just bought a 03 accord (leather question)

M

markmando

New member
just bought a 03 accord.

has the leather interior.

it looks good. but probable needs some attention.

did a search, and looks like my choices for treating the leather are:



-meguirs leather conditioner

-dove soap

-woolite to clean it.

-just water.

-lexol

-and leatherique



anyone here suggest the best treatment.

sorry don't have photos.

many thanks:)
 
8:1 water:woolite for light cleaning, lexol cleaner and conditioner every so often, maybe 2-3x a year? More/less depending on how dirty it gets
 
My friend has an 03 Accord w/ leather and I was kind of surprised by how hard his leather was even brand new from the factory. If you bought this car slightly used and are thinking the leather might be starting to stiffen up, you may want to go to a Honda dealer and compare your car to the new ones on the lot to see if that's 'normal' or not.



Anyhow... if you still want to treat the leather, I recommend using leatherique's rejuvinator oil and prestine clean once every 6 months with your choice of basic cleaner/conditioner as needed inbetween leatherique treatments (I personally use Zaino Z9 and Z10 2 months after my leatherique treatment and then 2 months later again, then comes leatherique, etc)



With any leather conditioner, though, make sure it's at least 65 degrees outside or else the conditioner will just sit on the surface doing little or nothing at all.



It's also worth noting that from what I've seen of a 97 Accord I did extensive leather reconditioning on (used leatherique's full package including sandpaper follow by custom color matched dye), there's a very high vinyl content in their leather... meaning you're likely to see very small improvements in softness no matter what you use and you might almost consider just using a vinyl conditioner with no silicone disolates in it such as 303 Aerospace Protectant. Then if you notice the leather starting to harden up, treat it with leatherique from time to time as well.
 
Most leather used in todays vehicles are treated with a sealant coating. Therefore, using light cleaners such as Woolite 6:1 and a moderate conditioner is the way to go.



On older leather, or leather in English cars, they still use the tanning method and require products such as Hide Food and Leatherique. This is to keep the hide supple with the oils it needs otherwise it dries out quickly. Then you get the cracks etc.



Most of todays vehicles will do just fine with Woolite. In fact, Lexus recommends a "wool" detergent for cleaning the leather. Follow with a non-greasy conditioner and it will be like new. For new leather smell, you just can't beat Zaino Z-10 (Leather in a bottle) for conditioner. It smells as close as can be to new leather. You can also use 1Z's Leather Care (Lederpflege) as well. Very nice cream conditioner. Avalible at the Autopia-carcare.com store under "Cockpit".



Unless the leather is in such bad shape, I would just use mild cleaners. If it IS that bad, Leatherique is one way of restoring leather. It's just that oils on todays leather are really not needed unless the sealant coating is worn, the by all means use Leatherique! Leatheriaue can work miricles on worn leather!



Regards,

Deanski
 
Deanski said:
Most leather used in todays vehicles are treated with a sealant coating. Therefore, using light cleaners such as Woolite 6:1 and a moderate conditioner is the way to go.



On older leather, or leather in English cars, they still use the tanning method and require products such as Hide Food and Leatherique. This is to keep the hide supple with the oils it needs otherwise it dries out quickly. Then you get the cracks etc.



Most of todays vehicles will do just fine with Woolite. In fact, Lexus recommends a "wool" detergent for cleaning the leather. Follow with a non-greasy conditioner and it will be like new. For new leather smell, you just can't beat Zaino Z-10 (Leather in a bottle) for conditioner. It smells as close as can be to new leather. You can also use 1Z's Leather Care (Lederpflege) as well. Very nice cream conditioner. Avalible at the Autopia-carcare.com store under "Cockpit".



Unless the leather is in such bad shape, I would just use mild cleaners. If it IS that bad, Leatherique is one way of restoring leather. It's just that oils on todays leather are really not needed unless the sealant coating is worn, the by all means use Leatherique! Leatheriaue can work miricles on worn leather!



Regards,

Deanski
Click to expand...



I've got a 99 Lexus GS400 and I know it's not doing as much good as with non-coated leather, but I've still noticed a significant improvement in my leather's feel with the use of leatherique.



I've also made a point to saturating my seats in leatherique's rejuvinator oil and then covering them with trashbags. The oil is mostly gone once I pull the bags up a few days later... it seems to soak in best in the cracks and crevices where it can migrate laterally and bypass the topcoat.
 
Leatherique does migrate... If you looked at the foam under the leather you will find a good amount there. This happens with todays leather in that the product gets absorbed mostly where it has the least resistance like the seams. Under the seams you'll find it within the foam. You have to be careful as it can start to weaken and break-down the foam in time. You may notice a slight change in stiffness to the foam. I used to tape over the seams to avoid it penitrating the seams and compromising the threads. I clean seams by hand carefully. Found out the hard way on an older leather seat.



Nothing wrong with Leatherique, just have to use it wisely.



Since I have Ecru interior in the SC430, I'd be a shareholder in Leatherique for the amount of times I have to clean this color. More so when the tops down, it really gets a fine dark dust on the back seats.



So, day-to-day cleaning (weekly) I find the Woolite perfect. Follow with my Z-10 or 1Z and I'm good for awhile.



Regards,

Deanski
 
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