Traderalex1 is a dealer in hides. He posts on the Edmunds.com site (leather care section). I copied the earlier post re "don't use oil containing products on clearcoated leather" and asked his opinion. Here are his thoughts:
#449 of 452 further thoughts on conditioning and a useful website by traderalex1 Jul 20, 2001 (03:39 pm)
Yes, I don't believe any of the nationaly branded leather cleaners and conditioners will harm the automotive leathers out there. Most of the automotive leathers in use in the world have their roots from the American Big Three automotive leather tanners, whose dominance of this market is overwhelming. And they got where they are by offering a product featuring superior technique and quality, not marketing muscle.
Keep in mind several points: Leather was once living tissue with natural fats and oils, so putting it back into the leather is not going harm it. The automotive leather market really started to develop in the late 1980's. Prior to that period, it was not unheard of for automakers to employ furniture leather for their automotive seating, with predictable (and disasterous) results. The American Three pioneered a technology to produce a dedicated car seat leather that would hold up to abuse, as well as teh elements. They assume that the typical owner will likely do little or nothing to care for his/her car seats. So your own efforts and willingness to fuss after the upholstery in your car is an enormous plus torwards keeping the seats looking good, for years. An opportunity to keep your vehicle out of the sun, or in a cool garage, is also quite helpful. Yes, you can hurt automotive leather, if you really work at it, but it is not necessarily an easy thing to do.
Most of you participating in this form have likely using some nationally branded set of cleaner and conditioner in your cars, for years.
If you were causing damage to your seats, you would have likely seen evidence of some finish degradation, after a time. I think most of you have generally been happy with your long experience in using your chosen brand of care product(s). I don't believe these concerns that were brought up on that other website, therefore, make a whole lot of sense. I do agree, based on my own nose, it seem like there could be mineral spirits in Hyde Food. I have not yet been able to reach an expert for any commentary or advice as to why that might be so. But I do suspect, that if it is indeed in this product, that it is a trace amount. Its presence is likely to serve as a product thinner or stabilizer. In any case, straight mineral spirits would certainly wreck automotive upholstery. Many of you have been using Hyde Food for years, and seem to be very pleased with the long term results. My guess is that your long term experience is your answer.
Now, here is a chance for you to read what one of the kings of the automotive leather trade has to say about proper care for your car seats. Please go to this URL:
http://www.eagleottawa.com
When you get there, look for the "click", TIPS ON LEATHER CARE. It should be on the middle right side of their home page. Eagle Ottawa, as you remember from our earlier discussions is one of the three giant American automotive leather tanners, and this company certainly played a leading role in developing the technology that gives us the car seats we have today.
Some of your eyes might pop out, per their recommendation to use a 3M Scotch Brite pad to clean your leather. It caught my attention, too.
But please keep in mind that this text was likely put together or reviewed by one of their R&D technologists. If they recommend it, you can be certain that they tested the procedure in their labs extensively, so it must be so. You will note also that they are pushing a set of cleaner and conditioning products called "Tanner's Preserve". Don't be surprised if Eagle Ottawa is a share holder in this company....ha, but that does not mean these are bad products. I am sure they are good ones. Finally, scroll down their
Leather Care page, and look for the heading,
"HOW CAN A CONDITIONER HELP?". I would like to suggest to all you good folks that you can take that advice at Eagle's leather care page as kind of like a final authority. They are the ones making the leather, and subjecting it to expensive, rigorous testing all the time. So if anybody should know the right answer for care, it should be them.
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