Help! OPC stained my leather!

I agree, you can't tell if it's damaged just by looking at a picture. Yes, the spots do look odd, but the OP needs to go back and deep clean with OPC. I use OPC undiluted on soiled leather, it makes quick work of it.
 
judyb said:
If it has been taken that I was referring to OPC in particular then I apologise - I was trying to help by giving advice from our extensive experience in the leather cleaning industry where we have seen this problem caused by many different products (including some leather cleaners). As I have said every cleaning job is different and every piece of leather is different but where we have come across this problem previously (the brightening of one area of finish) we have found no other way of solving it other than recolouring/refinishing.
This thread was not meant to maligne other people's products I merely try to offer my help and experience to people that are having problems - something I do every day in my work as a consultant.
Cheers
Judyb
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How are you so sure that this is irreversible damage from looking at a picture ?

and I'll ask again if you have any experience with Optimum Power Clean ? Because from reading your's and Rogers posts its seems as if you guys are assuming that OPC is an alkaline based cleaner. From what I understand OPC is not alkaline based.
 
mg6045 said:
How are you so sure that this is irreversible damage from looking at a picture ?

and I'll ask again if you have any experience with Optimum Power Clean ? Because from reading your's and Rogers posts its seems as if you guys are ASSUMING that OPC is an alkaline based cleaner. You do realize that OPC is NOT alkaline based, correct ?
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I think OPC does have an alkaline pH, but that still doesn't mean it damaged the leather. Just letting you know. ;)
 
How is this irreversible damage?? You can plainly see that his second attempt took care of the spots. Now he just has blotches. Once he cleans it evenly...it will all become uniform. I would put money on it!
 
The ph is approximately 11, but like Dr G said...there's more to it than ph. Ph alone does not determine effectiveness or safety. Chemicals increase in alkalinity as the ph rises, but that doesn't mean that the chemical depends on the ph to accomplish the task. Just like we surround abrasives with polymers to lower dusting, it doesnt make them less effective. Ammonia has a ph of 11, Soapy water has a ph of 12 and bleach has a ph of 13...and all are effective cleaners, but not on all surfaces. As long as you use appropriate products on appropriate surfaces, there will be no damage.
 
Dubbin1 said:
Who is this "we" you keep speaking of?
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Roger and Judy both work for leather car product companies so when they discuss products and methods it is the company's view.
 
07 z-oh-6 said:
But what?
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That's what I wanna know.

Why do leather threads always get so in depth. It's just a leather seat for gods sake. I don't get why some people look at leather like it's this fragile, complicated, sensitive beast.

Cleaning leather is a piece of cake. I didn't attend no leather cleaning school...but I find it to be simple. The only rule is you have to be thorough. 90% of the time, if you clean just a small part of the seat...you'll see real quick that the rest of it needs to be done. That's what is happening here.
 
Kristopher1129 said:
That's what I wanna know.

Why do leather threads always get so in depth. It's just a leather seat for gods sake. I don't get why some people look at leather like it's this fragile, complicated, sensitive beast.

Cleaning leather is a piece of cake. I didn't attend no leather cleaning school...but I find it to be simple. The only rule is you have to be thorough. 90% of the time, if you clean just a small part of the seat...you'll see real quick that the rest of it needs to be done. That's what is happening here.
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Leather does need to be given special attention. It is not too hard to pull the color our of even light colored leather. You should always do a test spot before just diving in. If you aren't doing so, you are running the risk of ruining expensive leather.
 
Flannigan said:
Leather does need to be given special attention. It is not too hard to pull the color our of even light colored leather. You should always do a test spot before just diving in. If you aren't doing so, you are running the risk of ruining expensive leather.
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I've never ran a test. I clean all leather seats the exact same way. Granted, I use products meant for use on leather. I've done enough leather seats with these products to know they will not ruin the seat.

Also, I never spray ANY product directly on the seat. I don't see the sense in running tests every time leather comes my way. If you've never cleaned leather before, or rarely do so...then I can understand running tests. Leather doesn't scare me, and shouldn't scare anyone else.

It's like any other part of detailing. There's simple rules to follow. If you follow these rules...you'll always be safe. of course I'm speaking about coated leather, not bare hide. Those are two different ball games and should be treated as so.

It's just like cleaning rims. There's certain products you can use on particular types of rims. You're not gonna sit there and test the wheel acid on the chrome rim before you use it. You know that it's safe on chrome. So you just do it. Same thing with leather.

Plain and simple...if you think a product may damage the seat, then don't use it. Use a leather safe product. Only time I don't just dive in, is when there's an obvious repair that has been done, or the leather is clearly old and worn.
 
pretty interesting how 8 pages in the majority is siding with the idea that the leather is not damaged, just dirty, while the "leather pros" are stating otherwise. I'm not really sure who to believe but I suppose it's worth giving OPC another shot. I'll use it on an unnoticeable area and will post results. Is it best to use a mf towel or a brush (I have both)?
 
deS said:
pretty interesting how 8 pages in the majority is siding with the idea that the leather is not damaged, just dirty, while the "leather pros" are stating otherwise. I'm not really sure who to believe but I suppose it's worth giving OPC another shot. I'll use it on an unnoticeable area and will post results. Is it best to use a mf towel or a brush (I have both)?
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Actually, Dr. G(CEO of Optimum) responded in this thread, and his response should be most important. He came up with the formula for OPC, so I'd take his word over the other "pros", considering the have no experience with OPC.
 
when I have seen that kind of streaking it is simply because the product ran down the vertical surface..caused by direct spraying...I ALWAYS use a other media (sponge, mf towel, mf applicator pad..etc) in order to apply the product EVENLY. It usually applies to any and all cleaners.
 
Leather products - like jackets and handbags - typically say "Wipe with a damp cloth", or "mild s

If you need to use a brush, because the leather is very dirty,it better be a soft brush.
 
bimmer325! said:
when I have seen that kind of streaking it is simply because the product ran down the vertical surface..caused by direct spraying...I ALWAYS use a other media (sponge, mf towel, mf applicator pad..etc) in order to apply the product EVENLY. It usually applies to any and all cleaners.
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Any leather cleaners that have a pH value of 3 – 5 will not cause streaks even if they are left to run down a vertical surface.

Do you like to try it out?
 
Good on ya Mark!

My guess, if there is a difference it will be because the cleaner was strong enough to clean slightly without scrubbing, not because it's damaged the leather.
 
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