Leather Treatments
Discussion
I have used Autoglym leather treatment on my Chimera seats, it gives mild cleaning action and seems to 'feed' the leather.
For really dirty leather on my everyday car I also used their leather cleaner, a mixture of surfactants claimed to be kind to leather. With the aid of a soft brush this really cleaned the seats up like new. Then finished off with the leather treatment to keep them supple.
Andrew
For really dirty leather on my everyday car I also used their leather cleaner, a mixture of surfactants claimed to be kind to leather. With the aid of a soft brush this really cleaned the seats up like new. Then finished off with the leather treatment to keep them supple.
Andrew
I have heard that using very very very hot water with a very mild detergent (e.g. the stuff used for hand washing delicates/woollens) works very well. You have to wear some pretty heavy duty gloves and then go with the hottest water you can bear. Don't soak the leather but give it a damn good wipe over.
Very important to feed after it has dried to replace the oils you will have removed.
I am about to try this and will post results. All the leather cleaners I have tried are ok, but don't remove deep dirt. They seem to be more of a feed than a cleaner.
Very important to feed after it has dried to replace the oils you will have removed.
I am about to try this and will post results. All the leather cleaners I have tried are ok, but don't remove deep dirt. They seem to be more of a feed than a cleaner.
That's your perrogative.
If leather is dirty you need to remove the dirt then feed. Removing the dirt means lifting it from the surface and absorbing it into a cloth.
The hot water and detergent method works by effectively disolving the dirt. Leather cleaners do the same thing, but less effectively. I find all they do is at best move the dirt around and leave it smelling better.
I haven't tried the method yet, but it was a tip passed on by a leather cleaning specialist.
I wouldn't condemn the method out of hand just because you don't like the thought of hot water and leather being brought together. This is treated leather we are taking about, not nubuck or suede which might be left with water marks.
I enjoy spending £££s on car care producs for my car, believing I am doing the best for it (I have spent a lot of money on Zymol for example), but I do expect the products to work. The leather cleaners I have tried have been pretty poor at cleaning. Excellent at feeding, but rubbish at cleaning.
I'm prepared to give this a go and as I said, I'll post the results. Why not save your comments for when I post - 'tried it and I now have no finish left on my seats?'.
Anyway, must go - off to hose the car down with neat bleach
If leather is dirty you need to remove the dirt then feed. Removing the dirt means lifting it from the surface and absorbing it into a cloth.
The hot water and detergent method works by effectively disolving the dirt. Leather cleaners do the same thing, but less effectively. I find all they do is at best move the dirt around and leave it smelling better.
I haven't tried the method yet, but it was a tip passed on by a leather cleaning specialist.
I wouldn't condemn the method out of hand just because you don't like the thought of hot water and leather being brought together. This is treated leather we are taking about, not nubuck or suede which might be left with water marks.
I enjoy spending £££s on car care producs for my car, believing I am doing the best for it (I have spent a lot of money on Zymol for example), but I do expect the products to work. The leather cleaners I have tried have been pretty poor at cleaning. Excellent at feeding, but rubbish at cleaning.
I'm prepared to give this a go and as I said, I'll post the results. Why not save your comments for when I post - 'tried it and I now have no finish left on my seats?'.
Anyway, must go - off to hose the car down with neat bleach
Griff2B. I read the method you recommend on this forum last year and gave it a go. It did clean the leather very well. I did have problems in finding the soap flakes though, only Tesco had them at the time!!
The problem I have now is getting some decent colour back into the magnolia colour leather where it has been scratched. Anybody got any ideas?
The problem I have now is getting some decent colour back into the magnolia colour leather where it has been scratched. Anybody got any ideas?
Can't help with the connolisation but I would like to endorse Griff2be's recommendations - they're EXACTLY those used by my local professional leather restorer who, by the way, does all the work in the area for RR & Bentley. Must be pure soap ( Lux etc) not detergent.
He did my restored my Alfas upholstery to as new.
Graham
He did my restored my Alfas upholstery to as new.
Graham
Thanks for the vote of confidence Jack and Graham.
Although as the missus is a keen horse woman (as in fanatically keen as in owns two horses keen) I did consider getting her dressed in her best jodphurs/long leather boots and set her to work with the saddle soap
Unfortunately my enthusiasm for cleaning my leather has been overtaken by the need to fix my oil leak.
So many niggly little TVR jobs, so little time....
Although as the missus is a keen horse woman (as in fanatically keen as in owns two horses keen) I did consider getting her dressed in her best jodphurs/long leather boots and set her to work with the saddle soap
Unfortunately my enthusiasm for cleaning my leather has been overtaken by the need to fix my oil leak.
So many niggly little TVR jobs, so little time....
Try the www.swizol.com web site. I have not used them, but I did notice the other day they have a section about leather colouring.
David
>> Edited by david010167 on Friday 11th October 08:39
David
quote:
Griff2B. I read the method you recommend on this forum last year and gave it a go. It did clean the leather very well. I did have problems in finding the soap flakes though, only Tesco had them at the time!!
The problem I have now is getting some decent colour back into the magnolia colour leather where it has been scratched. Anybody got any ideas?
>> Edited by david010167 on Friday 11th October 08:39
griff2be said: I have heard that using very very very hot water with a very mild detergent (e.g. the stuff used for hand washing delicates/woollens) works very well. You have to wear some pretty heavy duty gloves and then go with the hottest water you can bear. Don't soak the leather but give it a damn good wipe over.
Very important to feed after it has dried to replace the oils you will have removed.
I am about to try this and will post results. All the leather cleaners I have tried are ok, but don't remove deep dirt. They seem to be more of a feed than a cleaner.
Tried it. It works. Firm wiping with damp vey hot soapy cloth followed by immediate wipe with a dry towel.
Does the leather appear to have suffered in any way shape or form. No. Not in the slightest.
Did the soapy water turn grey after a few minutes of cleaning. Yes.
Much more effective than the leather cleaners I have used before, and that I used after it had all thoroughly dried to feed the leather.
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