[TiAg335i]

I was using Zaino's leather cleaner and conditioner in the past but am wondering if there is a new, better product out on the market that restores the factory look to the seats. What are people using these days?

Also, whenever I come back from the gym I get into my car and leave a big sweat stain on the seat. Is this harmful for the leather? It dries up almost immediately after I get up, but would wiping the seat down with something reduce wear from the salts in the sweat?

[aretardedorange]

Zaino products are good .

[BrianMN]

As I wrote in another thread a few months back: I've got an extremely nice kit (Only ~$100) from Leather Doctor. It's got a 5-6 step process to clean and treat the leather. You could get away with just step 1 cleaning and then fatliquoring, but I really suggest doing all of it as it really works wonders. This stuff is legitimate leather treatment....and I had wayyy better results than with Zaino Z10 or Leatherique.

Here's a picture of my steering wheel... you can see I treated the right side, untreated left side. It's truly amazing how much SOFTER the leather is too.

Here's a thread I made from the Leather Doctor's website. It's insane how 'scientific' the products are and how each one of them has their own specific ph level to match the intended result.

In order to get my steering wheel as perfect and soft as it is now, I had to do all of the steps with each of the products/liquids. So in essence each of the products is necessary to do a perfect job. Could you get away with just using the prep 7.7 (cleaning gel), cleaner and fatliquor, but that's not going to give optimal results.

Also, I guarantee you won't stop at just doing the steering wheel. I ended up treating my whole front seats, armrest, door armrests, shifter boot, etc. These products, the hydrator and fatliquor particularly got rid of nearly all of the cracks on the outside bolster of the drivers seat. And that's a huge job for a set of gels/liquids to perform. My kit is nearly empty as I've used it so much.

As I said above, I've tried many of the other "One Step" leather products that simply put a topcoat on top of the leather. Essentially they don't work their way into the leather the way that the Leather Doctor system does. It seems the simple leather products give short term satisfaction and a nice fragrance, but if you want something that really treats and juvenates the leather, LD is the only way I know of to get real results.

[TiAg335i]

^^Thanks! Looks like some great results there. Definitely rejuvenated the matte finish.

[hubble bubble]

I like Lexol. It was recommended by my local auto upolstery shop (in business for 80+ years).

Found in equestrian (horse) shops, not car shops.

[BrianMN]

Originally Posted by hubble bubble

I like Lexol. It was recommended by my local auto upolstery shop (in business for 80+ years).

Found in equestrian (horse) shops, not car shops.

I think that's probably the horse saddle stuff I'm thinking of...it smells AMAZING...literally like fresh-off-the-cow leather.

[TOGWT]

Leather's greatest enemies are; sun, heat, body oils, perspiration (that contains urea as well as organic salts and acids) and ultra violet radiation (UV), which dries the hide, fades the colour by bleaching, and can cause the leather to fail by drying out the fibres causing the urethane and / or the hide to crack.

Since body dirt and oil are a big stain factor in leather, be cognizant of bare skin when you are in your vehicle. If you use suntan lotion or sunless tan lotions, be sure to use a towel when you get back in your vehicle so that the oil does not get onto your leather. You can also use a towel when leaving the gym as body oils/ perspiration contains urea as well as organic salts and acids that will ‘bleach’ stain

CliffNotes® Version - automotive finished leather upholstery is a multi-strata urethane coating; consisting of the actual hide, water-based colour pigmentation and the surface finish. An acrylic and polyurethane resin binder system is used to improve flexibility, fastness and adhesion to the leather, then two or three water-based pigmented base coat applications, and then a clear water-based top coat is applied, which usually includes additives to give it a soft feel and a limited amount of ‘slide’ to assist in entering and exiting the vehicle as the final stage of the finishing process.

Three Step Care

1. Maintenance / Care- remove surface dirt and dust – use a soft brush, vacuum and then use a clean, damp cloth to ensure hydration.

2. Cleaning - Leather Masters™ Foam Cleaner is a solvent free pump action product, which is extremely efficient for the cleaning of general soiling and water based stains. Always pre-test the product on an inconspicuous area. This cleaner is an aerosol version of Leather Master™ Strong Cleaner. Allow product to remain in place (amount of product will be dependent upon level of soiling) and then gently agitate, finally remove with a damp micro fibre towel
.
3. Protection- to ensure the leather remains soft and supple apply Leather Masters Soft Touch and allow to dry. And then apply Leather Masters Protection Cream with a dry micro fibre towel and allow to dry
This is NOT a conditioner per se but is used to improve and maintain the tactile feel and lustre to ensure the leather remains soft and supple; apply Leather Master™ Soft Touch (ex Soft Vital) and allow to dry for approx 20 minutes, finally using a clean dry micro fibre towel buff to a matte sheen.
The only 'conditioning' required for finished leather upholstery is hydration; oil-based products cannot permeate the finish (urethane pigmentation or covering) that is used in 95% plus of modern automobiles

Always remember you are dealing with the finished coating on the leather and not with the leather hide itself

[Detailed Image]

I highly recommend the Leatherique Prestine Clean and Leatherique Rejuvenator Oil. It's a powerful cleaning and conditioning combination that can be used to restore old leather and maintain newer leather. This article does a great job of showing some before and after pictures - http://www.detailedimage.com/Ask-a-P...r-care-how-to/

[TiAg335i]

Thanks for the detailed responses guys. The wear on my seats isn't THAT bad. Is leatherique still the product to use for light wear? Also, would the product still be able to penetrate the leather if it is applied in cold weather?

[dday]

Originally Posted by TiAg335i

Thanks for the detailed responses guys. The wear on my seats isn't THAT bad. Is leatherique still the product to use for light wear? Also, would the product still be able to penetrate the leather if it is applied in cold weather?

Leather Master products should work great for you and are quite easy to use.

[BrianMN]

Originally Posted by TiAg335i

Thanks for the detailed responses guys. The wear on my seats isn't THAT bad. Is leatherique still the product to use for light wear? Also, would the product still be able to penetrate the leather if it is applied in cold weather?

My experiences say it's much less effective in colder weather. Not that it won't be penetrable, but having warm leather makes for much better soakability.

[TiAg335i]

Just placed an order for the Leather Master Trio kit with Strong Cleaner, Protection Cream, and Vital, along with a Swissvax leather brush.

Will be ordering the Leatherique combo from Detailed Image when the weather gets warmer!

Thanks guys!

[twinturboa51]

If the seats arent damaged and you want a light clean and condition with minimal work i highly reccomend Poorboys Leather Stuff. It smells great! Leatherique is def the way to go though if your looking for a deep clean and condition. just wait for the warm weather!

[dday]

Originally Posted by TiAg335i

Just placed an order for the Leather Master Trio kit with Strong Cleaner, Protection Cream, and Vital, along with a Swissvax leather brush.

Will be ordering the Leatherique combo from Detailed Image when the weather gets warmer!

Thanks guys!

If your seats are in good shape the leather master kit should take care of all of your needs, shouldn't be any need to get the leatherique kit on top of that.

[TiAg335i]

Originally Posted by dday

If your seats are in good shape the leather master kit should take care of all of your needs, shouldn't be any need to get the leatherique kit on top of that.

Thanks