Modern car paints have clearcoat. While it's not actually a coating per say, just a layer of clear paint, it is supposed to provide protection from the sun. Therefor, many people outside of the world of car care will argue that there's no need to wax a clear coated vehicle. That the clear coat provides enough protection.
Now who on this forum agrees with that?
I've been reading and hearing people say that for years, that is,
"This car has a clearcoat... it doesn't need to be waxed"
Total B.S. and my guess is marketing jargon from car salespeople told to the masses when selling a car.
The same logic should apply to leather.
There needs to be some form of protection physically applied to the surface after certain periods of time in order to protect the layer that is supposed to protect the leather.
Agree.
As well as be cleaned with a solution that contains actual cleaning ability in order to break down and lift away dirt, grime,etc... imagine cleaning a dirty car with just water. Scratches and swirls aside, you'll do more spreading of dirt and grime than lifting from the paint.
Agree.
A while back I used, tested and reviewed leather care products from two recognized brands for car care products.
Neither review received a lot of attention.
Thus I'm vindicated in my believe that people, typically guys into car detailing, mostly care about
POLISHING PAINT, not detailing interiors.
Regardless, I'm so glad I take pictures and upload them to a place where they never disappear.
A while back I saw someone ask a question about how to clean leather and some nice forum member with great intentions told them to use water and a microfiber towel.
When my hands are dirty, like after working on my truck, I could use water to clean them but I know SOAP with water will do a MUCH BETTER job.
So here' ONE leather care product review and for this review I used a BRAND NEW CAR. I though the make and model might impress some people, you know, if this product is good enough for this car it's good enough for my car. But again, the thread or review didn't get much action.
Here's the car.... just an old 2-door Mercedes-Benz 2017 Mercedes-Benz S 550
Here's the leather interior of Tom's new S 550. Pretty fancy huh?
Me spraying the Tri-Clean directly onto the seats...
Thank you Jesse for helping me to get the "action" shots showing the spray actually coming out of the nozzle.
Dampen fresh, clean dry towels with product
Because my microfiber towel is dry I'm going to dampen it with some of the product. Also note I'm wearing protective gloves? I don't know what's in all the cool products we use in the detailing world now days but I know I don't want them on me or in me.
Next - Apply the Gtechniq L1 Leather Guard
And not much else to show - the car was brand new.... but the leather is now cleaned and protected.
Here's the review with 26 pictures showing the new GTechniq products in action and I think most people would agree GTechniq has on-staff chemists that know what they are doing.
Review: GTechniq Tri-Clean and Leather Guard by Mike Phillips
Being brand new, there was no DRAMATIC dirt-on-towel pictures so nothing to share. BUT following the manufacturers directions, it was stated to CLEAN the coated leather surface first before applying the protection product.
Here's the other review.... since no one was impressed with the high-dollar MB I used a low-dollar 2004 Acura TSX that from what I could tell had NEVER had the interior detailed since it was purchased.
Being a 2004 luxury passenger car, this car would have coated leather.
Review: GYEON Q2M Leather Cleaner and GYEON Q2 Leather Coat by Mike Phillips
Here's before and I dare say, water and a microfiber towel would do SQUAT to clean this chair.
Here's what a cleaner from a reputable brand will do.... note the dirt on the white towel, (white towel chosen by design)
Maintaining and protecting
Next simply mist some product onto a clean microfiber applicator pad and then massage the product over all the cleaned leather surfaces.
Here's a before and after shot - not super dramatic but this isn't a greasy, oily vinyl dressing it's a hi-tech coating that restores a natural sheen and leaves a dry, spill-proof surface.
And here's the final results...
Not only does the leather look good but it feels good. It's dry to the touch and clean feeling as in smooth. The leather seats are no longer grungy looking or grungy feeling.
Water and a microfiber towel would have done nothing for this coated leather.
And I will say, after using both products, the cleaner and the protectant not only did the leather seats look great the surface felt great.
Here's the old 4-door Acura...
Here's my advice....
Companies, that is the companies that you recognize the BRAND NAME of, hire real chemists. It doesn't come to a SURPRISE to the chemist that the leather used in modern cars is coated.
Assuming the are REAL chemists, maybe give them credit that they do what they are paid to do and that is make products that work on coated leather.
If you're reading this and you have a job, don't you do a great job? Don't you do what your employer pays you to do?
Sometimes, instead of trying to become a chemist... keep it simple. Trust in the brand name on the bottle and trust that their chemists do their job. Then just follow the direction on the label.
