Sounds more like an issue with the OP's technique than with the product. To the OP, can you go into as much detail as possible as to the steps you take to clean a seat?
I personally divide a seat into sections and clean one section at a time using an appropriate brush that works well with the level of soiling that I am dealing with. Sometimes there are three or four stitch bordered sections in the part of the seat that you sit on, I'll spray my product on only one of these sections, then work it in with my brush in circular motions overlapping by 50% until I reach the other side of the section "just like working a section of the paint with a polisher, back and forth with a 50% overlap."
Then if the seat requires more agitation, I'll switch directions and work my brush in circular motions going in the opposite direction of the first section pass that I did with the brush. These circular motions and overlapping passes allow your brush to get down into the texture or grain of the seat material and clean out soils and or oils that would otherwise be simply wiped over with a towel alone, leaving a seat that's still dirty. After these section passes are finished in that section, I'll go over that section with my MF towel to remove the dirt and APC residue that my brush just worked up and then, finally go over it with my water dampened MF towel to remove any left over APC film that might be present.
This technique creates a very clean and even looking section of the seat and once I achieve the look I am after in that first section, I repeat the process from the initial spray of APC, to final wipe down for the next section of the seat and then move to the next section etc. etc.
I always work my leather seats one section at a time from bottom to top. I never start at the top and allow the cleaner to run down into an uncleaned section, as this creates uneven looking panels because a streak (or streaks) of cleaner "if allowed to dwell" will make a streak that is cleaner than the rest of the seat and will create a situation where you have to work harder and longer than you would normally have to to get the seat looking even again.
My rule is..."No streaks of cleaner anywhere on any part of the car..ever..." Wash from top to bottom (any part of the car) but any application of a cleaner that's stronger than a car wash concentrate or a QD must be applied from the bottom to the top, and never allowed to dry before you get to agitating it.
Gravity only ever aids in bringing soap suds and grit down the exterior of the car in the initial washing and rinsing process. In almost all other duties auto detailing related, gravity causes more work if you don't stay ahead of it. Never let it streak down and you'll never have to fix a streaky looking anything. If you ever find yourself working backwards, correct the issue that caused the back up and remember next time to try something different. Constant self improvement not only saves time, but it produces better looking results too.
A little insight into how I think and do things in my shop. Hope it helps someone. TD
