Just noticed a yucky dirty area (where my lower back hits the seat) on my Cordoba Beige leather...

Any advice on the best way to clean it & to keep it clean?

I really don't like seat covers.... and my leather seats are SO nice....

Any help appreciated!

 

Griots Garage has all kinds of wonderful products to keep your baby properly pampered.

A touch pricey, but you'll never regret it.

http://www.griotsgarage.com

But there are also numerous other (lower priced) products you can find in most department stores. I suppose the plastic bin of leather conditioner wipes are the latest in convenience innovations. I think Amourall made the ones I saw recently.

I personally have never had leather crack on me. It just gets softer and more comfortable.

Good Luck !

 

>>Just noticed a yucky dirty area (where my lower back hits the seat) on my Cordoba Beige leather...
>>
>>Any advice on the best way to clean it & to keep it clean?
>>
>>I really don't like seat covers.... and my leather seats are SO nice....
>>
>>Any help appreciated!

 

I use Pinnacle leather conditioner/cleaner...

My uncle had a bad experience with lexol... it deteriorated the stiching of his rear seat in his Ferrari Mondial.

But everyone else I ever heard using it loved it. I however really like the Pinnacle stuff.

=)

U4EA

1999.5 VW GTI GLX (thinking REALLY HARD about getting a Mini S)

 

This may be a really naive question... but what is the difference between leather care products for the car vs leather care products for equestrian tack? The other reason I ask is that a lot of the dirt that I'll be getting on my Mini's leather seats will be after I've been riding my horse (human sweat, horse sweat..well, you get the picture). Plus I have tubs of the Horseman's One Step for my rather expensive dressage saddle and bridles. Any reason the leather care products can't be interchangeable?


Link to the Horseman One Step
http://www.absorbine-animal.com/prod...orseman_lo.htm

Thanks!
Libby

 

Libby

Leather comes in many different flavors... Each flavor requires special treatment. I myself am not familiar with conditioner for bridles and such... however I do know that leather in cars need to be conditioned often with a moisture rich conditioner to keep the leather supple as to prevent cracking, sun damage, and premature ware.

Also some leathers are sensitive and can only be treated with a certain type of cleaner / conditioner...

Lastly you have to worry about the stitching...

Hard call, on if you could use the bridle stuff... I myself wouldnt due to the fact I am not sure what effect it will have on the leather... will it make the leather harder yet smoother? will it crack the leather, eat the stiching... will it make the leather too slippery... etc...

You could always try it on a small section of leather... maybe the back seat and see what happens

 

I've used the McGuires gold cleaner and aloe conditioner and they have worked well to get out oily stains from the private delivery company of my MCS. They have seemed to work great so far! And they are about $8 a bottle.

Bryan

 

"Leather having once been used to keep the insides of a cow from falling out was designed to pass moisture through tiny pores. These tiny pores absorb human perspiration and as the water evaporates, salts contained therein remain to absorb the essential oils in the leather. This accumulation of salts and other grunge should be cleaned from the leather about twice a year (more often if the seats get more than their fair share of your leftover sweat). The loss of oils within the leather is the first step to hardening, cracking and shrinkage. Leather dashes are very prone to this problem. Your dash is subjected to the destructive UV rays and heat concentrated by the windshield. The leather (or vinyl) of your dash rests upon a metal backing that acts like a frying pan. This "frying" drives the essential oils from the leather causing premature shrinkage, cracking and hardening. Thus a dash should be treated more often than the seats or door panels.

Cleaning leather may be accomplished by using a mild soap and water, or specifically designed leather cleaner. Of all the products I have tried, I still like Lexol pH Cleaner. It is pH balanced, and gentle. All cleaners will rehydrate the leftover salts and grime and wash them from the leather fibers. Use only leather products on leather, do not use vinyl cleaners, as these products tend to be much harsher and may not be that beneficial to the leather. Any cleaner should be rinsed thoroughly from the leather. I have tried spraying off with a hose, but that just seemed to fill the car with soapy water (a hole drilled in the floor was needed to drain it out - just kidding). I went back to using a damp cloth and repeatedly wiping down the leather. Once the leather is clean, a conditioner should be used to restore lost oils and emollients. Envision leather as a sponge. When the leather is new, the "sponge" is full of oil and soft and pliable. Body salts, UV, heat and other factors drive the oil from the "sponge", allowing the leather to shrink and become brittle. A quality leather conditioner will help maintain the oil in the leather. There are several conditioners on the market. My favorite over the years is Lexol Leather Conditioner. It seems to be the most easily absorbed into the leather fibers and tends to leave a relatively less "greasy" finish than any of the other products I have tried. Another good product is Connolly Hide Food. This product is made from rendered animal parts and will turn rancid in about two years. This and the distinctive "cow" smell removes it from my top two list (I spent too much time milking the south end of a north pointing cow, so am not a fan of cow smells). Zymol makes a product called "Leather Treat". It does not, in my humble opinion, do any better job than the much less expensive Lexol. One Grand Leather Conditioner is a petroleum-based conditioner that seems to work better on the American and Japanese leathers. Again, do not use a vinyl product as a conditioner on leather and above all try to avoid raw silicone oil based products. The silicone oil will dissolve out the leather's natural oils and tend to make the leather sticky. Silicone oil has a very high electrostatic attraction, so will invite every dust particle within miles to set up camp in your interior. Apply the conditioner to a soft cloth and work into the leather, allow to be absorbed into the fibers and then buff off the excess. You may condition the leather as often as you wish. As a rule, condition your leather 3 to 4 times a year. The leather will tell you if you apply too much or apply to often. The leather fibers will just not absorb the excess."

Full article: Leather Care