White leather seats in a car?

[Taswama]

We are currently looking for a new (second hand) car and DP has seen one with white leather interior.
Kids are 11 and 14 but we are a very active family so go on lots of walks, outdoor swimming etc so the car can get dirty quickly. How easy are they to clean or is this a seriously bad idea?

Are you realistically going to want to keep cleaning it? It depends on how often you're willing to clean it yourselves or pay for it to be done.

Well it gets properly cleaned a few times a year currently. So will a quick wipe down work or will it need proper cleaning so its not permanently mucky. Our current car has lasted 10 years so it's likely to be a long term purchase.

Proper leather wipes work very well on my pale leather seats, but the seats only really get dirty because it's a convertible and the dust gets in. I've not had to deal with a severe stain.

Personally, if you're set on the white leather interior, I'd keep a blanket in the car for them to sit on for the occasions where they've got very dirty.

Dear god no.

Thanks nested . I'm not set on white leather but we either need to find a car with roof bars / tow hooks already fitted or pay to do it ourselves afterwards. DP has seen one with both already fitted which would be ideal as it saves us the hassle, it's just the interior that's putting me off.

Some sort of seat covering is a good idea. We still carry spare clothes with us so if it's been a particularly muddy walk the dc change into clean trousers before getting into the car.

Doesn't it look a bit shit?

If you’re buying a second hand car and keeping it ten years it wouldn’t stop me - if the leather gets a bit stained then by the time you sell it it’ll be so old people won’t expect pristine. But I’m the type that wouldn’t be upset if my car interior wasn’t beautiful - if you or your DH are going to get upset if it gets stained then don’t buy it.

What colour are the carpets though, because if they’re white, forget it!

Jesus no, and I say that as someone who travels solo in a car.

Many years ago I had a Saab with white leather seats.
Brilliant car but I felt like a drug dealer

DS1 has cream leather. He cleans it every week. No one is allowed in it if they’re dirty, you can’t eat or drink in there either. The carpets are cream too btw.

We were going to get cream leather in our car until I reminded DH that we might well have grandchildren in the next few years so we went for black instead.

I have, it's leather it cleans up easily. I keep a blanket in the boot for 'just in case' too though

It’s not just dirt you have to be careful of. If they wear jeans, the dye very easily rubs off and stains leather.

We have cream leather. Small child. Lots of muddy walks. It's not a issue. It still looks like new.

We have cream leather, second hand car so no choice. Never even thought about it. Easier than material to wipe down. A non-issue.

I had a car with beige leather seats. I wear mostly dark clothes and jeans. Had the car almost 10 years by which time my seat was beige with shades of denim.

Nightmare to keep looking pristine, freezing in winter, sticky in summer. I wouldn't.

I bought a car with white leather interior when I was pregnant with my second. Kept the car for about 6 years. Honestly wasn't a problem.

Its the bits around the seams that are a pain to clean