Leather Interior Detailing

[Hardwrkr]

Just curious what everyone is using for cleaning/protecting the leather interior. The interior and exterior have been Pro-Tech treated also.

[Raider]

We use Meguiars Leather cleaner and conditioner. nice cream, goes on and does not stay all greasy like others do.

[jonny_sin]

I Actually Use Orange Shine In A Soft Bristle Brush And A Spray Bottle Full Of Water...my Seats Look Great And Still For The Usage Has Yet To Get A Wear Wrinkle

[Vance Kromo]

second raider that is the best stuff

[mikomi]

Cleaning
Tanner's Reserve Leather Cleaner

Conditioner
Tanner's Reserve Leather Conditioner

I used to use Meguiar's Leather Cleaner and Conditioner but it has a smell that I would describe as obnoxious and made me dizzy to the point that I wanted to throw up. Tanner's Preserve doesn't have the smell and it actually smells like leather, people commented on how the seats now feel like real leather seats and smell like real leather. I think it's better to have the cleaner and conditioner apart so you can actually lift the dirty particles off the leather before rubbing the conditioner in.

Pros: smells nice, no chemical-like smell; gives leather a non-shiny look that feels more natural; works awesome for anything leather
Cons: if you like the shiny leather look, this is not for you; more work doing the cleaning and conditioning in two steps.

[Cue]

Third Raider..... First time using that stuff a couple of weeks ago.... Great!!!

[Vance Kromo]

i got the black leather and it makes that sh#t look great

[mikomi]

Don't you guys get sick from the smell of the Meguiar's stuff? I use it still, but for my furniture because I can aerate the house and clear the noxious smell in a hurry. The smell is the only reason I went and got something else, it was making me feel sick. And people complained about it too. But otherwise, it does a good job.

[chanzant]

Does the meguiar's take out the stains in the leather? I have the tan leather and it seems as though my jeans bleed onto the leather. It now has a blue tint to it. :(

[mikomi]

Does the meguiar's take out the stains in the leather? I have the tan leather and it seems as though my jeans bleed onto the leather. It now has a blue tint to it. :(

Assuming your jeans were dry, then it's only a surface stain, you can gently scrub it off with leather cleaner. I recommend you should use a separate leather cleaner though.

[Vance Kromo]

i always put it on and leave and leave my windows down for a while, never drive right after i put it on. i have tried many things and by far it makes the leather look great and really cleans the hell out of the seat.

[HaynIlandboi808]

Don't you guys get sick from the smell of the Meguiar's stuff? I use it still, but for my furniture because I can aerate the house and clear the noxious smell in a hurry. The smell is the only reason I went and got something else, it was making me feel sick. And people complained about it too. But otherwise, it does a good job.

I use Meguiar's leather cleaner and conditioner..I actually like the smell. Makes my black leather nice and shiny.

[Hardwrkr]

Doing the interior this weekend finally (been a busy Spring). The leather isn't dirty and it was conditioned at the dealer prior to picking up the car (lifetime warranty on all interior pieces and exterior paint not to fade/crack). I'm just going to wait till the Meguiar's stuff goes on sale and then try it out.
Thanks :)

[sh3p]

My car is only 4 months old, but i figured id give it a seat clean, I used Meguiar's

I thought Id do some before an after shots

Before
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3233/2878594500_7ecd5ce3ed_o.jpg

After
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2186/2878594676_d9fe7f4d90_o.jpg

Before
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3290/2877760465_482a2e9ed3_o.jpg

After
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3215/2877768777_45a05d5f5e_o.jpg

the beast
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3162/2878594296_1e1df2be62_o.jpg

[Raider]

Nice results!

[ottoblotto]

the steering wheels on the wrong side! take it back... haw! old one but a goodie... black looks soo awsome. i havent tried the meguires on the inside yet, only for wax, but i do like the results outside. guess ill get that for the interior when i get home.

[Alpha Wolf]

I use Meguiar's leather cleaner and conditioner..I actually like the smell. Makes my black leather nice and shiny.

Same here...

[ppk88]

Hey Sh3p, you should have gone for the 'slimline' front plate, been using the Meguiars since new, quick and easy and good results.

[sh3p]

Hey Sh3p, you should have gone for the 'slimline' front plate, been using the Meguiars since new, quick and easy and good results.

Yeah would like slimlines however Vic Roads does not have them for the alphanumeric number plates

[ottoblotto]

do any of these cleaners not make the leather shine? i like the matte look myself.

[satz]

I use the Lexol cleaner and protectant (separate bottles).

Cleaner works reasonably well at removing stains. I'm not so sure about the protectant. Not a fan of its smell (and I use very little). Good thing is it doesn't make the leather glossy!!

