The Definitive Guide to Cleaning Tesla Vegan Leather Seats

It’s only a matter of when, and not if, your leather seats accumulate dust. In some cases, your leather seats will get very dirty. It’s human nature and can’t be helped.

But don’t worry, you can do a few things to clean your seats. If you cared enough to seek cruelty-free leather, you deserve an easy way of maintenance. Let’s get down to brass tacks!

Easy Way of Cleaning Tesla Vegan Leather Seats

As the old saying goes, prevention is better than cure. When your leather seats get dirty, immediately clear the mess.

We recommend having soft clothes on your person at all times. It is recommended to have non-detergent soap that is made without synthetic ingredients.

Petroleum ingredients can be harmful to your leather seats. Perhaps more importantly, you have to be gentle when cleaning the seats.

This is where a soft cloth comes in. Clothes with a rougher texture can easily harm your vegan leather seats.

A soft cloth minimizes the risk of damaging or scratching your vegan leather seats.

The goal is not to allow the mess to settle and leave a stain. The longer dirt and dust sit in, the more difficult it is to clean it.

If nothing else, it helps to keep a pack of wet wipes near you. You can store them in your glove box, backpack, or purse. This will ensure that you are prepared whenever something spills.

Spot Cleaning with Dish Soap and Water

Don’t panic if the stain has already settled in. Mix some dish soap with water in a 3:1 ratio. Apply the mixture to a white cloth to spot clean the stain.

Do not use colored clothes to clean the leather seats. This is because their color can transfer to vegan leather.

Before using the cloth, make sure to wring it. This will prevent any excess water from sitting on the surface.

You can also use a toothbrush to get rid of more severe stains. Simply dip the brush in the soap and water solution. Now gently scrub the leather seats with the brush. This should get rid of the stains.

Getting Rid of the Soapy Residue

Don’t allow the soapy residue to set in. This is because it will dry out and cause cracks. Use a dry cloth wipe to clear out the soapy residue.

Make sure to complete this step before you allow the leather seats to dry.

It is essential to dry the leather seats with a moist cloth. Make sure the fabric isn’t saturated with water. This is because water isn’t friendly to vegan leather.

Can I Use Leather Sprays to Clean My Tesla Vegan Seats?

Don’t confuse vegan seats with actual animal seats. The latter has a protective finish that electric cars in California do not have.

Those leather sprays are designed to work on animal leather. They will not work on vegan leather seats on your electric car in California.

How to Look After Tesla Seats

Using a protector is the best way to look after your Tesla seats. Apply a layer of leather protectors over your seats to keep them from getting dirty.

This will prove your seats from getting dirty. However, before you apply anything to the seats, make sure to clean them.

Apply a leather shield of your choice using a soft cloth. Some leather shields come with soft cloth so you won’t have to buy them separately.

A leather protector can last you six months. However, if you use your Tesla daily, you might want to apply the protector sooner.

Leaving the Tesla under the sun for longer can also increase the frequency of application.

Cleaning Tesla Model 3 Vegan Leather Seats

Make sure to prep the surface of your leather seats. Remove any dust and dirt using a cloth before starting the cleanup process.

You can also vacuum your seats before wiping them. Most vacuum cleaners come with service attachments ideal for Tesla car seats.

The best way to clear Model 3 seats is to use something gentle. Products like baby wipes are a great way to clean vegan leather.

A popular option is to buy Super Cleaner by CarGuys. This product works great for both white and black Tesla vegan leather seats.

The Super Cleaner removes the layer of dirt. This is useful because it prevents you from spreading dirt into the seat.

Super Cleaner is handy for white colors since they get dirty quickly. Black seats take longer to get dirty.

This doesn’t mean you can skimp out on regular care. Make sure to clean your black seats regularly. Use a protective spray to prevent the seats from getting stained.

White Tesla Seats Require More Care

White seats are particularly vulnerable to getting dirty. Something as simple as wet denim or sunscreen can stain the seats.

This is why applying a protectant as soon as possible is essential. You should also use baby wipes to clean out stains right away.

