Cleaning leather with woolite..

judyb said:
Hi



Yes we are leather care and restoration consultants to the furniture, cleaning and auto industries. We run a training school in the UK for leather technicians, valeters, upholsterers, cleaners etc. and we do a lot of consultancy work for retailers, manufacturers etc. when they have problems with leather. We also do a lot of independent reporting for insurance companies etc.

Our Technical Director is the UK's leading authority on leather care and restoration and has over 20 years exeperience with the furniture and upholstery business.



We also run a workshop for repairs and are sent a lot of problems that have been caused by untrained technicians and cleaners which we aim to resolve.



Just a word about your post, leather is not like human skin. It is dead skin that has been carefully treated with a finely balanced range of chemicals to make it a stable product, there is no correlation between how we look after our own skin and how we look after leather.
Click to expand...

I think what Patrick meant by "treat it like your own skin" is that we should treat our leather with the same level of care as we do our face, meaning that we have to be gentle with it and use products that won't harm it. I don't think he meant anything like we should treat our leather with Avon products :D. Did I get that right Patrick?
 
detaildoc said:
I think what Patrick meant by "treat it like your own skin" is that we should treat our leather with the same level of care as we do our face, meaning that we have to be gentle with it and use products that won't harm it. I don't think he meant anything like we should treat our leather with Avon products :D. Did I get that right Patrick?
Click to expand...



LoL, yeah I'm sure that's what he meant.
 
a.k.a. Patrick said:
From a well respected (in my book) source.........

Woolite® has a number of issues that do not lend to long term quality care of interior car parts and components. Using a detergent that is meant to be flush rinsed (i.e. rinsed until it runs clear) in a situation were this is not possible, is not recommended as when it dries it will attract dirt and contribute to re-soiling. Household detergent soaps tend to be formulated with a sodium sulphate to enable foaming, this salt content may not be safe to use on leather upholstery, as this can compromise pigmented leather and / or its polyurethane covering.

In all honesty, i have never used it, but have heard it recommended so many times, i fell into the trap of recommending it myself. This was/is rather uncommon for me, and pretty uncharacteristic of my business practices as well.

Personally, i have always used a dedicated leather cleaner or just a damp microfiber towel.
Click to expand...

I agree with you Patrick. Personally, even if Lexus recommends Woolite, I still would not use it on my Lexus, for the same reason I would not let my Lexus dealer (as great as they are) detail my car, NO WAY! I prefer a dedicated product.
 
Sorry if I read it wrong.



Most of the old leather treatment theories have grown up around the fact that you need to moisturise skin and so they transfer the info to leather care. You 'd be surprised what people do put on their leather. The latest craze is to use peanut butter to remove ink!!! we deal with problems like this all the time .
 
judyb said:
Sorry if I read it wrong.



Most of the old leather treatment theories have grown up around the fact that you need to moisturise skin and so they transfer the info to leather care. You 'd be surprised what people do put on their leather. The latest craze is to use peanut butter to remove ink!!! we deal with problems like this all the time .
Click to expand...

Peanut butter? Now, that is crazy. :chuckle:
 
detaildoc said:
I agree with you Patrick. Personally, even if Lexus recommends Woolite, I still would not use it on my Lexus, for the same reason I would not let my Lexus dealer (as great as they are) detail my car, NO WAY! I prefer a dedicated product.
Click to expand...



So what is the dedicated product of choice for cleaning? (coated leather)

What is the dedicated product of choice for protecting? (coated leather)



I have read numerous threads about leather treatment whether it be cleaning, conditioning, or protecting. After reading for what seems to be like forever, my general idea is that nobody has any solid recommendations for a waterbased mild dedicated cleaner and a dedicated protector for modern automotive leather. If I have missed it through the numerous threads, PLEASE bring it to my attention as I am looking to compose a complete detailing list so I can make my purchase happen.



In my case, I will primarily be using it on brand new 2008 BMW Boston Leather on my 1 series. My goal is to maintain by cleaning when necessary and protecting at all times.
 
I went through all the searches you did. I ended up going with 4 Star Leather Cleaner and Conditioner. I checked with 4 Star and their Conditioner is a water based product to protect it against UV and the only oils present are for scent. I think they changed the formula recently. It goes on nicely and does not have any slippery feeling.
 
Well now, I just have to chime in with I use Woolite for cleaning and I would rather go on my own observations and the experiences of Scott and a few others. My advice, if you want to use something else, that's cool, you're not changing my mind and I got other stuff to do than try to change yours.
 
Change my mind? But I have no opinions or bias against any products.. not much to change except maybe a recommendation on some dedicated water based cleaners and protectants. If woolite is your preferred cleaner, great. Now I'd just like to know what you use for protecting. I am likely to try woolite if someone else cant suggest something better as it seems to be one of the best choices based on the information from this forum.



Although Patrick, JudyB, and detaildoc have their gripes with woolite, I have yet to find what their dedicated product of choice is. If any of you could please let me know what you use, I would really appreciate it.
 
mrgoochio said:
If any of you could please let me know what you use, I would really appreciate it.
Click to expand...



If the leather is in good shape, I use Woolite 10:1 with a soft brush and wipe with MF. I finish off with Zaino- leather in a bottle (Z-10). The stuff smells fantastic....



If the seats are real dirty and I have at least a full day, I'll break out Leatherique and treat them with their two step system.....Zaino makes a good cleaner too, Z-9.



There are several options out there and I've found that Woolite and Zaino and Leatherique do an excellent job for me.....



