Leather care

[T40ORA]

I've spoken personally to one reputable trimmer, and seen a report by another, where leather cleaners and conditioners/preservers have been discussed.

Both said that there is no need to use any soecial products on leather; water and soap, and maybe a medium scrubbing brush, to clean. But don't bother spending a fortune on conditioners as they do no good.

The reason for this is that the leather is coated and the surface is not permeable to the conditioner oils - so they don't soak and just wipe off.

Any sensible, informed comments much appreciated; any trimmers on here who either agree or disagree, or any first hand experience of conditioning vs not conditioning.

BTW I'm not talking about liquid-leather products to repair cracked leather, just the stuff you would use every week/month/quarter to mainting good leather.

[pornsorted2]

On the Griff if I coat the seats in leather conditioner and come back after half an hour most of it has been absorbed and the seats feel softer.

On my Laguna's leather seats it just sits there all day and you can wipe it off

The Laguna's leather does seem to have a transparent coating of some sort on and given it gets used daily and is subject to all sorts of abuse and an 18 month old it still looks like new. The Griff's looks and feels like a lot better quality leather though

Read through www.liquidleather.com site and it suggests there are various different leather coatings

[Cactussed]

Am about to buy a car with black leather which has become shiny over the years.
Will a good clean and condition with the liquid leather products return its matt/satin finish or do you think it will remain shiny?

[belleair302]

All leather needs conditioning and with car interiors taking a beating from sweat, airborne dirt and clothes you will need to keep it clean. Best products are Gliptone for cleaning and conditioning or look at the below website.

http://www.theleathercare.co.uk/conditioning.html

[TaylotS2K]

I use Gliptone leather cleaner and conditioner on my seats and it does a great job. Definitely recommend the stuff.

[hutchingsp]

The Gliptone cleaner/conditioner is very good stuff IMO. I've read the same things so far as the plastic coatings on most new leathers, all I know is that on my six month old Porsche if I apply the conditioner to the leather and then leave it overnight when I come to the car in the morning the seats are dry and matte whilst any conditioner that I've managed to get on the centre console/door trims is still there, which suggests to me it's being absorbed by the <whatever> on the seat surface but not by the "normal" plastic trim.

[RMC Bodyworks]

back in the dark ages (having had a proper apprentaship)as part of my apprentaship i was trained in the art of leather dyeing connolly who were the dogs at the time had a leather cream called leafood if you can get hold of some it will make your seats nice & flexible & stop them cracking otherwise your seats will end up a bit like a pair of unpolished shoes

[crankedup]

It seems that at the 'rep mobile' end of the market the leather is coated with some sort of silicone product, whilst at the quality end or vintage market the leather is an altogether higher quality material which requires care and attention. I use Gliptone (liquid leather) and have done so for years with excellant results.

[ukwill]

Lexol. Love it.