The longer seats are allowed to sit dirty; the more difficult cleaning will get. Preventive treatment for white seats is a little different.

We recommend buying a more intense leather protector for white seats. Frequent maintenance and cleaning of white seats will go a long way in preserving their color.

This will also preserve the resale value of your Tesla Model 3. Or, if you don’t plan on cleaning your Model 3 often, opt for black seats.

Ceramic Coating and Vegan Leather Seats

A popular technique is to apply a ceramic layer to vegan leather seats. Ceramic coating can prevent UV rays from the sun from damaging vegan leather.

You can apply ceramic coating professionally or do it yourself. A popular product for Tesla owners is CarPro CQuarts,

Ceramic coating is an efficient way of adding another layer to protect your seats. Tesla owners have reported that ceramic coating prevents dye transfer to the seats.

Dye transfer is usually unavoidable when wearing jeans and similar clothes. Note that you will still need to clean your Tesla vegan seats regularly.


Ceramic coating is not a bullet-proof method of protecting your Tesla vegan leather seats.

Things You Should Know About Maintaining Tesla Vegan Leather

There are a few things you should know about maintaining Tesla vegan leather. We’ve rounded up a few tips to keep your vegan leather in top shape.

Don’t Use Harsh Chemicals on the Seats

Harsh products are a no-go when cleaning faux leather. Popular products like Magic Erasers are harmful to vegan leather.

They contain harsh chemicals with an abrasive effect that can cause the leather to dry. Moreover, these products can also clear out the protective layers.

This can lead to bubbling, discoloration, and cracking. Bleach and ammonia-based solutions are also very harsh for faux leather.

These products can erode the protective coating on vegan leather and cause them to crack. Other products to steer clear of include acetone and alcohol.

These products can strip away vegan leather relatively quickly.

If you are finding it difficult to get rid of the strain, contact Tesla. You can also talk to an expert familiar with cleaning vegan seats.

Always Spot Test Before Using Chemicals

Before trying a new product on your faux leather seats, test it first.

Apply the product to a small area of the seat for testing. Allow enough time to make accurate observations of the seat’s reaction to the product.

As mentioned earlier, some cleaning products are not suitable for your vegan seats.

Park Your Tesla Under Shade

A good rule of thumb is to keep your Tesla away from direct sunlight. Try parking your Tesla under shade. This will increase the lifespan of your faux leather seats.

Dye Transfer

This might be hard to believe, but dyes can be transferred to your vegan seats. Certain clothes, such as jeans, can permanently stain vegan leather seats.

Tesla drivers have complained that their vegan leather seats have turned a shade of blue. This is because of their jeans.

We’re not asking you to stop wearing jeans altogether. Wipe out the blue color once you start noticing it.

A good rule of thumb is to wear neutral rather than dark colors. White seats are more susceptible to clothing with heavy dyes.

Avoid the usual suspects like sweatpants and dark denim. The dyes in these clothes stain your vegan leather seats if you sit long enough.

The effect is multiplied if you are wet or sweating in the seat. Getting wet is unavoidable. If it’s too hot outside, your body’s reaction will be to sweat more.

And if it rains outside, you will get some rainwater on your person. The water allows the dyes from your clothes to lean onto your vegan seats.


The longer you wear these clothes, the more likely it is to leave stains behind.

Don’t Eat or Drink in Your Tesla

It’s convenient to eat and drink in your car. You may have even made a conscious effort to prevent spillover from drinks.

But it’s almost impossible to prevent foodstuff from spilling into your Tesla. Try not to eat and drink in your Tesla to keep the interiors clean.

This will stop a major cause of the stains. If this is not possible, restrict the consumption of certain foodstuffs in the electric car.

For example, don’t bring colored drinks into the car. Avoid greasy foodstuffs like burgers because they are harder to clean.

Keep sealable containers with you at all times. Store foods and liquids in this container to prevent spillover.

Those Sunscreen and Lotions are also a Culprit

It would help if you were careful when using sunscreens and lotions. They can stain your vegan leather seats with ease.


