Wanna keep my leather new....

stang03

New member
So I just got a new car, what is a good product to keep the leather looking new and wrinkle free (to an extent)????
 
Never gonna completely keep wrinkles from happening. But to keep them from getting bad and cracking, hit our sponsors. They have good products to protect and moisturize.

Then a couple of times a year, clean well, then re-protect.
 
i only use pinnacle leather cleaner and leather lotion. they are simply the best...for my lariet leather in my truck .
 
I follow manufacturers recommendations.

Vacuum
Wash with warm soapy water
Rinse with damp cloth
Towel dry

Since car leather is coated, that's all it needs.

The dirt is what wears the leather, simple vacuuming and washing is IMO the best method to keep it looking good.
 
As said above, keep it clean using a neutral cleaner. Some all purpose cleaners (like Meg's APC) seem to make leather tacky feeling. A safe one from AG would be DP Total Interior Cleaner.

There are a number of leather conditioners/protectants. The primary difference is just the sheen they leave and how slippery they feel after using them. Whatever you use, apply sparingly since the seats are coated leather and they really do not soak up much.

I have used Four Star Leather Conditioner, Poorboy's Leather Stuff, DP Total Interior Protectant, and Leather Masters. LM seems to leave the least slippery result but I sure like the DP smell even though it is not leather like (banana). Poorboy's and Four Star have a leather scent.
 
I am again interested in leather cleaning and conditioning.

I have had good results with Poorboy's. I chose to use his leather cleaning products and so does does my son in college that cleans his Nike's and HHR seats.

IN fact I have to call Steve soon. I would like to be ready for the warm weather that is soon to appear in the sage and sand of Central Texas.
 
As Ronkh mentioned, "wrinkles" in leather seating are invevitable. Not a bad thing except it does provide an additional place for dirt/grime/body oils etc. to congregate. Those are enemies of your leather seating. So to combat them, as mentioned by several folks above, keep it clean.

1)Vacuum and damp wipe (water is OK) weekly.
2) As needed (but IMO no less often than quarterly) use a neutral (mild) "soap" solution and thoroughly clean the surfaces. Use a leather brush to gently agitate the cleaner and work into all creases and folds. "Rinse" to remove cleaner residues and dirt.
3)Follow up with a conditioner.

This last step is the topic of debate. Many knowledgeable (as in the industry) people will state that the step is unnecessary as most leather interiors in today's automobiles are clear-coated. I can only state my own experience and that is I have done it for years on my own vehicle's interiors w/o any noticeable problems.
 
I use Woolite and distilled water mix to clean the leather once it's mostly dirt free. Once "scrubbed" and starting to wipe off excess soap, I use white bath towels to check how much dirt/soap is still present. You're gonna need a bunch of these, dry and not put in a dryer with any fabric softener sheet! Just dry them w/o sheets or softeners.

Once all "cleaning" is done, I let the leather sit for several hours with windows cracked to keep air in and let moisture out. I even add a few packs of moisture reduction bags on floor and hang them off coat hooks and mirror just to suck up as much as I can prior to treatment.

Once dry, a simple light covering of a leather "conditioner" that is designed and used for automotive leather EXCEPT "Hide Food" as this product is used strictly for uncoated tanned English style leathers and NOT todays coated vat tanned leather. Stay away from products that once were primary for tack rooms and now claim to have an automotive use. You don't see a bridle or saddle in automotive leather do you? Keep those products in the barn tack room and out of the garage.

Wipe off all "conditioner" again with white cotton towels. This again helps getting it into the areas that may have not been treated. It also keeps from off-gassing some of the conditioners that can leave a film on the inside of a windshield if overused on the leather.

Since it's a coated leather, a light application is all you need. Putting on too heavy will only give you slimey seats and transfer dye form slacks or jeans to the leather. Plus you may end up with that odd film or haze on the inside windshield.

So, a good cleaning often is key by getting dirt off the leather first, then a light soap washing with Woolite/water mix. Most leather "cleaners" are nothing more than soap such as Woolite or other neutral PH base soap with added coloring and fragance. Removing all soap/water off the leather with white 100% cotton towels help in judging how bad it is. Making sure the leather gets dry it key prior to any treatment.

Daily sweeping off seats or light vacuuming is the best way to keep them fresh. Watch what you wear or how you move in and out of the seats will also keep them from wearing too soon. Some jeans are a bit tough on leather and any with rivets will add that much more wear as you can imagine.

Regards,
Deanski
 
...Once all "cleaning" is done, I let the leather sit for several hours with windows cracked to keep air in and let moisture out. I even add a few packs of moisture reduction bags on floor and hang them off coat hooks and mirror just to suck up as much as I can prior to treatment.
An observation, and I say this knowing this isn't your first go 'round, BUT if you are having to take these measures you are probably using too much water/cleaner.

...
Watch what you wear or how you move in and out of the seats will also keep them from wearing too soon. Some jeans are a bit tough on leather and any with rivets will add that much more wear as you can imagine.
...
Honestly, I dont dress to "protect" my vehicle's interior. My jeans are Wrangler Cowboy Cut Original Fit) and they've got rivets. Wore Wranglers long before I had a vehicle with leather interior, and I haven't even noticed any really heavy wear patterns because of that feature.
 
An observation, and I say this knowing this isn't your first go 'round, BUT if you are having to take these measures you are probably using too much water/cleaner.

Answer, no. All water/cleaner have been removed, just an added bonus if I'm letting it sit to dry. You cana't expect to have the leather completly dry by wiping alone but you sure do get the majority of it.


Honestly, I dont dress to "protect" my vehicle's interior. My jeans are Wrangler Cowboy Cut Original Fit) and they've got rivets. Wore Wranglers long before I had a vehicle with leather interior, and I haven't even noticed any really heavy wear patterns because of that feature.

Wear want you want, but like any good high-end leather will wear more aggressivly if subjected to rivets, heavy clothing just as any saddle would.

The original post was to protect and keep it new.

Deanski
 
For the OP, since it's your personal vehicle, a weekly vacuuming and wipe down (I'm currently trying the Lucas Slick Mist interior product) will prevent the need for a heavy duty, water/soap soaking clean-up.

If seats are allowed to get that dirty between cleanings, it will be very difficult to keep them looking new(er).
 
I'd just use Leather Stuff from the beginning and they will stay new looking for years ...
let's not make this more difficult or complicated. The seats are coated and just need to be maintained not fed like a King Ranch leather, which Leather Stuff would do too.
 
So I just got a new car, what is a good product to keep the leather looking new and wrinkle free (to an extent)????

I am having horse hair Upholstery brush for day to day cleaning of leather in my car. I generally use universal protectent to clean leather but when last time I have used liquid leather I got awsome result. diffrence was, it not only cleans the leather but also beautifies and conditions in just one step.-Dany
 
Back in 01 I bought my Town & Country. I was the first leather interior I ever owned. Dark rich Navy blue. Researched the net and Lexol seamed to be the best choise. Ten years and 127,000 miles later and the leather still looks and feels like new. Usually once and sometimes twice a year its cleaned and protected with the Lexol. Any soiling comes up easily due to the protection and retreatment puts it back like new. Ric
 
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