What is the SAFEST (most reversible) product to use for Leather and plastic interior trim?

J

Jacobpockros

New member
What's the SAFEST (most reversible) product to use for Leather seats and plastic interior trim? To rephrase, what products are the easiest to take back off if one wanted to? It's odd I know, but I've seen too many seats with spots on them that'll never come off from products that splashed on them years back. I don't want to have my interior covered in products that will ruin the original integrity of the natural finish.
 
Re: What's the SAFEST (most reversible) product to use for Leather and plastic interior trim?

anything water based at a guess. something thats not a coating or loaded with petroleum solvents and oils to make it shiny
but I'm not a leather master so not sure
 
Re: What's the SAFEST (most reversible) product to use for Leather and plastic interior trim?

I think it would be hard to find a automotive leather care product that is not water based although many water based products contain oils such Leather Masters Protection Cream. Leather Masters is nice product.
 
Re: What's the SAFEST (most reversible) product to use for Leather and plastic interior trim?

My vote is for an Interior Quick Detailer like Meguiar's stuff or 1Z Cockpit Premium. No, they don't really do much..but they're safe as can be and won't be a problem if you want to try something else afterwards.

And I agree with Bunky that the LeatherMasters stuff is a good option. I haven't used my Leather Masters stuff for a while (I hardly ever do anything to my leather), but IIRC its light scent dissipates quickly. Heh heh, I'm sure I'd remember if it *didn't* because I'm quite the fanatic with regard to keeping my interiors smelling "merelyclean". I want my vehicles to smell like they did when they were new, not like detailing products or a luggage shop. The above-mentioned stuff works fine for that (note I'm not restoring really [crappy] interiors that need drastic measures).

The Interior QDs are basically all I use on interior plastics. Period. Their light scents fade very quickly and aren't nasty anyhow. Can't remember the last time I used a "dressing"/slime-product on interior plastics, though some like the AutoGlym stuff are nice and "clean". I hear the new Mother's product is great but I've never tried it.

FWIW, to do leather *right*, which I hardly ever find necessary, I use the stuff from Leather Doctor. Big PIA to order from Roger, and it's a multi-step process even if you skip the "fat-liquoring" as I do, but his stuff *is* my #1 choice and I was astounded by how well I liked it. The Protection Creams are available in unscented too. That Leather Doctor stuff keeps the interior of my '01 S8 literally showroom in looks, feel, and scent. Can't tell it's ever been detailed; it doesn't look "detailed" or "dressed" but rather like it just rolled off the assembly line.

But really, 99% of the time, I just use Interior QDs and leave it at that. Our older Audis (let alone the dog-hauler Tahoe!) get used daily, and awfully hard, yet their interiors just don't need much real attention, I just keep them clean. I doubt I've done anything more than the IQD for at least a few years.
 
Re: What's the SAFEST (most reversible) product to use for Leather and plastic interior trim?

Thanks for reviving the memories of the Leather Doctor..
Yeah, Fat Liquoring, one of the favorites, right ? :)
He has been around for what 10 years that I know of ? Perhaps much longer...

The closest thing to this process is the Leatherique brand with that slather oil all over your seats, let them sit a day in the sun, and then clean it off with Prestine Clean, if i recall..
Very few if any Detailers have time to do this unless the Client is letting them keep the car for a week, etc., and is paying for the extra time involved..

I would just rather stick to Spinneybeck that has no discernable odor, and leaves the seats nice and smooth, not shiny or oily, greasy, etc...

Also Love Einszett 1Z Cockpit Premium - this German stuff rocks the entire dash and has never hurt, damaged, any navigation screens, etc...
Love the nice matte finish, and the clean scent which is only great for a few hours...
Dan F
 
Re: What's the SAFEST (most reversible) product to use for Leather and plastic interior trim?

Stokdgs- That whole fat-liqouring thing I'm never gonna do, any more than I'll Leatherique (sold that to another Autopian after it just sat on my shelf). But the other Leather Doctor stuff is great.
 
Re: What's the SAFEST (most reversible) product to use for Leather and plastic interior trim?