The harsh chemical composition of sunscreen makes it challenging to clean them from your seats. Sunscreen may also turn your seats into a brown hue.

This doesn’t look good on white seats. Make sure to clean the screen from your car seats before it stains the leather. Apply ceramic coating if you are a frequent user of sunscreen.

Moisturize Your Vegan Leather Seats

It is a good idea to moisturize your vegan leather seats. This will prevent your material from cracking and peeling.

You can use baby oil or olive oil and dry cloth. The process isn’t challenging but it can be lengthy.

Here are the steps you can follow:

  • Apply a small amount of baby oil onto your vegan leather seats.
  • Use a soft cloth to spread the soil in a circular motion.
  • Allow 10 minutes for the oil to soak in.
  • Now use a different soft cloth to get rid of the excess oil. Any microfiber cloth will do just fine.

Once the leather has been moisturized, let it air dry for one hour before using it. Moisturizing with baby oil can also clear out wrinkles from your leather garments.

To maximize the life of your vegan leather, clean and condition the seats regularly.

Wash Your Tesla Seat Every Two Weeks

A good rule of thumb is to clean your Tesla seats once every two weeks.

You may adjust the frequency of cleaning depending on your needs. Some people believe washing their Tesla every two weeks is a bit much.

Others believe that waiting for two months will make the car too dirty. It’s up to the owner to set up a cleaning schedule.

Wrapping Up

So there you have it – the definitive guide to cleaning Tesla vegan leather seats. It is possible to clean your Tesla seats using baby wipes and non-detergent soaps.

We recommend stocking up on the following items to keep the seats clean:

  • Meguiar’s Quik Interior Detailer Wipes (find it here)
  • Super Cleaner by CarGuys (find it here)

Cleaning Tesla vegan leather seats is easy. Just make sure to keep track of stains before they settle in.

So how do you clean your Tesla vegan leather seats? And what products do you recommend? Share your experiences with us, and we will update this space with more information!

You may also like:

It’s only a matter of when, and not if, your leather seats accumulate dust. In some cases, your leather seats will get very dirty. It’s human nature and can’t be helped.

But don’t worry, you can do a few things to clean your seats. If you cared enough to seek cruelty-free leather, you deserve an easy way of maintenance. Let’s get down to brass tacks!

Easy Way of Cleaning Tesla Vegan Leather Seats

As the old saying goes, prevention is better than cure. When your leather seats get dirty, immediately clear the mess.

We recommend having soft clothes on your person at all times. It is recommended to have non-detergent soap that is made without synthetic ingredients.

Petroleum ingredients can be harmful to your leather seats. Perhaps more importantly, you have to be gentle when cleaning the seats.

This is where a soft cloth comes in. Clothes with a rougher texture can easily harm your vegan leather seats.

A soft cloth minimizes the risk of damaging or scratching your vegan leather seats.

The goal is not to allow the mess to settle and leave a stain. The longer dirt and dust sit in, the more difficult it is to clean it.

If nothing else, it helps to keep a pack of wet wipes near you. You can store them in your glove box, backpack, or purse. This will ensure that you are prepared whenever something spills.

Spot Cleaning with Dish Soap and Water

Don’t panic if the stain has already settled in. Mix some dish soap with water in a 3:1 ratio. Apply the mixture to a white cloth to spot-clean the stain.

Do not use colored clothes to clean the leather seats. This is because their color can transfer to vegan leather.

Before using the cloth, make sure to wring it. This will prevent any excess water from sitting on the surface.

You can also use a toothbrush to get rid of more severe stains. Simply dip the brush in the soap and water solution. Now gently scrub the leather seats with the brush. This should get rid of the stains.

Getting Rid of the Soapy Residue

Don’t allow the soapy residue to set in. This is because it will dry out and cause cracks. Use a dry cloth wipe to clear out the soapy residue.

Make sure to complete this step before you allow the leather seats to dry.

It is essential to dry the leather seats with a moist cloth. Make sure the fabric isn’t saturated with water. This is because water isn’t friendly to vegan leather.

