Caring for leather.

OSI

What's the recommendation for caring for leather? Specifically Cream leather if it makes a difference.

I know that keeping it conditioned is important. So every time I wash the car, I run over the seats with this stuff:



But lately I've noticed the drivers seat is starting to show signs of wear. From a distance it looks fine, but it's starting to pull or even crack in places:








The door side bolster in particular is bad, and will need a repair at this stage as it's cracked, but it's the kind of thing I want to prevent happening to the rest of the seat:



So what's the recommendations for prolonging the life and wear of leather interiors?

I used that Meguiar's stuff and I didn't particularly care for it, to be honest.

I now use Autoglym's Leather Care Balm and Leather Cleaner (two separate products). Leaves my seats looking lovely and feeling softer (the softer thing could be a placebo effect, but I'm convinced they're softer!).


But they're not a miracle worker, either. The right side of my driver seat isn't in the best shape (as it obviously sees more wear than anywhere else, with the drivers ass sliding over it for the last ten years), but it looked a bit better after a bit of AutoGlym lovin'. Still obviously more worn, but it looks less so, now. More crisper and darker (my seats are black).

Again, though, not a miracle product.


EDIT: Halfords do both, and I think they're still doing 3 for 2, so you could get some Instant Tyre Shine or Rapid Detailer, too (two other great AutoGlym products in my opinion).

Curran

Dr. Leather is probably one of the best manufacturers of products

stimpson

Gliptone is worth a mention (if you like the smell). My seats were filthy when I got them. I got the kit with the cleaner and the conditioner. You wouldn't believe the muck that came off them. I did a second application if conditioner recently and the smell of stale tobacco is now gone. The seats do feel a lot softer. I use it on the steering wheel and gear knob too as it's not slippy. My leather iPhone case gets a rub too because I love the smell

dredg

LTT or Dr Leather.

Bespoke leathering for dyes, they're excellent for colour matching.

Layinghen

Highly recommend Gliptone cleaner and conditioner. The smell (to me) is fantastic. I have a classic Daimler and a modern Jag and everybody who gets into the cars says straight away "oh I love the smell of leather". The cleaner is fantastic - really lifts any grime that builds up on the seats.
I am convinced that the conditioner stops the 41 year old leather in the Daimler from cracking.

bmstuff

Many of the products mentioned are useless in modern cars.
Best care fot leather is water based cleaners. Water is the only molecule that can go through the protective coat of the seats and reach out the fibre to nourish it.
Commonly called conditionners are no use in car seats either. On other types of leather they are fine.
While many of the products mentionned will do a good job at cleaning they will not nourish the fibre
Use a heat gun to warm up the leather, that opens the pores, don't burn the area, then use plenty of warm water with ph neutral soap (palm oil based soap for example) by using a big sponge and massaging the surface to make a nice foam.
Rinse with clear water and a clean clothe, fibre clothe for example.
Then wipe dry with dry clean clothe
Finally protect your seats from further cracking with an anti UV cream specifically for this.

Repeat every 2-3 months depending on dirt/use.

now online

Hi

Tbh I don't know much about cars, but I do know for the past 8 years I've been cleaning my leather suites with 1 measure of fabric conditioner to a litre of warm water. I have 2 messy kids and 2 dogs and my couches are still in as new condition. Give it a try at least once!

tossy

Gliptone all the way. It's the only product i'd let near my leather seats.

stimpson

If you get the Gliptone kit it comes with a ph neutral cleaner. If use it over soap and water any day. It is water based.

MetzgerMeister

Here's what I do on my own car and customers' cars when it comes to leather:

- hoover
- use a steam cleaner with cotton bonnet to clean and open the pores
- quick dry
- apply a conditioner asap while the leather is still warm (i.e. when the pores are still open)
- wipe off any excess
- let that soak in and dry for at least a day
- On any light coloured leather I use Gtechniq (surprise surprise) L1. This stops dye transfer from the likes of jeans etc. and keeps a nice protective barrier against dirt which can just be wiped off without agitation.

Voodoomelon

Gliptone may work well, but Jesus the smell is awful. My mate uses it in his E39 and I find the smell nauseating.