Woolite for Leather

Status
Not open for further replies.
W

widyhs

New member
I have heard a lot about Woolite beng used for interior. I was hoping someone could shed the light on the type of Woolite used to clean leather. Any input is appreciated. TIA
 
The regular liquid laundry soap version. Mix 6 parts water to 1 part Woolite for heavy soil, 10:1 for light/normal soil.
 
Thanks for the prompt feed. I bought the one for dark clothes, assuming that it will help with the dye running issue. I will get the regular one then. Thanks.
 
I've just started using Woolite myself and have seen great results. However, there is the argument that water is not good for the leather and could dry out the leather over time. Can anyone rebut this? I mean the statement is true, but I need a little better explanation than "Autopians use it, so its all good" :p
 
tod071 said:
I've just started using Woolite myself and have seen great results. However, there is the argument that water is not good for the leather and could dry out the leather over time. Can anyone rebut this? I mean the statement is true, but I need a little better explanation than "Autopians use it, so its all good" :p
Click to expand...



I would think even if you do use Woolite with water and the water dries it out, The conditioner you use should bring it back to life. But then again, what leather cleaner doesn't dry it out? Thats why I always see companies that have leather cleaners also sell leather conditioners.
 
I have yet to find a product that cleans leather better than the Woolite mix! Always follow up with a good conditioner afterwards.
 
I clean mine my Woolite (10:1), then follow up with Lexol confitioner/preserver. Works great. I heard Cadiallac even recommends using a product such as woolite to clean their leather.
 
seaz4 said:
I heard Cadiallac even recommends using a product such as woolite to clean their leather.
Click to expand...



Lexus recommends a 5% wool safe detergent solution (20:1) to clean leather. Not sure if that would be strong enough for really dirty leather though.



Ryan-I use the Woolite/water mix on vinyl too.
 
I prefer the leather masters system.



It contains much less water, does not dry the leather out like scotwax's method. It takes longer so i charge for it.



I have gone on and on a 100 times about water and leather, if you want a more detailed explanation, search for leather masters under my name.
 
tod071 said:
I've just started using Woolite myself and have seen great results. However, there is the argument that water is not good for the leather and could dry out the leather over time. Can anyone rebut this? I mean the statement is true, but I need a little better explanation than "Autopians use it, so its all good" :p
Click to expand...



I would have thought laundry soap would dry out leather fast than water but, shows what I know.
 
Grouse said:
I prefer the leather masters system.



It contains much less water, does not dry the leather out like scotwax's method. It takes longer so i charge for it.



I have gone on and on a 100 times about water and leather, if you want a more detailed explanation, search for leather masters under my name.
Click to expand...



I agree Grouse. I wouldn't want my clients to see me using laundry soap on there cars, and I feel there are better ways to do it. I personally think the woolite thing (while it probably has a place) is a hack way of do it. But I guess thats my nature, if there is a better way of doing it, then I feel like I am selling my clients short by not offering it.
 
TH0001 said:
I agree Grouse. I wouldn't want my clients to see me using laundry soap on there cars, and I feel there are better ways to do it. I personally think the woolite thing (while it probably has a place) is a hack way of do it. But I guess thats my nature, if there is a better way of doing it, then I feel like I am selling my clients short by not offering it.
Click to expand...



Can you proove that your way is a better way of doing it? I bet if you compared the ingredients in half of the "leather cleaners" they would be suspiciously similar to woolite. Anything you use to clean the leather will dry it out to a certain extent. That's the point!



Leather is a skin...just like you have on your body. Being that it is stabilized via tanning it will only hold so much moisture to begin with anyway. Most dirt you see is just excess moisture/oils that have combined with dirt to create a spot. On your skin this would result in pimples. Since leather is tanned it doesn't develop pimples obviously. Once you clean the old dirty oils off via whatever method you choose you reapply conditioners. Same idea as if you whipped out the Noxema or other saliyatic acid treatment for your face and then followed that up with a moisturizer.



Anything any leather product claims that they don't dry out the leather is just a lot of marketing surrounding very little fact.
 
TH0001 said:
I agree Grouse. I wouldn't want my clients to see me using laundry soap on there cars, and I feel there are better ways to do it. I personally think the woolite thing (while it probably has a place) is a hack way of do it. But I guess thats my nature, if there is a better way of doing it, then I feel like I am selling my clients short by not offering it.
Click to expand...



Most of the leather today is 'coated' like paint is clear coated. So just like a paint cleaner cleans CC paint, a leather cleaner cleans the coating on the leater, not the leather hide itself. That being said the coated leather is a lot more durable and easier to maintain compared to uncoated leather. I have never heard anything about water drying out coated leather but I would assume that is talking about soaking the leather in water, not gently wiping it down with a woolite mix. And then topping the cleaned seats with a protectant (water based...) and its good to go.



TH001- correct me if I'm wrong but my method to cleaning leather is to use a cleaner and then apply a protectant. Is there a better way to do that? Is there more to just cleaning and protecting that you use in your process?? A little off topic but do you use water based tire dressings on your customer's cars?
 
budman3 said:
Most of the leather today is 'coated' like paint is clear coated. So just like a paint cleaner cleans CC paint, a leather cleaner cleans the coating on the leater, not the leather hide itself. That being said the coated leather is a lot more durable and easier to maintain compared to uncoated leather. I have never heard anything about water drying out coated leather but I would assume that is talking about soaking the leather in water, not gently wiping it down with a woolite mix. And then topping the cleaned seats with a protectant (water based...) and its good to go.



TH001- correct me if I'm wrong but my method to cleaning leather is to use a cleaner and then apply a protectant. Is there a better way to do that? Is there more to just cleaning and protecting that you use in your process?? A little off topic but do you use water based tire dressings on your customer's cars?
Click to expand...



I cannot correct you, because I don't think there is anything "wrong" with cleaning leather and applying a protectant. For my money, there is a better way to do it. I perfer the Leatherquie system where you apply the conditioner first, deep treat the leather, and float out the dirt and grease. After the leather is deep treated, then you clean off the residue that has floated out.



From my experience, I have never seen anything that softens the leather more or cleans it better. I have used it on coated leather (and had this debate before) and still had the same results.



Lexus and Cadallic recommend woolite, so I would assume its safe. Then again they both recommend teflon sealants, so who knows? I certaintley don't. Looking at the big picture, Caddy and Lexus recommend products to the customer that are easier to use and readily avialable. Aren't we supposed to be the pro's, who offer something more.
 
I guess what I'm trying to say is that if I had my car detailed and a guy pulled out armorall and woolite, I would think, man I could do this myself. This isn't anything special. Its like a maid service for my care.



You have clients who want there car done because they are too lazy to do it themselves and those who want something they can do themselves. I would be in the second category, I'm not lazy, I would want somebody because that they are special and I feel I am getting special treatment. I want my car loved.



I see woolite and armor-all, and I would think that I could save money and do the same process myself.
 
I dont know if woolite makes a laundry soap like Tide or Cheer, but what you should use is Woolite liquid for fine fabrics. You could use any liquid soap for fine fabrics.
 
TH0001 said:
Lexus and Cadallic recommend woolite, so I would assume its safe. Then again they both recommend teflon sealants, so who knows?
Click to expand...



I think you mean the *dealers* are selling sealants with teflon (like Simoniz) not the actual makers. In my Ford owners manual, they recommend a sealant topped with a wax.



Major auto leather suppliers like GST Leather and Eagle Ottawa Leathers, both makers of coated and uncoated, both recommend cleaning leather with a mild soap (like Woolite) and water!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top