New guy, new car, old question
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custmsprty
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- Apr 11, 2012
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All of those are things I would not advise using on leather, keep in mind it's a natural substance. Those seats are pretty trashed so even on best case scenario I wouldn't set your epxpectations too high.
Leatherique is most likely your best bet.
It's a two step process and is one of the best at bringing back old abused leather.
Leatherique leather care
Also, other than my Genesis Coupe I've owned nothing but Nissans my entire life and same for my wife until she bought the Sonata a couple years ago.
I have two Nissan Pearl White paints in the fold right now and a Sonata with pearl white paint.
I did up my Rogue today, it hadn't been washed in months. This is w/o polishing etc. Just a foam bath with CG Snow Foam and wiped with Polish Angel White Alabaster, WG WETS on the trim. No sun out, just pure white cream puff refelctions.
View attachment 61942
Eldorado2k
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- Nov 9, 2015
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Don’t use window cleaner. What specifically are you talking about as far as “mild degreaser”? Quik detail spray isn’t going to do anything to clean that..
Judging from the pics the leather is pretty dirty. For that I’d use a steamer w/Meguiars APC. [search how to clean leather with a steamer]
But if you don’t have a steamer you could use diluted all purpose cleaner [my choice is Meguiars APC @10:1]
I’ve heard Super Clean works similar and can be found locally if you don’t want to wait.
You can use either a horsehair brush or 1 of these leather scrubbing brushes to agitate. You can also just use a soft nylon scrub brush.
You can use a Magic Eraser but I wouldn’t do it nor would I recommend it because it’s too easy to be too aggressive with it in order to fully clean leather and by the time you do that you’ll most likely have gone too far.
This is going to sound crazy but another option for leather that dirty is Soft Scrub bathroom cleaner with a soft nylon brush. Just make sure not to use the kind with bleach in it. Scrub with a brush and mop up with a clean damp terry towel. I used Soft Scrub to clean my Cadillacs leather seats when I 1st bought it and they were as bad as yours and it worked freakin great.
Just my 2 cents.
custmsprty
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click this link:
Leatherique How To Instructions, Leatherique instructions
etc...........
LEATHER FACTS
We strongly advise against saddle soap, as it has been known to remove the dye from the leather. Avoid products that contain petroleum or mineral oils, as they cause leather fibers to rot prematurely. Our cleaner and conditioner have a capillary action. The proteins, cleaners, and conditioners find their way deep into the pores of the leather and force out the dirt, perspiration, air pollution, unnecessary oils, and other toxins that destroy the fibers of the leather, destroying its strength and flexibility, and causing it to deteriorate. For tough, heavier stains, we do make leather cleaner to remove the stain from the surface of the leather. The remainder of the stain will need to be “floated” out of the leather with Rejuvenator Oil. Badly stained surfaces probably need to be re-dyed.
Leatherique How To Instructions, Leatherique instructions
etc...........
LEATHER FACTS
We strongly advise against saddle soap, as it has been known to remove the dye from the leather. Avoid products that contain petroleum or mineral oils, as they cause leather fibers to rot prematurely. Our cleaner and conditioner have a capillary action. The proteins, cleaners, and conditioners find their way deep into the pores of the leather and force out the dirt, perspiration, air pollution, unnecessary oils, and other toxins that destroy the fibers of the leather, destroying its strength and flexibility, and causing it to deteriorate. For tough, heavier stains, we do make leather cleaner to remove the stain from the surface of the leather. The remainder of the stain will need to be “floated” out of the leather with Rejuvenator Oil. Badly stained surfaces probably need to be re-dyed.