Can I Use Leather Sprays to Clean My Tesla Vegan Seats?

Don’t confuse vegan seats with actual animal seats. The latter has a protective finish that electric cars in California do not have.

Those leather sprays are designed to work on animal leather. They will not work on vegan leather seats on your electric car in California.

How to Look After Tesla Seats

Using a protector is the best way to look after your Tesla seats. Apply a layer of leather protectors over your seats to keep them from getting dirty.

This will prove your seats from getting dirty. However, before you apply anything to the seats, make sure to clean them.

Apply a leather shield of your choice using a soft cloth. Some leather shields come with soft cloth so you won’t have to buy them separately.

A leather protector can last you six months. However, if you use your Tesla daily, you might want to apply the protector sooner.

Leaving the Tesla under the sun for longer can also increase the frequency of application.

Cleaning Tesla Model 3 Vegan Leather Seats

Make sure to prep the surface of your leather seats. Remove any dust and dirt using a cloth before starting the cleanup process.

You can also vacuum your seats before wiping them. Most vacuum cleaners come with service attachments ideal for Tesla car seats.

The best way to clear Model 3 seats is to use something gentle. Products like baby wipes are a great way to clean vegan leather.

A popular option is to buy Super Cleaner by CarGuys. This product works great for both white and black Tesla vegan leather seats.

The Super Cleaner removes the layer of dirt. This is useful because it prevents you from spreading dirt into the seat.

Super Cleaner is handy for white colors since they get dirty quickly. Black seats take longer to get dirty.

This doesn’t mean you can skimp out on regular care. Make sure to clean your black seats regularly. Use a protective spray to prevent the seats from getting stained.

White Tesla Seats Require More Care

White seats are particularly vulnerable to getting dirty. Something as simple as wet denim or sunscreen can stain the seats.

This is why applying a protectant as soon as possible is essential. You should also use baby wipes to clean out stains right away.

The longer seats are allowed to sit dirty; the more difficult cleaning will get. Preventive treatment for white seats is a little different.

We recommend buying a more intense leather protector for white seats. Frequent maintenance and cleaning of white seats will go a long way in preserving their color.

This will also preserve the resale value of your Tesla Model 3. Or, if you don’t plan on cleaning your Model 3 often, opt for black seats.

Ceramic Coating and Vegan Leather Seats

A popular technique is to apply a ceramic layer to vegan leather seats. Ceramic coating can prevent UV rays from the sun from damaging the vegan leather.

You can apply ceramic coating professionally or do it yourself. A popular product for Tesla owners is CarPro CQuarts,

Ceramic coating is an efficient way of adding another layer to protect your seats. Tesla owners have reported that ceramic coating prevents dye transfer to the seats.

Dye transfer is usually unavoidable when wearing jeans and similar clothes. Note that you will still need to clean your Tesla vegan seats regularly.


Ceramic coating is not a bullet-proof method of protecting your Tesla vegan leather seats.

Things You Should Know About Maintaining Tesla Vegan Leather

There are a few things you should know about maintaining Tesla vegan leather. We’ve rounded up a few tips to keep your vegan leather in top shape.

Don’t Use Harsh Chemicals on the Seats

Harsh products are a no-go when cleaning faux leather. Popular products like Magic Erasers are harmful to vegan leather.

They contain harsh chemicals with an abrasive effect that can cause the leather to dry. Moreover, these products can also clear out the protective layers.

This can lead to bubbling, discoloration, and cracking. Bleach and ammonia-based solutions are also very harsh for faux leather.

These products can erode the protective coating on vegan leather and cause them to crack. Other products to steer clear of include acetone and alcohol.

These products can strip away vegan leather relatively quickly.

If you are finding it difficult to get rid of the strain, contact Tesla. You can also talk to an expert who is familiar with cleaning vegan seats.

Always Spot Test Before Using Chemicals

Before trying a new product on your faux leather seats, test it first.

Apply the product to a small area of the seat for testing. Allow enough time to make accurate observations of the seat’s reaction to the product.

