Leather Products - Bottle or Sprayer

I would agree with the whole water=hydration thing if the hide was STILL ALIVE. ;) Maybe if the cows drink lots of water....



As to the original question, I switched from pouring Leatherique into my hand to rub into my old 87 Benz seats to using a spray bottle. I still use my hands to rub the stuff into every seam and surface, but it is SO much easier to control the actual application of the product. I almost dropped the open bottle when I was pouring the stuff, which would have been ok for the leather seats, but a disaster for the carpet!! :nervous2: If I drop the spray bottle, no worries. Common sense prevailed!
 
Regarding Heat. I'm sure heat does help to a degree in any cleaning process. What about hot heat like people using steamers with a microfiber over the steam head ? I suppose a light pass followed by a leather brush to agitate dirt is helpful.



However, I've seen the latter as well in some posts where they use the brush and agitate pretty hard with the microfiber on it and the hot steam. I don't suppose this may be the best thing as the coating on the leather --- bondwise can only take so much:nixweiss:nixweiss:nixweiss
 
judyb said:
We have listened to all the arguments about leatherique and cannot see any possible advantage. Oils cannot possibly get through the finished surface on leather (we have tried) no matter how long you leave them or how hot you get them so. Leather 'conditioning' can be done by the use of water based products (rehydration) for cleaning and protection and this can be done in a very short time. Heat helps the products to clean more effectively as in any situation but does not transform the leather in any way.

Hope this helps
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Actually it doesn't really help me if you have never used the product that you claim "does not transform leather in any way"........



I beg to differ. I've seen it with my own eyes and there are professionals here who have docummented before and after photo's with just what Leatherique is capable of accomplishing......



I hope you get a chance to personally use the product someday, you may be surprised in what you find.......
 
The finishes on leather have to remain porous to enable fine droplets of moisture to penetrate the leather and keep the fibres supple. As oils are so much thicker they cannot penetrate the finish and so sit on the surface and becasue they do this they attract more dirt and oils which only serve, together with friction to break down the finish on the leather.

Also oils are totally unnecessary whilst water (moisture) does it good.



Steam cleaning may work but there is not much research that has been done. We cannot see any advantages in this and you obviously need a steam cleaner to so this. It is best to keep cleaning simple.



Microfibre cloths should be used with care. if there is any finish damage then the cloth will find it and make it worse.



Yes leather is dead skin but to keep the oils that are put in there during the tanning process supple they need moisture from water.
 
Dave



I know that leather does not need oils to 'condition' it and have had to put right the damage that they have done so therefore an oil product serves no purpose and may cause damage.



As members of the SLTC we have talked to tanners who always reiterate that leather does not lose its oils that are sealed in during the tanning process ( except under rare circumstances - spewing) and therfore they do not need replacing. What they do lose is the moisture and this does need replacing. If extra oils are added (to leathers that can absorb them) then this can totally unbalance the leather and cause technical problems such as spewing which needs very specialist products to resolve.



Leather needs protecting from oils so why add more?



I admit we haven't tried Leatherique but we have tried other oil based products and there are probably hundreds of others that we haven't tried (we would spend all day doing so) but we have seen the effects of oil based products over time and working with our water based cleaning and protect system we cannot see any benefits to the oils based system out there and with the acknowledgement of people in the tanning industry we strongly believe we are on the right track - simple , effective and proven. The science of Leatherique to us simply does not stack up .
 
judyb said:
Dave



I know that leather does not need oils to 'condition' it and have had to put right the damage that they have done so therefore an oil product serves no purpose and may cause damage.



As members of the SLTC we have talked to tanners who always reiterate that leather does not lose its oils that are sealed in during the tanning process ( except under rare circumstances - spewing) and therfore they do not need replacing. What they do lose is the moisture and this does need replacing. If extra oils are added (to leathers that can absorb them) then this can totally unbalance the leather and cause technical problems such as spewing which needs very specialist products to resolve.



Leather needs protecting from oils so why add more?



I admit we haven't tried Leatherique but we have tried other oil based products and there are probably hundreds of others that we haven't tried (we would spend all day doing so) but we have seen the effects of oil based products over time and working with our water based cleaning and protect system we cannot see any benefits to the oils based system out there and with the acknowledgement of people in the tanning industry we strongly believe we are on the right track - simple , effective and proven. The science of Leatherique to us simply does not stack up .
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"We've not tried it" but "we know it doesn't work".

Conveniently ignore the multitudes who say it does work, very well in fact, along with other satisfied customers of other rejuvenating products. To me that's what doesn't add up, unless of course there is an agenda to make all the other products look bad in order to sell her own. And sorry, for those of you who are just eating this up, but I'm not buying the "may cause damage" line either.
 
Judy, personally, I appreciate all your insight and expertise on the subject of cleaning and maintaining leather. As I posted before, I think you have a wealth of useful information. However, you continue to point out what would be good and bad for leather, but still have not made any product recommendations, which would be most helpful to us. In a previous thread you posted that you are careful about making recommendations, so as to not violate forum rules. Everyone here recommends products that have worked for them, it is part of the point of having this forum, to exchange ideas and make recommendations. You did however, posted that if anyone wanted to get your recommendation that we could PM you. Well, I did 2x and you have yet to respond with a recommendation. I did get your PM regarding your concern about the use of a specific product (which I asked you about) on leather, which makes perfect sense to me now that I think about it, so I won't use that product anymore on leather, but again, since you seem to be taking away lots of options, please be so kind and give us your recommended alternatives.
 
