Cleaning Leather - Black Grime

[Grady]

I tried searching PH and got some idea but...

I have the biscuit colored door panels off while lubing the latches and windows. There is some serious black grime - the dust of ages - that has been ground into the leather. Any suggestion on how to get it off?

Mild household cleaners help a bit on the surface layer. Meguiar's leather cleaner (which has worked well before on seat faces) helps some. But most is still there - thankfully out of sight when re-assembled.

Thanks Grady

[Grady]

Non-abrasive shop hand cleaner and a very soft brush did a world of good.

[GV]

White spirit would be fine - not thinners. Soak your cloth and apply liberally. Before you do - test it on a hidden piece though the colour should not run. If it were vinyl - I would use thinners then rinse off with soapy water. I would also use a nail brush to get in the grainy bits and wash off with liberal amounts of soapy water.

Dry off with clean cloth and apply leather conditioner once dry.

[beacon]

If you are using an abrasive cleaner once your done you should feed the leather , if you leave it, it will dry out in patches ,nothing worse. I have a very light leather and if you treat it right it looks good and stays cleaner longer .

[Grady]

Non abrasive, followed by a damp wipe down of water and later some leather conditioner.

BTW - Doors now latch and open and close. Was only 22 year of dried grease in the way.

[adam quantrill]

The stuff that comes with the Woolies reconnelising kit is brilliant, but just seems to be a mild detergent and ammonia mix.

See here: http://www.woolies-trim.co.uk/pc-1738-117-leather-...

Edited by adam quantrill on Monday 14th January 10:42

[taimar78]

Grady,
After receiving my refinished woodwork for my 87 280i, I reinstalled the pieces on the door panels and also noticed some black marks on the red upholstery and didn't think they would come out. I got the leather cleaner out of my supplies and worked on it with a clean rag and it came right off. I followed that up with the Meguiar's Leather Treatment (or whatever it's called) and both door panels looked almost as good as new (well, the car is 20 years old).
Marshall

[TXcoyote]

Grady,

My buddy who owns an upholstery shop uses Tuff Stuff. It is a spray faom and then he works it in with a household sponge so it gets in the grain. Works great. BTW, the Wedges are definitely not leather according to him. They are a very high grade vinyl. Doesn't feel like leather in the summer with the heat.

[adam quantrill]

Ha! That depends on whether you went for the cheapskate option or the full leather (or, to be precise, the first owner who ordered the car). However I think all the seat facings are leather.

My 400SX has half and half, which is a real shame for what must have been a very expensive car in its time. So my only planned upgrade from non-original is to swap over to full leather. So far I have a dash and I've located some door skins, although a different colour. I'll reconnelise them first to get them tip-top.

[f799]

Saddle soap and a bit of elbow grease works a treat - really does come up like new

[TXcoyote]

[quote=adam quantrill]Ha! That depends on whether you went for the cheapskate option or the full leather (or, to be precise, the first owner who ordered the car). However I think all the seat facings are leather.

I don't think the US Cars had a leather option. Grady is a Yank as am I. You guys across the pond kept all the good stuff for yourselves!