Good luck....:xyxthumbs
 
mrgoochio said:
I have read numerous threads about leather treatment whether it be cleaning, conditioning, or protecting. After reading for what seems to be like forever, my general idea is that nobody has any solid recommendations for a waterbased mild dedicated cleaner and a dedicated protector for modern automotive leather. If I have missed it through the numerous threads, PLEASE bring it to my attention as I am looking to compose a complete detailing list so I can make my purchase happen.
Click to expand...



I agree, leather cleaning and protecting does seem to be an area where there is no general consensus on what products are best. I used to use Z-10, with satisfactory results, but I never thought it was a "fantastic" product.
 
If I encounter some really nasty/dirty leather seats, I believe I'm going to go with a steamer. Other than that, the Woolite mix works for me. Perhaps I'll use the combination of both options as well.
 
Bunky said:
I went through all the searches you did. I ended up going with 4 Star Leather Cleaner and Conditioner. I checked with 4 Star and their Conditioner is a water based product to protect it against UV and the only oils present are for scent. I think they changed the formula recently. It goes on nicely and does not have any slippery feeling.
Click to expand...



Honestly, that sounds like another silicone leather protectant.



detaildoc said:
Peanut butter? Now, that is crazy. :chuckle:
Click to expand...



The local Lexus dealer has a nice big vat of PB, just for that, and trim. Peanut butter to remove wax buildup on trim works, but barely. It covers everything up mroe than it actually cleanes and protects. It also makes trim look more black because of the oil residue left behind, that's about it. Personally, I love PB, but not on a car. I love the smell, but it's completely misplaced in the detailing world.
 
If you want the Rolls Royce of leather conditioners, it is Leather Master's Leather Vital. $60 a quart but worth it.
 
Scottwax said:
If you want the Rolls Royce of leather conditioners, it is Leather Master's Leather Vital. $60 a quart but worth it.
Click to expand...



After looking over Leather Master's cleaner, vital (conditioner), and protectant, the products seem to match the descriptions/guidelines I was looking for. I haven't searched through all the threads to find all the specific info, but perhaps this is the product line I am looking for. It IS more expensive than anything else I found for treating leather, but it also appears to be the only product that meets those simple guidelines I was looking for. (the only product that I can clearly identify at the moment, anyway..)



Now I feel like I've strayed from the original topic, and for that I apologize.



For those that clean with woolite, how often do you guys clean with it? I take it you guys wipe down with a damp towel on a regular basis and woolite comes out on special occasion?



Still curious on what conditioners/protectants, if any, woolite-users are using..
 
For conditioning-protection check out the 1Z einszett Leather Care 'Lederpflege' or give Mr. B some business and order Sonus Leather conditioner.



And FWIW - I use Woolite to clean every 6 months or so, depending on the condition. My dilution rate is 8:1.
 
Here's Sonus's description on their Leather Conditioner:





All quality automotive leather conditioners re-hydrate leather and renew a fresh look, but only Sonus Car Leather Conditioner protects your car's leather and fine vinyl with modern polymer technology! Restores leather to a perfect matte finish. Restores a natural leather fragrance. Penetrates leather's protective coating to re-hydrate completely. The rich emulsion contains natural oils that are readily absorbed by leather to keep it hydrated, supple and in like-new condition.





I have a few questions:

Can leather be re-hydrated?

Can the finish of leather be restored?

Can a leather's protective coating be penetrated?

Does leather absorbe oil?
 
David Fermani said:
Here's Sonus's description on their Leather Conditioner:





All quality automotive leather conditioners re-hydrate leather and renew a fresh look, but only Sonus Car Leather Conditioner protects your car's leather and fine vinyl with modern polymer technology! Restores leather to a perfect matte finish. Restores a natural leather fragrance. Penetrates leather's protective coating to re-hydrate completely. The rich emulsion contains natural oils that are readily absorbed by leather to keep it hydrated, supple and in like-new condition.





I have a few questions:

Can leather be re-hydrated?

Can the finish of leather be restored?

Can a leather's protective coating be penetrated?

Does leather absorbe oil?
Click to expand...



Not that I don't believe Sonus (in fact I plan to try it out sometime soon), but almost all of these leather conditioners nowadays are saying pretty much the same thing about their product re-hydrating, restoring natural oils, being safe, not being greasy like other products on the market (funny cuz now most are not greasy at all) Like Mrgoochio said, it is pretty frustrating to know clear cut choices for leather care.



I'm kinda in a unique position because if I can't get it clean I offer to re-dye, and that's my bread and butter anyway. So to be honest in years gone by I didn't personally apply leather conditioner very often, a little more lately though since I'm offering leather conditioning as a service now and consequentially in same boat as most of you, seeking to find the right product. I'm used to leather conditioners from leather repair suppliers like Superior Restoration and Color Plus, find them adequate. Have used several OTC's like Mequiar's and Lexol. They are more like a dressing, which I think is what most of those kind really end up being.



Hydrating and restoring oils? yes and no. Hydrating yes for most products by virtue of the fact that you're putting on something wet that remains there. Restoring natural oils may be doubtful especially for finshed leather. As I understand it though, that is what rejuvenator oils like Leatherique, Leather Vital, and Soffener do. And I pretty much believe they do help to bring back the suppleness. Funny because the products that actually do the most for restoring leather are oily, which is what the other products are bragging about not being. Even saying that, I normally wouldn't use rejuvenators for just basic application dressing/protectant. I'm still experimenting though.
 
does anyone have new info, results, etc on leather and woolite? or leather care in general? this is a great thread and it would be awesome to see some new info added to it
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top