The only thing that messed up the interior for me was APC/Degreaser overspray that I missed on the plastic film on the interior side of the windshield (used M101 to fix the film). With that said my go to interior spray everything product is Meg's D149. People always compliment me on my interior jobs and I know that's the part drivers notice most.

[h=3]Meguiar's : D149 Detailer Quik Interior Detailer[/h]
 
Re: What's the SAFEST (most reversible) product to use for Leather and plastic interior trim?

Meguiar's D149 Quik Interior Detailer can be used on all surfaces. Definitely recommend it. I also like Meguiar's D180 and D181. These are on;y available in gallon sizes.

My review on D180 and D181.

http://www.autopia.org/forums/detai...cleaner-conditioner-d181-leather-cleaner.html

Jesse@Autopia said:
For leather I like the Blackfire Leather Conditioner and Interior Cleaner. They really are outstanding products, very easy to use, no streaking/spots, and leaves a nice matte finish. The Blackfire Interior Protectant would work on every other interior surface and also leave a nice matte finish.
Click to expand...

I agree with this. Here's my review on it.

http://www.autopia.org/forums/detai...-interior-protectant-leather-conditioner.html
 
Re: What's the SAFEST (most reversible) product to use for Leather and plastic interior trim?

Love Megs Quik Interior Detailer. I really want to try D180 and D181.
 
Re: What's the SAFEST (most reversible) product to use for Leather and plastic interior trim?

Thanks for the replies and keep them coming! Additionally, what product would be safest to use for wiping everything clean first? Does Leather Doctor include a prepping stage in their multi-step process?
 
Re: What's the SAFEST (most reversible) product to use for Leather and plastic interior trim?

Jacobpockros said:
Thanks for the replies and keep them coming! Additionally, what product would be safest to use for wiping everything clean first? Does Leather Doctor include a prepping stage in their multi-step process?
Click to expand...

Meguiar's QID has light cleaning abilities. It's what I use to clean plastics and do the normal wipe-downs on leather. Any tougher spots on the trim I use Meguiar's APC (many APC's that, from what I've seen here, are great). I also use APC for light carpet stains, marks on the headliner, rubber floor mats, and any interior plastics that have been severely neglected. Not like I do this for a living but it definitely cuts through the crud a lot better than QID.
 
Re: What's the SAFEST (most reversible) product to use for Leather and plastic interior trim?

Do you have access to a steam cleaner
 
Re: What's the SAFEST (most reversible) product to use for Leather and plastic interior trim?

Optimum Leather Protectant was designed for both today's coated leather and vinyl. Leaves a nice matte finish and is easy to use since you can do both your leather and vinyl. The interior of my 07 Passat looks almost as good as the day I picked it up from the dealers with nothing more than this 2 or 3 times a year and keeping it clean in between applications.

Optimum Protectant Plus, Optimum Leather Protectant
 
Re: What's the SAFEST (most reversible) product to use for Leather and plastic interior trim?

Being very familiar with early Jap sports cars interiors, I'd say it's worth the time an effort to do leatherique rej oil an then prestine clean as a follow up. Then after wipe ALL plastics down with 1z cockpit and the shifter knob and steering wheel with 1z deep plastic cleaner. This is what I always use an you cannot go wrong. You will fave a flawless finished OEM look with no cheesy shine or over powering odor.
 
Re: What's the SAFEST (most reversible) product to use for Leather and plastic interior trim?

Jacobpockros said:
Thanks for the replies and keep them coming! Additionally, what product would be safest to use for wiping everything clean first? Does Leather Doctor include a prepping stage in their multi-step process?
Click to expand...

About the safest stuff I've ever used is Griot's Interior Cleaaner..so safe it doesn't even hurt the dirt ;) For light work I just use the IQD or 1Z CP.

For leather though, yeah..the Leather Doctor system has a few different cleaners *AND* the proper rinse agents (much more important than I'd thought). You name the Leather Issue, Roger has the right product to remedy the situation. [REPEAT caveat about what a PIA it is to order from him, and also REPEAT that it's worth it IMO]
 
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