do like to snack and drink....TIA!

 

Here in Dallas, I am seeing a lot of XC90's with blond interior on the lots.
They seem to not be selling as well as the darker interiors...

Actually dealer tend to carry their inventory in the most popular combinations. If you see a lot of blond interiors in Dallas, that would be because it is very popular there!

 

If you are diligent most any interior cleaner will do on time periods of say 6 months or so. Leather creates micro creases, so it is advisable to use clean micro fiber cloths. I had my amber nappa coated with Opti-Pro, and I can say that two wipes with a micro-fiber and any interior cleaner takes all that denim transfer clean off. Modern leather applications are poly-coated, it doesn't take much at all to clean them if you keep a good surface by cleaning often, or coat to make it even easier.

 

Would apply such coating products not turn the nice and soft leather into plastic-feeling seats? Volvo advises not to apply protective coating on the paint. Do they say anything about coating seats?

 

Volvo does produce an approved cleaning and protection leather kit that preserves the feeling of the leather.

 

I've posted this quite a few time but I applied this product the same day I bought my vehicle and have noticed no odd feel to the leather. It makes clean-up of things like jean dye transfer a snap. Just a microfiber and mist of an interior cleaner, some wiping, and out comes the discoloration easily. I applied it to all leather surfaces, including seats, dash, leather door uppers, leather door arm rests etc, etc.

 

Paradox - I also applied that product this past weekend. I was very impressed by the information on the product. Having detailed my own cars for the past 45 years....and seeing dye transfer onto seats in my previous SUV, I think this may help.

 

The leather cleaner/conditioner you get at the dealership is actually good stuff. You can get wipes for touch-ups as well.

 

I wasn't aware it was a game... It's not about what one must use, it is about what has been tested by a manufacturer to work with its products. An aftermarket product may in fact work extremely well, but we cannot vouch for it if it hasn't been tested. In today's litigious world, Volvo must spend a lot of time and energy testing products for performance before Volvo put's it's name on it. That's all. If someone finds a product that meets their needs, then by all means, use it.


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I wasn't aware it was a game... It's not about what one must use, it is about what has been tested by a manufacturer to work with its products. An aftermarket product may in fact work extremely well, but we cannot vouch for it if it hasn't been tested. In today's litigious world, Volvo must spend a lot of time and energy testing products for performance before Volvo put's it's name on it. That's all. If someone finds a product that meets their needs, then by all means, use it.

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The detailing game, that is what I was talking about. Use whatever you like and what you feel is safe for your interior, I've no issue with that. I've been using MANY different detailing products for many years on many vehicles and never had a problem. Sure, I'll test in a small area first before going all in' but you are free to believe what you want in terms of what Volvo does in testing and and all that.

 

OK! Sorry, my bad.

When it comes to what Volvo does in testing, it is not what I believe but what I know to be fact as to what we are doing here in Gothenburg. I think people would be very surprised to understand how much time and resources are spent in testing all products used with the cars from engine oil to washer fluid, to cleaning products, waxes, adhesives, etc. It does not mean those products are necessarily better than some other product, it only means that Volvo has tested and approved them for use on our cars. Chemicals are not a profit center, margins are very small.


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OK! Sorry, my bad.

When it comes to what Volvo does in testing, it is not what I believe but what I know to be fact as to what we are doing here in Gothenburg. I think people would be very surprised to understand how much time and resources are spent in testing all products used with the cars from engine oil to washer fluid, to cleaning products, waxes, adhesives, etc. It does not mean those products are necessarily better than some other product, it only means that Volvo has tested and approved them for use on our cars. Chemicals are not a profit center, margins are very small.

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Yeah, I got all that. I never disputed they did such testing, it just doesn't matter to me in what I'll use to detail my vehicle. Of course, as discussed, everyone is free to use what they want based on whatever reasons they have.