Sorry if this has been addressed; I searched all of Detail 101 and couldn't find it.

Have "new" 2012 BRG Clubman S with leather interior. I HATE leather conditioning. No matter how well you wipe it off, you slide around on the seat for months, and it just ruins my good clothes.

Do want to condition the leather. Had a 14 y/o leather seats Mustang Cobra, and the leather never split on me, but definite sun damage and snack stains. The leather was black, so I didn't care.

My MINI has tan leather; every little thing is going to show. Is there any product for leather conditioning (right now, seats are clean) that isn't greasy? Or am I going to have to live with bungeeing a towel on it for a month or so just to keep it conditioned???

Thanks in advance. My husband keeps bugging me about it, but he doesn't have to sit in the seats and slide around...

 

What product are you using.

 

I have an 07-S with tan leather

It is my daily driver - and the interior is CLEAN

I don't slide - there are no cracks - I live in FL and the car has the sunroof (aka the seats see plenty of sun)

HINT ONE - if you can't keep it CLEAN you bought the wrong interior ... I clean with a soft cloth, warm water and saddle soap when it picks up some dirt (working at the zoo, this CAN happen)

HINT TWO - I use Meguires leather treatment 2 or 3 times a year - following the instructions carefully

 

After reading rave reviews about Leatherique, I bought a small container of both the cleaner and the oil. While it's a bit expensive and it takes a while to soak in (took a couple of mild hot San Diego days here) my tan leather seats looked brand new after I applied it. Takes a little bit of work, and it's kinda messy, but the results speak volumes. Instructions say do it once every 6 months, with incremental cleanings in between, and that's my plans. With that said, there is a slight gloss/slip, but it goes away so quickly, and my co-pilot didn't notice anything on her clothes after sitting in the seat after application (she would definitely had said something).

Prima Nourish is a cheaper leather cleaner/conditioner which is advertised as non-glossy/slip but I found it to not be as good as Leatherique and just as semi-glossy.

I've also used Meguiar's cleaner/conditioner, and, in my opinion, it's not in the same class, but good if you need something in a pinch.

With all of that said, the Leatherique guys recommend against saddle soap, for whatever reason. They seem like pros, so I thought I'd pass that on.

 

Thanks, everyone for the replies. I haven't been using any leather products for over ten years, and my husband didn't remember what he did use before I wouldn't lent him. Don't know which we'll use yet, but when we do, I'll let you know the results. This is such. A great forum!!!!

 

Thanks, everyone for the replies. I haven't been using any leather products for over ten years, and my husband didn't remember what he did use before I wouldn't let him. Don't know which we'll use yet, but when we do, I'll let you know the results. This is such. A great forum!!!!

 

Leatherique

 

Another Leatherique oil vote from me. I've used it on both my previous cars with tan interiors, and it's great stuff. Will restore hardened stiff leather to softness, and keeps good condition leather that way. My process is gentle cleaning (with a cleaner spray like Lexol and soft towel), then park the car in the sun and rub Leatherique oil all over the leather. Leave it a few hours to soak in, then rub vigorously to remove any excess and leave a couple more hours in the sun. Then you're good to go.

 

It's good stuff. I have used all of their products refinishing a Jaguar interior with outstanding results.

I still use the cleaner and reconditioner on my motorcycle seat and Armada interior.

 

My favorite over the counter products are still lexol and zymol. I wouldn't use lexol for anything but dark or black leather since it can darken the color. Leatherique is great but takes a lot of work and is best for those that have multiple cars in the house (unlike me as a city dweller) and can let the product sit and be worked/absorbed into the leather if you can afford to not use the car.

I never liked Meguiars leather products due to the sheen and slipperiness they leave behind. Most one-step cleaner/conditioners suffer from this. My favorite one step leather products are 1z einszett's leather care and pinnacle leather cleaner and conditioner. Both are great in a pinch but don't leave the leather feeling as clean as the 2 step process.

Griots isn't bad but really needs to be worked into the leather for a long time otherwise it is very greasy. Prima nourish has a similar issue.

 

p.s.

I have tan leather in my TV room too - 3 position couch and 2 position love seat - all Lazy' boy recliner . . . I clean them the same way .. even with the dog . . .

and I love Zymol products .... but have not used them for my leather cuz I have not been searching for something new. If I WAS, I'd look here cuz I luv their vinyl product.

 

+1 for Leatheriqre. I once bought a pair of leather seats for a Miata that had been sitting in a junkyard for years without a top. They were hard as a rock. About a week steaming them in plastic bags with that stuff and they came right back. I think it's made of unicorn sweat.

 

+1 on Leatherique as well. I used to use Meguiars' leather conditioner, which worked pretty OK for cleaning the leather, but it doesn't do much for moisturising the leather.

The Leatherique on the other hand is definitely more work, but the results are definitel worth it.