Random stains appearing on blonde nappa

[AJRFulton]

I have a 2018 XC60 inscription with Blonde Nappa. I am pretty much the only user of the car, as I've no family - occasional passenger.

About a year ago a large discolouration started appearing on my front passenger seat. I couldn't understand where it came from as it looked like spilled cola (I don't drink cola, and haven't noticed anyone spill anything the odd time I do get a passenger in).

The seconds stain appeared on the back seat, which almost never get used. I found it odd as I was working in Abu Dhabi over winter, and the car was garaged for 4 months - a few spot stains had appeared when I came home which were not there when I left.

The stains appear to get darker with time, and (it may be just my imagination), exposure to sunlight. I can clean them to be less noticable, but they get darker again with time. It's as if it is coming from under the leather.


Whenever I clean the car, I use autoglym leather clearer or... just soapy water.

Has anyone any experience of these?

[Whiterdesign]

Odd that, the stains on the rear seats looks like water stain spots, have you a sunroof. The passenger front seat looks totally different. Haven’t a clue what could have caused that.

[Sphinx2000]

Originally Posted by AJRFulton

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Whenever I clean the car, I use autoglym leather clearer or... just soapy water.

Has anyone any experience of these?

Do you have heated seats in the front and back? I wonder if the oil in the leather coming to the surface.

i would try cleaning & recondition them using something like this :

https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/1154865223

I use this and its good stuff.

[AJRFulton]

Originally Posted by Whiterdesign

Odd that, the stains on the rear seats looks like water stain spots, have you a sunroof. The passenger front seat looks totally different. Haven’t a clue what could have caused that.

The stains look difference in pattern, but are the same in colour and nature. Also the same in the sense they just seemed to randomly appear. The front seat one, I started noticing and it kept getting darker and darker. The rear had also followed same pattern, it gets darker and darker with time.

I cant understand where they are coming from. The front one I could explain, but rear.... no explanation.

I have no sunroof. And heated/cooled seats in front only.

The thing that sways me away from a cola/water stain is the liquid would need to settle uphill if you get me. Any spill would run downhill, and both stains are uphill from that. Also on the front seat, there is no staining on the leather on the expansion flap/seam of the electric chair. Only on the perforated bits - it genuinely seems to come from below the leather.

[AJRFulton]

Originally Posted by Sphinx2000

Do you have heated seats in the front and back? I wonder if the oil in the leather coming to the surface.

i would try cleaning & recondition them using something like this :

https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/1154865223

I use this and its good stuff.

Used this stuff, it fades the stain to the point you only see it if you are looking for it.

But 2-3wks later its back

[Director76]

I had a very similar problem quite a few years back with a SAAB 93 SC convertible, with blonde seats - the problem only occurred on the passenger seat, and I realised it was sun lotion from the (now mrs D76) wearing short skirts and shorts with sun cream on her legs getting onto the seats. This was permanently discolouring the leather and no cleaning would get the yellowing off.

SAAB actually changed the seat cover under warranty - I didn’t tell them I’d worked out what was causing it...

D76

[EssexExile]

Originally Posted by Director76

I had a very similar problem quite a few years back with a SAAB 93 SC convertible, with blonde seats - the problem only occurred on the passenger seat, and I realised it was sun lotion from the (now mrs D76) wearing short skirts and shorts with sun cream on her legs getting onto the seats. This was permanently discolouring the leather and no cleaning would get the yellowing off.

SAAB actually changed the seat cover under warranty - I didn’t tell them I’d worked out what was causing it...

D76

I was going to suggest makeup, it's very good at staining more than faces.

[Wagon Sailor]

Could it be leeching up from the cushion itself?

[Philip Fisher]

Originally Posted by Director76

I had a very similar problem quite a few years back with a SAAB 93 SC convertible, with blonde seats - the problem only occurred on the passenger seat, and I realised it was sun lotion from the (now mrs D76) wearing short skirts and shorts with sun cream on her legs getting onto the seats. This was permanently discolouring the leather and no cleaning would get the yellowing off.

SAAB actually changed the seat cover under warranty - I didn’t tell them I’d worked out what was causing it...

D76

She ruined your car, and you still married her?!

Anyway, yes sunscreen is evil stuff. Got some on the paint and it is a complete pain to remove. T cut and loads of pressure eventually got rid, was convinced it was going to need a machine polish.....

Got some on the interior plastic of the V50 and basically never got it off, but it was a company car and I left the company on, lets say, less than amicable terms so I wasn't weeping too much about some marks on the trim....

[Kenp8257]

Originally Posted by AJRFulton

I have a 2018 XC60 inscription with Blonde Nappa. I am pretty much the only user of the car, as I've no family - occasional passenger.

About a year ago a large discolouration started appearing on my front passenger seat. I couldn't understand where it came from as it looked like spilled cola (I don't drink cola, and haven't noticed anyone spill anything the odd time I do get a passenger in).

The seconds stain appeared on the back seat, which almost never get used. I found it odd as I was working in Abu Dhabi over winter, and the car was garaged for 4 months - a few spot stains had appeared when I came home which were not there when I left.

The stains appear to get darker with time, and (it may be just my imagination), exposure to sunlight. I can clean them to be less noticable, but they get darker again with time. It's as if it is coming from under the leather.


Whenever I clean the car, I use autoglym leather clearer or... just soapy water.

Has anyone any experience of these?

Can you try the dealer for replacement seat covers?

I got my driver seat cover (R-Design S90) replaced under warranty as it had worn excessively.....

Good luck