Leather seat care
Discussion
I've been looking into this recently due to buying a new car with very light coloured leather.
Modern car leather seems to bear a closer resemblance to the paint on the outside of the car than to trad leather on older cars and furniture.
In other words it is topped with a clearcoat. So you are not really looking after the leather - you are looking after the clearcoat. Two different things.
So talk of 'feeding' or 'conditioning' doesn't really apply. In fact some say that after cleaning, these follow up treatments just sit on the surface and attract dirt. There is still a bit of a debate about this.
After a bit of reading I am going to be using a damp microfiber in the first instance and Dr Leather cleaning wipes if that doesn't clean enough. I have put Gtechniq L1 on in places that will get high wear. The L1 is a bit of a leap of faith as it is not clear what in earth it is doing as it goes on so thinly. The surfaces do feel slightly slicker where I have put it on. I suppose time will tell.
Modern car leather seems to bear a closer resemblance to the paint on the outside of the car than to trad leather on older cars and furniture.
In other words it is topped with a clearcoat. So you are not really looking after the leather - you are looking after the clearcoat. Two different things.
So talk of 'feeding' or 'conditioning' doesn't really apply. In fact some say that after cleaning, these follow up treatments just sit on the surface and attract dirt. There is still a bit of a debate about this.
After a bit of reading I am going to be using a damp microfiber in the first instance and Dr Leather cleaning wipes if that doesn't clean enough. I have put Gtechniq L1 on in places that will get high wear. The L1 is a bit of a leap of faith as it is not clear what in earth it is doing as it goes on so thinly. The surfaces do feel slightly slicker where I have put it on. I suppose time will tell.
I would suggest that at 1999, you may well be looking at the more modern, coated and sealed leather and therefore the "moisturiser" and "feed" will just sit on the surface. A thorough clean on a regular basis using a proprietary leather cleaner is very much recommended to remove surface contamination and retain suppleness.
May be worthwhile looking into products from Furniture Clinic - www.furnitureclinic.co.uk
Despite numerous recent claims to the contrary, please do not use a Magic Sponge or suchlike on your leather. Basic premise being that if it is bad for your skin, it will be bad for your leather!
Rich
Professional Valeters and Detailers Trade Association
May be worthwhile looking into products from Furniture Clinic - www.furnitureclinic.co.uk
Despite numerous recent claims to the contrary, please do not use a Magic Sponge or suchlike on your leather. Basic premise being that if it is bad for your skin, it will be bad for your leather!
Rich
Professional Valeters and Detailers Trade Association
I hear what people are saying about coated/sealed leather but frankly having applied GlipTone conditioner to the 'modern' leather in all my recent cars it certainly hasn't sat on the surface. it permeates wonderfully and the leather takes on a much more supple and soft texture, dramatically so in fact.
This is of course after cleaning.
This is of course after cleaning.
DoubleSix said:
I hear what people are saying about coated/sealed leather but frankly having applied GlipTone conditioner to the 'modern' leather in all my recent cars it certainly hasn't sat on the surface. it permeates wonderfully and the leather takes on a much more supple and soft texture, dramatically so in fact.
This is of course after cleaning.
This is why it seems to be a matter of some debate. Some say follow-up stuff sits on the surface and others say it does get through the coating somehow and does something useful. I personally don't know and if something works, who cares This is of course after cleaning.
I rebuilt and recoloured a set of seats from an E30 M3 recently with a Furniture Clinic kit. The leather really was dried out in places and like cardboard. Using FC's products did help soften the leather, but not dramatically so. The biggest difference came when I had them all apart and could apply some to the back of the leather. Then the difference was night and day.
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