Leather Conditioning...fact or fiction?

chu

chu

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A close friend came to me and said he just found out the "correct" way to condition leather, as he has recently heard from a detailer at the local Lexus dealership. This guy tells him that the best way to condition leather is to turn the heat in the car on high (dont know how long. Then clean and apply conditioner, then let the conditioner do its magic for 3 hours. Lastly, buff with towel.

What do you guy think of the process? BS? I dont understand how the heat before helps...sweat dirt out of the pores?
 
After I use the Connolly conditioner on my car I take it out of the garage and let it sit in the sun for a few hours. It seems to work much better that way. Don't know why, but it does.
 
I never heard of this ,but iy sounds logical to me..i sure won't disagree with you..
 
The heat helps the leather soften up and opens the pores... you know how when you're hot your skin seems to droop, that the best time to apply conditioner... same think with leather.

Hot water in a spray bottle does a decent job too.
 
DS Detailer said:
The heat helps the leather soften up and opens the pores... you know how when you're hot your skin seems to droop, that the best time to apply conditioner... same think with leather.

Hot water in a spray bottle does a decent job too.
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Good idea, that's what I will use during winter condition.
 
if i remember correctly, leather takes conditioner much better at temps above 50f, so it sounds right to me
 
id agree with it , leather is much softer when its warm, and the product may well be thinner if its warm
 
This is not BS, let me give you the directions that Connolly Hide recommends....

Apply the Hide Care sparingly with a soft cloth, foam or terry applicator or with your bare hands. Luxury car owners report that massaging the Hide Care into the leather with your hands produces the most satisfactory results. Hide Care needs to bask in the sun all day or absorb into the fibers all night to ensure complete permeation. Buff or wipe the entire surface to remove any excess product, then sit back and enjoy the distinguished luxury of your sensuous leather interior.

Hope this helps!
 
Meghan said:
This is not BS, let me give you the directions that Connolly Hide recommends....

Apply the Hide Care sparingly with a soft cloth, foam or terry applicator or with your bare hands. Luxury car owners report that massaging the Hide Care into the leather with your hands produces the most satisfactory results. Hide Care needs to bask in the sun all day or absorb into the fibers all night to ensure complete permeation. Buff or wipe the entire surface to remove any excess product, then sit back and enjoy the distinguished luxury of your sensuous leather interior.

Hope this helps!
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I use Connolly Hide Care on all my leather but I have never applied it with my hands. That will be a new experience I will have to try. I don't like to let my cars bake out in the hot Florida sun if I can help it. Living in South Florida it is usually pretty warm and I think Connolly Hide care does a great job keeping the leather very soft and leaves a nice semigloss new leather look.
 
I have always applied the leather conditioner by hands/fingers and massaged it in, left it sitting for a few hours and then whipe off. It really does make a difference. I have never used this Connolly though, sounds like a really good leather care system....may have to purchase some.

As for the technique, I don't think it's BS because high end vehicles like the once that Gary Sword owns are maintaned this way...leather that is.
 
Meghan said:
This is not BS, let me give you the directions that Connolly Hide recommends....

Apply the Hide Care sparingly with a soft cloth, foam or terry applicator or with your bare hands. Luxury car owners report that massaging the Hide Care into the leather with your hands produces the most satisfactory results. Hide Care needs to bask in the sun all day or absorb into the fibers all night to ensure complete permeation. Buff or wipe the entire surface to remove any excess product, then sit back and enjoy the distinguished luxury of your sensuous leather interior.

Hope this helps!
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Meghan, will you buff my leather at Detailfest. Its strong, and Ebony and needs some TLC. Im the MAN Im the MAN Im the MAN
 
killrwheels@autogeek said:
Meghan, will you buff my leather at Detailfest. Its strong, and Ebony and needs some TLC. Im the MAN Im the MAN Im the MAN
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I will laugh if she gets you with a good comeback.
Scott, want to do mine? It is cashmere............
 
Nica said:
I have always applied the leather conditioner by hands/fingers and massaged it in, left it sitting for a few hours and then whipe off. It really does make a difference. I have never used this Connolly though, sounds like a really good leather care system....may have to purchase some.

As for the technique, I don't think it's BS because high end vehicles like the once that Gary Sword owns are maintaned this way...leather that is.
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What brand did you use, Nica??
 
Most leathers are coated though, so how does the product really seep in and condition? My grandparents have Connolly Food Hide from the Jag dealer which I've used in their cars and our Lexus, but those vehicles leather is real, not the (what I like to call) "pleather" Ford, GM etc use that they call leather but sure as hell doesn't look, feel, or smell like high end leathers lol.
 
Surfer said:
Most leathers are coated though, so how does the product really seep in and condition? My grandparents have Connolly Food Hide from the Jag dealer which I've used in their cars and our Lexus, but those vehicles leather is real, not the (what I like to call) "pleather" Ford, GM etc use that they call leather but sure as hell doesn't look, feel, or smell like high end leathers lol.
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Some of the English and Italian car manufacturers really do a great job on leather interiors. Most of the American, German and Japanese leather interiors don't compare in my opinion.
 
Gary Sword said:
Some of the English and Italian car manufacturers really do a great job on leather interiors. Most of the American, German and Japanese leather interiors don't compare in my opinion.
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Yup, only exception is the newer Caddies and King Ranch editions from Ford (now that is real leather). Connolly use to supply the hides to Dodge for the Viper, not sure if they still do? Acura/Honda used to have like the worse leather, you could just search forums and see, start cracking and fading much quicker then normal. The newer ones seem nicer though, but when we got rid of my sisters TL-Type S when they 1st came out, I think we sold it with about 25K miles on it and the leather looked in worse condition then my truck does with 95K miles on it, leather Ford uses in their trucks may not be nice like Connolly hides but it sure is durable, you'd think my interior only had 20K miles on it.
 
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Surfer said:
Yup, only exception is the newer Caddies and King Ranch editions from Ford (now that is real leather). Connolly use to supply the hides to Dodge for the Viper, not sure if they still do? Acura/Honda used to have like the worse leather, you could just search forums and see, start cracking and fading much quicker then normal. The newer ones seem nicer though, but when we got rid of my sisters TL-Type S when they 1st came out, I think we sold it with about 25K miles on it and the leather looked in worse condition then my truck does with 95K miles on it, leather Ford uses in their trucks may not be nice like Connolly hides but it sure is durable, you'd think my interior only had 20K miles on it.
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The leather in my Viper is nice but the workmenship does not compare to that of a Bentley or Lamborghini for example. The leather in my Ford truck is pretty nice especially for a truck. Besides the seats part of the dash board over the gages is actually real leather. Even if a lot of manufacturers used top quality leather the workmenship is just not there in the American, German and Japanese cars. I would take the leather interior in a Jaguar anyday over that of a Cadillac, Mercedes or Lexus. That's not to say I think the Jaguar is a better car but I think the leather and workmenship on the interior is better.
I love Corvettes and Porsches but the leather interior does not compare to one in a Ferrari. It's not to say that some of the cars cost more than others but not always.
 
I totally agree with you guys about quality and that's why it's better to just spend a few extra bucks and get quality.

So you guys feel that Lambo is better then a Ferrari mmm...interesting.
 
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