Leather care

Shane732

As I sit here in my car (with new contact lens in) I notice that the leather is getting slighty dirty. I haven't given it a good cleaning in about 6 months.

Anyway I'm wondering what do you guys normally use to clean the leather? Do you go for halfords products like turtle wax etc... Or do you buyore specialised products like dodo interior stuff or maybe zymbol?

I normally buy pretty standard stuff but I'm in the mood for going nuts this time.... Any ideas??

Cheers

Padraig Mor

Gliptone Liquid Leather - your only man.

Andrew33

Shane732 wrote: »

As I sit here in my car (with new contact lens in) I notice that the leather is getting slighty dirty. I haven't given it a good cleaning in about 6 months.

Anyway I'm wondering what do you guys normally use to clean the leather? Do you go for halfords products like turtle wax etc... Or do you buyore specialised products like dodo interior stuff or maybe zymbol?

I normally buy pretty standard stuff but I'm in the mood for going nuts this time.... Any ideas??

Cheers

Stay well clear of all the "special" leather cleaners, they usually have quite an unpleasant smell, I've a leather(original factory fit) interior in my car and for the last four years all I've used are Johnsons Baby Wipes, If they're good enough for a babys arse, then they're good enough for my leather seats! And they leave a pleasant smell.

Neilw

Padraig Mor wrote: »

Gliptone Liquid Leather - your only man.

Yes, gliptone is very good and leaves the leather with a nice matt finish.
Get the gliptone gentle leather cleaner spray. Spray onto the leather and work in with a soft bristle brush, wipe off dirt with a damp terry cloth or microbibre towel.

Cyrus

Andrew33 wrote: »

Stay well clear of all the "special" leather cleaners, they usually have quite an unpleasant smell, I've a leather(original factory fit) interior in my car and for the last four years all I've used are Johnsons Baby Wipes, If they're good enough for a babys arse, then they're good enough for my leather seats! And they leave a pleasant smell.

is a babys arse leather ?

Use gliptone, cleaner and conditioner

Cookie_Monster

Cyrus wrote: »

is a babys arse leather ?

Use gliptone, cleaner and conditioner

will this get rid of heavy marks or would you need something more heavy duty.
I've got cream leather and there are a few black streaks developing on the side of the seat from getting in and out.

Andrew33

Cyrus wrote: »

is a babys arse leather ?

Use gliptone, cleaner and conditioner

Actually, if the babys arse was treated properly it COULD be leather.
Leather is only tanned skin ( and I don't mean tanned as in sun tanned)
Baby wipes are gentle enough not to harm skin yet strong enough to wipe **** off(and they moisturise the leather, keeping it supple). And they cost a FRACTION of the price of so called "specialist" cleaners.
OP should buy a pack of baby wipes and try them before he forks out a wad for the other stuff.

MetzgerMeister

If you want a specialist leather cleaner, get Meguiar's. This has a very pleasent smell. Also, try Meguiar's leather conditioner. Apply this after using the cleaner and you'll have lovely, fragranced seats

Neilw

einheisserschre wrote: »

If you want a specialist leather cleaner, get Meguiar's. This has a very pleasent smell. Also, try Meguiar's leather conditioner. Apply this after using the cleaner and you'll have lovely, fragranced seats

Gliptone is better then meguiars.

Just for reference, someone mentioned zymol. The zymol available in halfords is made by turtle wax :rolleyes:

MetzgerMeister

Neilw wrote: »

Gliptone is better then meguiars.

Not in my experience

Cyrus

Andrew33 wrote: »

Actually, if the babys arse was treated properly it COULD be leather.
Leather is only tanned skin ( and I don't mean tanned as in sun tanned)
Baby wipes are gentle enough not to harm skin yet strong enough to wipe **** off(and they moisturise the leather, keeping it supple). And they cost a FRACTION of the price of so called "specialist" cleaners.
OP should buy a pack of baby wipes and try them before he forks out a wad for the other stuff.

baby wipes probably work well to clean because they are so full of alcohol based cleaners, which instead of moisturising leather seats actually drys them out,

by all means continue to use them, but dont think you are doing the leather any good, it may well clean the seats but it wont perserve the suppleness of the leather

Shane732

Neilw wrote: »

Gliptone is better then meguiars.

Just for reference, someone mentioned zymol. The zymol available in halfords is made by turtle wax :rolleyes:

God I never knew turtle wax and zymol were the same. So turtle wax really make this stuff? Pricing themselves a bit out of the market aren't they!

Ok so you guys either use Meguiars or Gliptone, where do you normally buy them from? I'm looking at a website monzacarcare.com that I'm think about buying from.... The only problem is that I could nearly spend the price of a new car buying stuff that I think I "need"!!

Neilw

Neilw wrote: »

Just for reference, someone mentioned zymol. The zymol available in halfords is made by turtle wax :rolleyes:

Shane732 wrote: »

God I never knew turtle wax and zymol were the same. So turtle wax really make this stuff? Pricing themselves a bit out of the market aren't they!

Did you even read my original post :rolleyes:

TomMc

Turtle wax and Zymol are two completely different companies. Zymol got TW to make a few cheap and cheerful products for the lower end of the market as mass manufacturing or bottling of products is more TW's area of expertise. Cleaner wax, shampoo, leather stuff. Think of it more like Fiat been better at building a small car than Mercedes ever could for a budget price.