As mentioned earlier, some cleaning products are not suitable for your vegan seats.

Park Your Tesla Under Shade

A good rule of thumb is to keep your Tesla away from direct sunlight. Try parking your Tesla under shade. This will increase the lifespan of your faux leather seats.

Dye Transfer

This might be hard to believe, but dyes can be transferred to your vegan seats. Certain clothes, such as jeans, can permanently stain vegan leather seats.

Tesla drivers have complained that their vegan leather seats have turned a shade of blue. This is because of their jeans.

We’re not asking you to stop wearing jeans altogether. Wipe out the blue color once you start noticing it.

A good rule of thumb is to wear neutral colors rather than dark colors. White seats are more susceptible to clothing with heavy dyes.

Avoid the usual suspects like sweatpants and dark denim. The dyes in these clothes stain your vegan leather seats if you sit long enough.

The effect is multiplied if you are wet or sweating in the seat. Getting wet is unavoidable. If it’s too hot outside, your body’s reaction will be to sweat more.

And if it rains outside, you will get some rainwater on your person. The water allows the dyes from your clothes to lean onto your vegan seats.


The longer you wear these clothes, the more likely it is to leave stains behind.

Don’t Eat or Drink in Your Tesla

It’s convenient to eat and drink in your car. You may have even made a conscious effort to prevent spillover from drinks.

But it’s almost impossible to prevent foodstuff from spilling into your Tesla. Try not to eat and drink in your Tesla to keep the interiors clean.

This will stop a major cause of the stains. If this is not possible, restrict the consumption of certain foodstuffs in the electric car.

For example, don’t bring colored drinks into the car. Avoid greasy foodstuffs like burgers because they are harder to clean.

Keep sealable containers with you at all times. Store foods and liquids in this container to prevent spillover.

Those Sunscreen and Lotions are also a Culprit

It would help if you were careful when using sunscreens and lotions. They can stain your vegan leather seats with ease.


The harsh chemical composition of sunscreen makes it challenging to clean them from your seats. Sunscreen may also turn your seats into a brown hue.

This doesn’t look good on white seats. Make sure to clean the screen from your car seats before it stains the leather. Apply ceramic coating if you are a frequent user of sunscreen.

Moisturize Your Vegan Leather Seats

It is a good idea to moisturize your vegan leather seats. This will prevent your material from cracking and peeling.

You can use baby oil or olive oil and dry cloth. The process isn’t challenging but it can be lengthy.

Here are the steps you can follow:

  • Apply a small amount of baby oil onto your vegan leather seats.
  • Use a soft cloth to spread the soil in a circular motion.
  • Allow 10 minutes for the oil to soak in.
  • Now use a different soft cloth to get rid of the excess oil. Any microfiber cloth will do just fine.

Once the leather has been moisturized, let it air dry for one hour before using it. Moisturizing with baby oil can also clear out wrinkles from your leather garments.

To maximize the life of your vegan leather, clean and condition the seats regularly.

Wash Your Tesla Seat Every Two Weeks

A good rule of thumb is to clean your Tesla seats once every two weeks.

You may adjust the frequency of cleaning depending on your needs. Some people believe washing their Tesla every two weeks is a bit much.

Others believe that waiting for two months will make the car too dirty. It’s up to the owner to set up a cleaning schedule.

 The Definitive Guide to Cleaning Tesla Vegan Leather Seats
The Definitive Guide to Cleaning Tesla Vegan Leather Seats

Wrapping Up

So there you have it – the definitive guide to cleaning Tesla vegan leather seats. Cleaning your Tesla seats using baby wipes and non-detergent soaps is possible.

We recommend stocking up on the following items to keep the seats clean:

  • Meguiar’s Quik Interior Detailer Wipes (find it here)
  • Super Cleaner by CarGuys (find it here)

Cleaning Tesla vegan leather seats is easy. Just make sure to keep track of stains before they settle in.

So how do you clean your Tesla vegan leather seats? And what products do you recommend? Share your experiences with us, and we will update this space with more information!

You may also like: