How do I take care of new car leather interior?

Get G|Techniq L1 Leather Coating from Pak Shak. There is no product like this made by anyone else IMO. I put it on the new Ford. It adds a slight gloss similar to UIGP. It prevents dye transfer. It adds no greasy finish. Mrs. Old Tiger doesnt like any conditioners on her butt. She noticed I applied L1 only because I missed a spot and she noticed it was slightly more matte than the rest. The finished leather soaks this stuff like a sponge.
 
I've used a number of "leather" products over the years. I was quite blown away recently by Leatherique products on older leather seats. When I buy a new car again, I probably will use it for maintaining new leather.

Then again, Old Tiger and Cee Dog will probably have something better for me to try. :dblthumb2:
 
Kurt_s said:
I've used a number of "leather" products over the years. I was quite blown away recently by Leatherique products on older leather seats. When I buy a new car again, I probably will use it for maintaining new leather.

Then again, Old Tiger and Cee Dog will probably have something better for me to try. :dblthumb2:
Click to expand...
I think the G|Techniq L1 is the trick for new leather. I will apply it to the XLR too. Corey may be ready to chime in soon.
 
Leather does not require 'conditioning' with anything other than water.

Keep your leather clean by protecting it with a leather protector and then regular cleaning.
Adding 'conditioners' which generally contain oils and waxes will change the appearance of your leather over time as dirt will build up on the surface and cause a sheen.

Using the correct care methods and products will not alter the factory finish.

The type of leather you have is 'coated' leather. This is essentially a 'painted' leather with a clear coat finish over the top. The leather may or may not be dyed through with aniline dyes prior to the finish coating.

Essentially it is this top coating that needs looking after. Cleaning is vitally important as the top coat will wear away if allowed to become dirty. Dirt on the surface will also become ground into the finish by constant abrassion.

'Conditioners', balms, feeds etc (traditionally oil and wax based) cannot penetrate this finish so are not worth applying - they can also leave behind residues on the finish which will only attract more dirt if allowed to remain. 'Conditioners' will not do any protecting on leather even if they say they do as there will not be enough active ingredient in them to do anything.

A protector will make the finish easier to clean and also inhibit dye transfer etc on pale coloured leathers.

Leather however finished has to remain breathable and it will allow the movement of moisture back and forth (transpiration) so the use of water based cleaners and protectors will keep the leather correctly hydrated which is essentail to keeping it in good condition.

The routine for correct care should be
Protect from new
Maintain with a regular clean or maintenance product
Deep clean with a foam cleaner once or twice a year

Simple steps of cleaning & protecting will prolong the life of the finish on the leather

Hope this helps
 
judyb said:
Leather does not require 'conditioning' with anything other than water.

Keep your leather clean by protecting it with a leather protector and then regular cleaning.
Adding 'conditioners' which generally contain oils and waxes will change the appearance of your leather over time as dirt will build up on the surface and cause a sheen.

Using the correct care methods and products will not alter the factory finish.

The type of leather you have is 'coated' leather. This is essentially a 'painted' leather with a clear coat finish over the top. The leather may or may not be dyed through with aniline dyes prior to the finish coating.

Essentially it is this top coating that needs looking after. Cleaning is vitally important as the top coat will wear away if allowed to become dirty. Dirt on the surface will also become ground into the finish by constant abrassion.

'Conditioners', balms, feeds etc (traditionally oil and wax based) cannot penetrate this finish so are not worth applying - they can also leave behind residues on the finish which will only attract more dirt if allowed to remain. 'Conditioners' will not do any protecting on leather even if they say they do as there will not be enough active ingredient in them to do anything.

A protector will make the finish easier to clean and also inhibit dye transfer etc on pale coloured leathers.

Leather however finished has to remain breathable and it will allow the movement of moisture back and forth (transpiration) so the use of water based cleaners and protectors will keep the leather correctly hydrated which is essentail to keeping it in good condition.

The routine for correct care should be
Protect from new
Maintain with a regular clean or maintenance product
Deep clean with a foam cleaner once or twice a year

Simple steps of cleaning & protecting will prolong the life of the finish on the leather

Hope this helps
Click to expand...

True, Acura recommends using non-oil based leather cleaners/Protectants for our MDX. What do you think of 303 Aerospace Protectant or Klasse interior Cleaner/ Protectant on leather ?

Thanks for the great info!
 
While all the products mentioned are very good, I'd suggest hitting some of the Chevy forums to find out who make the leather. My wife has a Lexus ES350 and I found out thru the Lexus forums that the mfg for the leather makes the cleaner and conditioner for Lexus. From there it was a no-brainer. And they were relatively cheap too - like 13 bucks apiece.
 
CEE DOG said:
Verify it's finished Leather (I'd bet half my mf towels) Check by placing a drop of water on it and see that it doesn't absorb.
Assuming it is do the following:
1.-Clean your leather good with Ultima Interior Shampoo. You can wipe it down with water after but don't have to.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/product-reviews/31246-review-ultima-interior-shampoo-gel.html
2.-Allow to completely dry
3.-Apply Ultima Interior Guard and walk away. http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...3-review-ultima-interior-guard-plus-uigp.html
Every 2 or 3 months do these 3 steps again

Now that its properly cleaned and sealed
Heres the best thing you can do:
Wipedown with clean wet cloth or mf ever week or two or as often as you can. This will help to keep dirt from rubbing away at the protective finish over the years.
Click to expand...
If my car is new can i just apply Ultima Interior Guard Plus Leather Conditioner from the start. I will just use a damp mild soap and dry before .Is this ok?
 
Yes, if it is not soiled I would just use a mild interior cleaner and clean it or if you know for sure it has no sweat or anything on it then you could even wipe with warm water and a microfiber. If you use an interior cleaner other than usg I still like to wipe with a damp cloth and make sure completely dry before applying UIGP.
 
I used Lexol for years but I really like Optimum Protectant Plus now. In my mind it finishes better, slick but not slimy with a matte finish.
 
Read your owners manual.

From my Corvette owners manual.......

Leather
A soft cloth dampened with water may be used to
remove dust. If a more thorough cleaning is necessary,
a soft cloth dampened with a mild soap solution can
be used. Allow the leather to dry naturally. Do not
use heat to dry. Never use steam to clean leather.
Never use spot lifters or spot removers on leather.
Many commercial leather cleaners and coatings that are
sold to preserve and protect leather may permanently
change the appearance and feel of your leather and are
not recommended. Do not use silicone or wax-based
products, or those containing organic solvents to clean
your vehicle’s interior because they can alter the
appearance by increasing the gloss in a non-uniform
manner. Never use shoe polish on your leather
 
Waxy said:
Read your owners manual.

From my Corvette owners manual.......

Leather
A soft cloth dampened with water may be used to
remove dust. If a more thorough cleaning is necessary,
a soft cloth dampened with a mild soap solution can
be used. Allow the leather to dry naturally. Do not
use heat to dry. Never use steam to clean leather.
Never use spot lifters or spot removers on leather.
Many commercial leather cleaners and coatings that are
sold to preserve and protect leather may permanently
change the appearance and feel of your leather and are
not recommended. Do not use silicone or wax-based
products, or those containing organic solvents to clean
your vehicle’s interior because they can alter the
appearance by increasing the gloss in a non-uniform
manner. Never use shoe polish on your leather
Click to expand...



No shoe polish?!?!?!?

That was my trade secret!!!
 
BobbyG said:
Leather once we see it is cured, treated, died, and pretty much sealed against most common liquids. General cleaning with mild soap and water usually is enough and then top with a leather conditioner or protectant.

I've been using a product called Lexol for years with great success and another product I like is Meguiar's M40.
Click to expand...
I have a 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee with (so called) Nappa leather is this coated leather?
 
judyb said:
Leather does not require 'conditioning' with anything other than water.

Keep your leather clean by protecting it with a leather protector and then regular cleaning.
Adding 'conditioners' which generally contain oils and waxes will change the appearance of your leather over time as dirt will build up on the surface and cause a sheen.

Using the correct care methods and products will not alter the factory finish.

The type of leather you have is 'coated' leather. This is essentially a 'painted' leather with a clear coat finish over the top. The leather may or may not be dyed through with aniline dyes prior to the finish coating.

Essentially it is this top coating that needs looking after. Cleaning is vitally important as the top coat will wear away if allowed to become dirty. Dirt on the surface will also become ground into the finish by constant abrassion.

'Conditioners', balms, feeds etc (traditionally oil and wax based) cannot penetrate this finish so are not worth applying - they can also leave behind residues on the finish which will only attract more dirt if allowed to remain. 'Conditioners' will not do any protecting on leather even if they say they do as there will not be enough active ingredient in them to do anything.

A protector will make the finish easier to clean and also inhibit dye transfer etc on pale coloured leathers.

Leather however finished has to remain breathable and it will allow the movement of moisture back and forth (transpiration) so the use of water based cleaners and protectors will keep the leather correctly hydrated which is essentail to keeping it in good condition.

The routine for correct care should be
Protect from new
Maintain with a regular clean or maintenance product
Deep clean with a foam cleaner once or twice a year

Simple steps of cleaning & protecting will prolong the life of the finish on the leather

Hope this helps
Click to expand...

I bought judy's products and now use them exclusively. I think AG should look into becoming a distributor for atleast the leather protectant polymer coating and the maintenance spray.
 
Leatherique conditioned and cleaner. The only two things you will need! Let the conditioner soak in for 12 hours and then go over with the cleaner.

Thanks a lot,
George
 
Thanks mg6045 for your comments
We tested 303 a while back (we regularly test protectors for different people) and found that it did not work on leather - I think it is more of a fabric protector designed to coat fibres in the same way as a scotchgard product.
Quite happy to talk about distribution for the USA - getting lots of orders now from there so would be worth looking into.
We also now have a guaranteed protector against stains and dye transfer.

Hope this helps
Judyb
 
Judyb,
What about auto seats with perforated leather? Especially leather where the perforations allow forced air outflow from the air conditioner? Obviously I wouldn't want to clog those up. Would the method you mention, foaming cleaner followed by a protectant, be applicable in this case? If not, what's the best approach?
Thank you.
 
The products and method we use are absolutely fine on perforated seats. The products are quite light products compared to some 'conditioning creams' and so do not clog up the holes in any way as they would with a cream product.
Using a foam cleaner is far more beneficial for these than a liquid which would simply run through the holes!!
Hope this helps
Judyb
 
I am going to second the recommendation for UIGP. What I like about UIGP is it does not change the appearance of the leather.

Having read all of the comments above, I am going to say using something is better than using nothing. I have used a variety of different products, from Meguiars Leather cleaner and conditioner, to wolfgang and pinnacle leather conditioners, to now UIGP. My car is 6 years old, and while my seats do have some wear, they still look good. I have an RSX and have seen others with uncared for leather and they are horrific. So doing something is better than doing nothing at all no matter what you use.
 
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