Leather care - conditioner, sealant, coating or water?

[judyb]

The interior of this will need to be refinished to restore the colour and top coating.

Aniline leather often has a light finish to make it more robust - there are Aniline finishes available for this and it is also crucial to use an Aniline LeatherGuard protector to help with stain protection and cleaning.

 

[bsmith0404]

For general maintenance and such of modern or other leathers, I use Pinnacle Leather Cleaner & Conditioner - Agreed upon by leather care pros world wide, leather requires both cleaning and conditioning to keep it because it's pretty much an AIO for leather. I use it regularly and it does make a difference to the leather in modern vehicles. It adds a softness and flexibility to it. I wouldn't use it for neglected leather, but 90% of the time this stuff does the trick in my experience.

I use the Pinnacle as well. Works great, I think it provides a bit of softness/flexibility to the leather to help prevent cracking. Also, has that leather smell, keeping my vehicles with that new car leather smell!

 

[judyb]

Modern Auto Leather is 'conditioned' using water based products rather than traditional conditioners. Having just completed a Leather Technologists course it was verified that when tanners talk about the condition of a leather it is the moisture content they are referring to as the fat liquors do not need to be replaced. The conditioners that sit on the surface and give a feel of softness actually attract more dirt which then means more regular cleaning and more likelihood of abrasion caused by dirt if this is not done.

Are the leather care pros you refer to manufacturers and suppliers or leather specialists with an in depth knowledge of leather and its properties?

Auto LeatherGuard Protector smells like leather too!!

 

[Eldorado2k]

The interior of this will need to be refinished to restore the colour and top coating.

The original color of the seats in my car is “oatmeal”. I don’t see the need to restore the color.

The conditioners that sit on the surface and give a feel of softness actually attract more dirt which then means more regular cleaning and more likelihood of abrasion caused by dirt if this is not done.

I’ve done long term side by side tests lasting months on un disturbed test panels to see how much dust/dirt several different products including leather conditioners, spray waxes, protectants, etc. attract vs. plain cleaned surface and found the difference to be negligible.

 

[Bobby B.]

I like the Blackfire Leather Complete for maintaining leather in newer vehicles. It's a great AIO for leather.

BLACKFIRE Leather Complete

 

[Eldorado2k]

I like the Blackfire Leather Complete for maintaining leather in newer vehicles. It's a great AIO for leather.

BLACKFIRE Leather Complete

I used that yesterday to wipedown my interior. I agree, that product works great. A bit of an acquired scent, but I’ve sort of grown to like it, besides the scent dissipates.

 

[Bobby B.]

I used that yesterday to wipedown my interior. I agree, that product works great. A bit of an acquired scent, but I’ve sort of grown to like it, besides the scent dissipates.

Awesome! It definitely has an acquired scent. I think it smells like a bag of Skittles lol

 

[DUBL0WS6]

Modern Auto Leather is 'conditioned' using water based products rather than traditional conditioners. Having just completed a Leather Technologists course it was verified that when tanners talk about the condition of a leather it is the moisture content they are referring to as the fat liquors do not need to be replaced. The conditioners that sit on the surface and give a feel of softness actually attract more dirt which then means more regular cleaning and more likelihood of abrasion caused by dirt if this is not done.

Are the leather care pros you refer to manufacturers and suppliers or leather specialists with an in depth knowledge of leather and its properties?

Auto LeatherGuard Protector smells like leather too!!

I'm a little skeptical of that claim. If it was that simple, just use water as a leather conditioner.

 

[judyb]

The original color of the seats in my car is “oatmeal”. I don’t see the need to restore the color.

I’ve done long term side by side tests lasting months on un disturbed test panels to see how much dust/dirt several different products including leather conditioners, spray waxes, protectants, etc. attract vs. plain cleaned surface and found the difference to be negligible.

But what about when the leather is being used?

 

[judyb]

I'm a little skeptical of that claim. If it was that simple, just use water as a leather conditioner.

A wipe over with a damp cloth is always a good idea but protectors are designed to protect the top coatings on the leather - these there to protect the leather itself. Water alone will not do this but the moisture element is a good ‘conditioner’.
I have worked with leather technologists for many years now and so much money wasted on pointless products!

 

[Eldorado2k]

But what about when the leather is being used?

You mean as far as protecting against things like dye transfer and such? Well it’s been a couple of years, and my seats have stayed continuously clean using the different products on my shelf.
-Meguiars D181 Leather Cleaner
-Meguiars D180 Leather Cleaner & Conditioner
-Pinnacle Leather Cleaner
-Pinnacle Leather Conditioner
-Blackfire Leather Complete
-Meguiars D101 All Purpose Cleaner

Starting off with a good vacuuming, using a soft horsehair brush attachment before any cleaning product is used. Can’t forget that.

I have other products, but I’m pretty sure that’s all I ever use in my own vehicle [the Pinnacle has only been used maybe once in my own car, I’m not a big fan of the leather scent]