As seen in Auto Detailing News Summer 2016 Issue: Our introduction to heavily used microsuede started with a Mercedes Benz C63 AMG Edition 1. A long time customer of ours came in with his beautiful and rare beauty and explained to us the issues he was having with his car’s interior. His Edition 1 had an all Dinamica interior, even on the steering wheel and shifter, which happen to be the places with the most hand contact. He was frustrated by the fabric because it was seemingly impossible to keep clean.
We searched for a remedy to clean microsuede and found a few suggestions. We tried various methods, as well as some of our standard cleaning products without much luck. And there weren’t any microsuede-specific cleaning products available. It was then that we knew we had to create something ourselves, and we came up with Dr. Beasley’s Microsuede Cleanser.
After formulating this cleanser, we saw more microsuede and not just in Mercedes. We started seeing this fabric in the interiors of Jeeps, Chevys, and Fords, and we continue to see an increase in the use of microsuede in the interiors of daily drivers.
We should clarify exactly what we’re talking about when we say microsuede. While we’d seen the fabric before in high end and infrequently driven vehicles, we didn’t start seeing it on more common cars until recently. It’s a synthetic suede alternative that’s designed to be more durable and water resistant than actual suede.
Microsuede is the general term for this fabric, and some brand names include Alcantara, Ultrasuede, and Dinamica. Microsuede is more durable than suede, but it’s still a sensitive fabric. A type of microfiber, microsuede is made of synthetic fibers (usually a polyester blend) and is less expensive than real suede. It’s used in a plethora of places including car interiors, clothing, and furniture.
More and more, microsuede is being offered as an option as an alternative to leather on accents such as steering wheels, shifters, seats, consoles, and headliners. Many people choose microsuede because it’s incredibly soft, whereas leather is a totally different texture. In the summer, skin doesn’t stick to microsuede the way it does to leather. If a car’s seats are microsuede, they won’t be burning hot after the car has been sitting in the sun.
While there are benefits to choosing microsuede over leather, it’s still important to note that microsuede requires specialized care. Without proper maintenance, this fabric can become hard, crusty, and discolored. Microsuede is usually used in areas that come in the most contact with skin like a steering wheel or a seat, and body oils can cause the fabric to get gunky and dirty. You don’t necessarily even have to spill anything on it, just touching it on a regular basis can cause it to become dirty and discolored.
What About Water?
If you search for information about how to clean microsuede, you’ll find a lot of sources that tell you to use water. Water isn’t going to permanently harm microsuede, but it’s also not really going to clean it. Water doesn’t clean, it just gets things wet. And if you oversaturate the surface with water, you can stain it. So then you’ve just stained the stain you were trying to remove. Microsuede is also quite absorbent, so using water to attempt to clean it allows for potential mold growth, which is yet another cleaning project.
Through our research, we found supposed microsuede cleaning remedies like rubbing alcohol and water, or vinegar and water. We understand the basic logic behind those suggestions. Isopropyl alcohol is a well-known and trusted sanitizing agent. But that’s the problem; the alcohol will kill germs, but it doesn’t lift dirt.
So with dirty microsuede, alcohol might sanitize it, but it will still look dirty. Alcohol can also dry out the soft microsuede fibers. Vinegar is about the same as far as cleaning. It will remove smells and it’s a great all purpose cleaner, but microsuede needs more than all-purpose to really get dirt and stains out. The only real way to get microsuede clean without drying it out is to use a specialized cleaning product.
What Works?
Cleaning this fabric requires something that lifts dirt and removes stains while leaving microsuede surfaces soft. At this point, the only available options are Sonax Upholstery & Alcantara Cleaner, and Dr. Beasley’s Microsuede Cleanser. Both products are designed to remove organic messes like spilt food or drink, body oils, and dirt. To effectively remove organic stains and messes from your microsuede surfaces, all you need is Microsuede Cleanser and a clean, soft microfiber towel. For heavier stains (like pen ink or fabric dye), use Dr. Beasley’s Microsuede Spot Remover.
Spray the Microsuede Cleanser onto the affected area and let it sit for a minute. Make sure the fabric doesn’t become oversaturated with product. Then gently wipe the product away with the towel. A second application may be needed on a heavily soiled area, but make sure you let the fabric dry before the second application.
Proper Protection Protocol
After you’ve cleaned the microsuede, it should certainly be protected. Protected microsuede means that next time a drink is spilled inside of the car, the liquid will bead and roll off. To protect microsuede without hardening it, use Dr. Beasley’s Microsuede Protection. You need a clean interior brush and the product and you’re good to go.
Take the interior brush and push all the fibers of the microsuede in one direction. Then spray the protective product, making sure not to soak it. Give those fibers a chance to dry and return to their original state, and then take the interior brush and push the microsuede in the opposite direction. Then spray the product. Let it all dry for at least 5 hours for optimum protection.
Fabric maintenance is an ongoing project. Clean a mess as soon as you see it happen. Protection is prevention. If the microsuede area for which you’re caring is heavily used (like a driver’s seat or steering wheel), re-apply protection every 2 months. For areas that get less action (like a headliner), re-apply protection every 6 months.
If microsuede is left untreated, it will harden and become stained with embedded contaminants, like we saw in our customer’s Edition 1. If microsuede is treated, it will remain soft, plush, and new looking for much longer than expected, which is easily accomplished with the right products and technique. Preventative maintenance makes all the difference; so protecting microsuede after it’s cleaned is absolutely crucial to the health of the fabric. This faux suede is quickly on the rise in all types of vehicles, so having the knowledge to safely and effectively maintain it is important for every detailer.
5 MICROSUEDE MUST-KNOWS FOR DETAILERS
- Heat is the biggest enemy of microsuede.
- If you think you can clean this fabric with steam, think again. Overheating microsuede will permanently damage it, causing it to become crusty, dry, and hardened. Reviving this fabric is near impossible so if you have to use heat around it, don’t go any higher than 140 degrees.
- Don’t use just water to clean it.
- You might think water is fairly harmless when used as a cleanser. Alas, it’s not. Water can stain microsuede. It can also create mold under the fabric if overused. Just avoid using it as a means to clean microsuede. Use Dr. Beasley’s Microsuede Cleanser.
- Don’t scrub it!
- Sometimes cleaning means scrubbing, but definitely not when it comes to microsuede. We’ve heard of some people using tools like a pet stone on this fabric, only to completely and irreversibly ruin it. An interior brush used with very little pressure is plenty; you don’t need to use a lot of force.
- Using the wrong chemicals will fade microsuede.
- Using an all purpose cleanser or the wrong type of cleanser on this fabric will change the look of it. Harsh chemicals can discolor microsuede, and there’s really nothing to be done to get it looking right again.
- Microsuede needs preventative care.
- Don’t stop at cleaning this fabric. Once it’s properly cleaned, always protect it. Use Dr. Beasley’s Microsuede Protection to prevent future stains from penetrating the fabric.