Hi

I only had your PM yesterday asking for a specific product recommendation so as yet I had not had chance to reply, apologies for that.



We give the information we do so that you can make your own decisions about the products you use. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and use the products they want, we are simply trying to help. We have worked with leather for over 20 years day in and day out so our advice on products is given from a technical background together with scientiific back up from the product manufacturers who we work with.



We have seen the problems that can be caused by product misuse.



The LTT range of products which we use and sell have been specifically selected from around the world for their ability to do the job safely and they are continually tested and developed to make sure they do just that. We work with the factories that produce them and have back up support from fabric technologists and scientists.



We are not trying to condem all other products and are quite willing to talk to the manufacturers/distributors of these to help. The science behind a lot of them simply does not stack up.



All leather protectors can be tested for their ability to do the job they profess to do, this is a straightforward test and one that anyone can do. We know through testing that the one we work with is the most effective on the market.



As for cleaners as long as it is a water based detergent cleaner that has been tested on leather it will be fine. The strength of the cleaner will determine how effective it is. They are best used as a foam.



We will post the testing proceedure for protectors up here later as it is on another computer and I need to transfer it.



I do hope this helps to answer your query. If not I am sure you wil llet me know!!!!!!!!
 
judyb- Thanks for explaining about the (functional) difference between water and oil-based products with regard to penetration.



It *would* be interesting to hear how Leatherique would perform in your testing, but then again I know from experience that "today's" leathers are different from those used years ago and across-the-board judgements might not be 100% applicable.
 
I'll be the 1st or second to admit.....on all my cars, my leather treatment is wipe with a clean damp microfiber after every wash and 2-3X yearly, I will use Leatherique conditioner on it. I don't do the whole pristine clean/rejuvinator oil -- even though I am well aware that coated leather in theory does not soak in any much more than possibly I'm putting on. As my original thread has gone slightly OT, I do look forward to the debate.....as I have always wondered what is the best/correct process to go about on todays newer leather.
 
Nothing to add, just wanted to thank JudyB for all the information. I've been researching leather care for a bit now trying to figure out what to use on my home furniture. Seems like the information I was getting is the same as your saying so I feel better about ordering my products now. So... Thanks!
 
I wonder if some of differences that folks are seeing re. the effectiveness of Leatherique/oil products are the result of the age/year of the vehicle. I know the Leatherique works well and soaks in on both my older cars, an 82 Aston v8 and 87 Jaguar XJ6. It was essential in the restoration of my previous 1967 Aston DB6. Newer cars with sealed leather may require different techniques.

I use globs of oil and time until it won't soak in anymore. I'm a little less enthused with Pristine Clean as it seems not to lather well. There were areas on the 82 V8 that were very stiff due to water damage (the car is a convertible and water leaked in at the back. So I guess some water is good, too much is bad.

Re the original question, I put pristine Clean in a spray bottle along w/ a bottle of distilled water. I spray w/ PC let it sit a minute or so , then spray w/ water and wipe. Oil is worked in by hand, usually once a year.

PS the Jaguar has well over 100K mile and soft leather.

David N
 
aston6- Yeah, I have leather antiques that are well over a hundred years old and they're sure not gonna suffer while *I* am their caretaker ;) But that's not to say that modern automotive leathers aren't completely different. What works on my '85 Jag's leather (and has worked on other older cars) is different from what seems to work on my newer German/US cars. But after 23 years, I, like you, *do* know what works on the Jag ;)



I say "seems to work on my newer.." because my oldest of those is only an '87 and I bought it used. But I've been treating the leather in our '00 A8 with Griot's, Pinnacle and "Jaguar brand" (dunno who makes it) leather conditioners since new and it's still, well, like new. Those same products don't work well on the '85 Jag though.
 
judyb said:
Cleaning products should be used as a foam as this has been proved to be the most effective and safest way of cleaning leather.

Protectors should be fine enough to be applied through a spray as if they are thick creams they are more likely to leave residues on the surface.
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I am currently in the middle of a leatherique process.



The bottle is definitely not the way to go, but it would work with this product if you didn't have a sprayer to use. I just used a 4oz detail spray bottle I cleaned, and it worked perfectly. Besides with something as intense as the Leatherique rejuvenator you work it in with your bare hand, and work it well. Applying a second coat a bit later isn't a bad idea either.. and the more heat, and the longer you let it sit the better.



Then followed up with a cleaner, .. which I intend on using from a sprayer as well, but also a bucket of warm water and clean cotton cloths, then a final buff after cleaned with a Microfiber.



I'm going to let it sit for 8 hours @ 90degrees -- But even better results could be had if I could afford to let the car sit for a week, or a month.



But beyond the leatherique reconditioning process --



Your general apply, wipe off -- Or even apply, wait 10minutes, wipe off products work well with a good sprayer imho. The bottle just has no control.



Foam would be nice too, but I think a sprayer is a good compromise if you don't have a foaming method. You just have to be careful with streaking, so after you spray, work it in a bit then let it sit for a short duration. Otherwise most products will leave steaks if you just spray it and let it run wherever it may, and then wipe off after 10-15minutes.



Judy,.. on the foam: Are you talking about products that come in a foam applicator? That come out in foam form. Or using a 'foaming gun' of some sort to turn the liquid into foam.





Either way, could you link/refer me to the products that are good and foam,.. or to the best solution for foaming it?



Thanks
 
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