Leather care?

[FlashJim]

Having never owned a leather interior before, I have a couple of questions. What is everyone using to clean and treat the leather interior?

 

[table5511]

This is what I have always used in all my cars with leather.

 

[ceric]

Pay special attention to the steering wheel.

 

[gcssat]

Lexol cleaner and conditioner is the best!

 

[FlashJim]

Pay special attention to the steering wheel.

... and?

Don't leave me hangin' like that. Do you handle the steering wheel differently than the seats? I'm assuming because you don't want it slippery.

 

[FlashJim]

Lexol cleaner and conditioner is the best!

After researching the subject today on a couple of detailing sites, Lexol seems to be the go-to cleaner and conditioner.

 

[ceric]

... and?

Don't leave me hangin' like that. Do you handle the steering wheel differently than the seats? I'm assuming because you don't want it slippery.

The upper portion that is most exposed to the sun cracks easily
if you don't protect the leather properly.
The sweat from your hands makes it worse.

 

[table5511]

The upper portion that is most exposed to the sun cracks easily
if you don't protect the leather properly.
The sweat from your hands makes it worse.

You have no idea how disgusting some people are. Some of the cars I look at during the day make me want to puke. There's nothing quite like a 10 year old steering wheel that's never been cleaned. ugggg.

 

[oaklandopen]

I use stuff called "303 aerospace protectant"on leather, vinyl, and plastic

strong odor, high shine, real slippery, but goddamn it makes stuff look good

another main point would be not to spray any product you use directly onto whatever you want to clean/protect. Its better to spray a cloth first then wipe it down so as not to have any overspray problems on materials or components you shouldnt be spraying

 

[FlashJim]

I use stuff called "303 aerospace protectant"on leather, vinyl, and plastic

strong odor, high shine, real slippery, but goddamn it makes stuff look good

I love 303. At least the odor and shine aren't anything like Armor All. Whoever invented that should be shot.

 

[tex2670]

I've used Lexol for 12 years. Good stuff.

 

[crikey]

Another vote for Lexol here too.

 

[jk240sx]

I use Griot's Garage Leather Care.

I've also used Lexol. I don't like Armor All.

 

[mihalis]

This is what I have always used, and it works awesome, makes the leather brand new again. It does take several hours for the whole project, but it is the best. Leatherique

http://www.autogeek.net/le16ozkit.html

 

[MSke390]

I've always used Lexol with excellent results but after seeing how good the Turtle Wax Ice is performing on the outside I am going to try Turtle Wax Ice interior.

 

[MSUPERBAUER]

Lexol is the only stuff I use. The griots garage stuff is overpriced, the armor all is garbage. Armor all uses an ingredient in theirs that actually dries out the leather (to make you use more, more often)

 

[table5511]

Do you have a source for the Armor all leather cleaner claim? I have seen source on Armor All on tires, which is why I am careful with what I put on my tires, but this is the first I have read about Armor All Leather Cleaner (cleaner only not conditioner) being garbage?

 

[jk240sx]

The main reason I don't like Armor All is that it is a lanolin based product. Lanolin does clean effectively but it is harsh and strips the leather of it's natural oils which dries it out and you then use more product creating an endless cycle.

Griot's Leather Care uses natural oils to feed the leather. At $17.00 for 16 ounces, enough to last 4-5 years, it's hardly over priced. A little goes along way.

Another good product is Spinneybeck Finished Leather Maintenance Kit. My buddy who is in Porsche Club swears by it. His '86 944 looks brand new.

 

[WickedLou9]

I'm a new member, this is my first post. Woot.

We picked up a CPO 2011 CX-9 touring a couple weeks ago. It's got the tan leather and it needed a bit of cleaning and treatment.

I am a bit of an "amateur" detailer. I put amateur in quotes because honestly most detailers don't do what I do in terms of time and quality of products. I do it because I enjoy it.

anyway, I got several reccomendations for this stuff: "Leather Master"
For cleaner, I used this:
http://www.autogeek.net/strong-leather-cleaner.html

Although for cleaning, one of the most cost-effective things that works quite well is a mixture of woolite and water.

For treating and protecting, I used this stuff:
http://www.autogeek.net/leather-master-barrier.html
It conditions the leather and helps protect the light tan leather from dye transfer.

 

[sts7049]

i use the zaino products, the leather cleaner and conditioner (z9 and z10). car is a year and a half old now almost and i still get people telling me it smells new inside.