Might try the Zaino which is supposed to give a leather smell. But here it's so da** expensive!

Satz

[satz]

btw
does anyone use the Zaino z10 "leather in a bottle', either on the CX7 or some other car?

I'm wondering what the smell is like. is it 'real' leather smell, like new lounge suites, or is like shoe polish?

thanks

S

[Cue]

I was walking around in WalMart one night during 'cleaning' hours (around 2am; 24hrs here), and the stuff they were using smelled EXACTLY like a brand new car... I wanted to ask the cleaner what he was using, but it would of been to wierd.

[ryoonc]

I use Meguiars, but I don't like it.. It makes the leather all glossy and smooth and slippery, personally I like the matte look, and the feel of actual leather. If you don't like glossy and slippery I wouldn't recommend Meguairs

[ottoblotto]

^^read that a bit too late... i got it and am not really diggin it at all. i dont like the shine or slip one bit. wife likes it though so she can have it for her car...

[ma"zoom"da]

I have black leather, haven't used the stuff otto talked about yet, but i've always used armour all leather wipes, their quick and easy and not at all messy

[Tex]

btw
does anyone use the Zaino z10 "leather in a bottle', either on the CX7 or some other car?

I'm wondering what the smell is like. is it 'real' leather smell, like new lounge suites, or is like shoe polish?

thanks

S

I swear by all the Zaino products, and I use Z10 for my CX-7 leather seats. I'd describe the smell as a combination of "real" leather and light sun tan lotion. That makes sense, considering it contains a healthy amount of UV protection. Don't worry, it's a really good smell -- not hokey or pretentious like a lot of car product scents. As weird as it sounds, I think the freshness of the slight sun tan lotion scent actually makes it work.

My car is almost three years old, and people often ask how it still smells so new. It's the Z10 they're smelling. :cool:

[ma"zoom"da]

I also like to use Black Magic products they always have that distinct black cherry smell. Although i'm not sure if they make a leather cleaner, they probably do, they make everything else

[Black(M)]

So my ride now has the leather wrapped(aftermarket)

Since it's still new (clean?) is cleaner necessary before the conditioner? Heck is conditioner needed at this point?

I have leftover meguiars cleaner, conditioner from my last car.

Or should i go protectant, like 303?

[mikomi]

I also like to use Black Magic products they always have that distinct black cherry smell. Although i'm not sure if they make a leather cleaner, they probably do, they make everything else

They have a 2-in-1, but it's not really that good once you use those leather cleaning kits where you have the cleaner and leather separate. You're essentially rubbing the dirt back into the leather with those 2-in-1. And I just started using Zymol, it's really good stuff.


So my ride now has the leather wrapped(aftermarket)

Since it's still new (clean?) is cleaner necessary before the conditioner? Heck is conditioner needed at this point?

I have leftover meguiars cleaner, conditioner from my last car.

Or should i go protectant, like 303?


Don't put protectant. That's really bad for leather in the long term.

You shouldn't have to put conditioner, but you might, who knows how long the leather has been lying around for, you should clean and condition it just to be safe.

[Black(M)]

Don't put protectant. That's really bad for leather in the long term.

You shouldn't have to put conditioner, but you might, who knows how long the leather has been lying around for, you should clean and condition it just to be safe.

Ok, thanks!

[ryoonc]

I now use Zymol cleaner and conditioner, and I couldn't stop using the cleaner because it made my leather seats smell so deliciously new! After I had finished the two step process (which nearly gave me a heat stroke during midday @ 95 degree temps), which took close to 2 hours (I do a very VERY thorough job), it smelled and felt like new.

However the front seats still felt pretty grainy using the palm on my hand, but rubbing it with the back of my arms it felt pretty nice and smooth, much more comfortable than the condition they were in (sun-soaked and dry).

Matte look, smooth to the touch, and smells like new leather... Look for it at your local Target

[mikomi]

I now use Zymol cleaner and conditioner, and I couldn't stop using the cleaner because it made my leather seats smell so deliciously new! After I had finished the two step process (which nearly gave me a heat stroke during midday @ 95 degree temps), which took close to 2 hours (I do a very VERY thorough job), it smelled and felt like new.

However the front seats still felt pretty grainy using the palm on my hand, but rubbing it with the back of my arms it felt pretty nice and smooth, much more comfortable than the condition they were in (sun-soaked and dry).

Matte look, smooth to the touch, and smells like new leather... Look for it at your local Target

+1

I totally agree, I love the matte/textured feel that the Zymol left behind. Other stuff makes things shiny and rubbery. I used to use another brand, also did a good matte job, but zymol was even better.


If you want to do a more thorough job, I use a plain Dove soap to clean the leather first.