Neilw

TomMc wrote: »

Turtle wax and Zymol are two completely different companies. Zymol got TW to make a few cheap and cheerful products for the lower end of the market as mass manufacturing or bottling of products is more TW's area of expertise. Cleaner wax, shampoo, leather stuff.

That's exactly what I said, the zymol halfords sell which is the cleaner wax is made by turtle wax.

TomMc

I know that, just that someone took you up wrong.

Been honest though, it is easy to be snobbish and look down on TW, but some of their products are quite good, in the right hands of course. Many upmarket or high end products are manufactured by other companies who are relatively unknown in brand name terms. And just like OEM car parts, put a certain manufacturers logo or brand on the box and double the price.

VolvoMan

Whatever you do, avoid Autoglym. Useless stuff.

mondeoman2

VolvoMan wrote: »

Whatever you do, avoid Autoglym. Useless stuff.

Thats what i use:(,i found it ok apart from the weird smell:)

Neilw

TomMc wrote: »

I know that, just that someone took you up wrong.

Been honest though, it is easy to be snobbish and look down on TW, but some of their products are quite good, in the right hands of course. Many upmarket or high end products are manufactured by other companies who are relatively unknown in brand name terms. And just like OEM car parts, put a certain manufacturers logo or brand on the box and double the price.

All I've ever tried from them is bumper restorer and the zymol cleaner wax and they are both rubbish. Durability is terrible.
For little more then the cost of halfords stocked brands you could pick up some collinite wax which is excellent and lasts weeks.

VolvoMan wrote: »

Whatever you do, avoid Autoglym. Useless stuff.

Some of their stuff is good, car glass polish is good and the hand applicators are handy (pardon the pun ) for cleaning the inside of windscreens.

VolvoMan

mondeoman2 wrote: »

Thats what i use:(,i found it ok apart from the weird smell:)

Neilw wrote: »

Some of their stuff is good, car glass polish is good and the hand applicators are handy (pardon the pun ) for cleaning the inside of windscreens.

To be honest, their leather cleaner really is the worst product I've ever used. The leather looked no different after applying it and I found it also leaves a terrible smell on your hands afterwards, as well as your leather.

TomMc

Neilw wrote: »

All I've ever tried from them is bumper restorer and the zymol cleaner wax and they are both rubbish. Durability is terrible.
For little more then the cost of halfords stocked brands you could pick up some collinite wax which is excellent and lasts weeks.

Most cheap bumper restorer products are full of silicone. To dismiss all of a companies products outright, based on your own personal experience of just one, out of dozens is hardly objective.

The job of a cleaner wax is to clean and protect. All Collinite's best waxes have no cleaners so will protect far longer. They only have to do one job, not two. But to dismiss a cleaner wax for its poor durability, would be akin to knocking a sealing wax because it doesn't clean. Zymol's cleaner wax will stain trim and can be quite dusty. But then those drawbacks tend to be greatly increased as a result of poor application methods. TW's platinum waxes and sealants are significantly better.

tossy

Gliptone cleaner and conditioner all the way,baby wipes may clean but the certainly don't condition(feed) the leather.

here's some pics of my 7 year old leather seats been treated with Gliptone since day one.. (not the best pics but you can get a feel forr the condition of the leather) i also use gliptone on the gear and handbrake gators and the steering wheel

rebel.ranter

Another vote for Gliptone Liquid Leather. I buy mine from
http://www.liquidleather.com

I also get the waterproof version for my convertible. Both products seem to do a decent job for the money as far as I can see.

On the Zymol/Turtle wax issue, the way the world works now so much is outsourced that it is difficult to know who makes anything any more. I'll bet that Turtle wax have subcontracted the chemical works out with another subcontract to manufacture packaging & yet another subcontractor to do the marketing who in turn hires other companies to produce advertising & deliver to the stores. The final link in the chain is the retailer, so who are you really buying the product from?
The story is no different for many other car care products possibly withe the exception of those that charge really premium prices for their products, by premium I don't mean €50 a tin either.

TomMc

While they are a U.S. company, most of their products sold in Europe are manufactured in England. A lot of U.S. companies also form Dutch based offshoots with Rotterdam been the main shipping port in Europe.

Shane732

tossy wrote: »

Wow those seats look like new for a 7 year old car! I think that's convinced me on the gliptone!

I used to use Autoglym - leaves an absolutely horrible smell on your hands and the leather nearly looks worse after using it!!

brian.h

Glyptone is very good at leaving the leather soft and giving it its original look, not shiny like mst other brands.I have some in stock if anybody wants them.Cleaner and conditioner for €17. Thats probably cheaper than your your halfords brands.
Im in dublin so pm me if you would like some.

Pipsie Pie

Hi,

Just looking for some advice! I have just purchased a new car, its an Audi and has black leather seats with suede centers.... Any advice/products for keeping the suede clean or protecting it?

Thanks!

Andrew33

Pipsie Pie wrote: »

Hi,

Just looking for some advice! I have just purchased a new car, its an Audi and has black leather seats with suede centers.... Any advice/products for keeping the suede clean or protecting it?

Thanks!

I could be wrong but that might be Alcantara which is an artificial suede so be careful what you use to clean it. good luck with your new car!