Eldorado2k
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FYI my leather seats are light olive green [similar to light beige] and they’re still looking good considering the car is 20yrs. old.
custmsprty
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Because you're E2K and you take care of your stuff.....................:dblthumb2:
Those seats are the direct opposite. If it were me I'd go at them with Leatherique and if it didn't bring them back I'd search junk yards for replacements.
mattmann
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- Oct 1, 2015
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Well got out in the garage with my oldest son and worked on the carpets and door panels. Both of these look GREAT! So far, looking the car over, the seats and the polished aluminum (I assume) are the heavy items. The piping I am assuming I can use some wheel polish and a 3” polisher?? I just ordered the griots 6”, 5” plate and a lot of pads. I’ll be testing it all out for the first time when it comes in and it’s not as cold and wet. I need to do all the other steps first. My wife has a regular steamer she uses on dresses and what not. Can that be used on the seats?? What exactly is a “multi purpose” cleaner? Sorry again for all the newby questions!!
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Eldorado2k
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Does your wifes steamer look something like this with a hose? If so you can use it.
All you do is wrap a terry towel over the triangle head attachment and then go over the leather & vinyl surfaces with med. pressure.
But before you start the scrubbing with the steamer you spray All Purpose Cleaner on the seat. This is Meguiars All Purpose Cleaner. It’s a concentrate, you dilute it 10:1 [10 parts water 1 part concentrate]
Meguiar?s All Purpose Cleaner Concentrate, 1 Gallon, works on carpet, fabric, vinyl, and leather for all-over interior cleaning.
Eldorado2k
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As far as the “piping”
Are you talking about the exhaust? If so you don’t need a polisher to do that, you can do it by hand with some metal polish on a microfiber applicator.
Are you talking about the exhaust? If so you don’t need a polisher to do that, you can do it by hand with some metal polish on a microfiber applicator.
mattmann
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- #31
Does your wifes steamer look something like this with a hose? If so you can use it.
All you do is wrap a terry towel over the triangle head attachment and then go over the leather & vinyl surfaces with med. pressure.
But before you start the scrubbing with the steamer you spray All Purpose Cleaner on the seat. This is Meguiars All Purpose Cleaner. It’s a concentrate, you dilute it 10:1 [10 parts water 1 part concentrate]
Meguiar?s All Purpose Cleaner Concentrate, 1 Gallon, works on carpet, fabric, vinyl, and leather for all-over interior cleaning.
I think hers is seriously a small handheld steamer she paid $55 for at target? Will that work?
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Eldorado2k
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It might work. It may be a bit clunky if it’s 1 of those with a wide head and be hard to use in a car. Just remember to wrap a towel over it if you decide to try it.
mattmann
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Well tackled the seats tonight and MAN I am happy with the way they came out. These before and afters do this no justice. I’ll try and get some in the daylight sometime. I also got brace and impatient and couldn’t wait to try my new da sooooooo I cleaned and clayed the roof and one stepped it then waxed it. Now I’ll be doing a full car detail soon but I wanted to get this done just to test out my da! I’ll attach pics but the paint ones are bad due to poor lighting in my garage. That upgrade will happen soon!! Thanks guys!!
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Eldorado2k
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@Mattmann. Hey that’s good to hear!
What did you end up using to clean your leather seats?
And I know exactly what you mean about the pics.. For some reason trying to get good before/after pics on leather interior is not easy at all. Especially when it’s dark out.
What did you end up using to clean your leather seats?
And I know exactly what you mean about the pics.. For some reason trying to get good before/after pics on leather interior is not easy at all. Especially when it’s dark out.
UncleDavy
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You always want to start with the least aggressive methods first and then work your way up to stronger chemicals and tools. That is a great job on those seats. My all purpose cleaners are Simple Green diluted 1:1 and Blackfire BF-450 diluted 4:1. The Magic Eraser is a great tool but it can be very abrasive so you have to be careful. It works well for removing wax or polish residue from exterior black trim.
Eldorado2k
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Great news. I’m glad you decided against trying to use your wifes steamer and I was kinda regretting advising you to try it.. Reason being is those handheld steamers just aren’t very car user friendly and should probably remain in the house.
His leather was thrashed. I would’ve went straight to the big guns too. Plus he said he used an “auto grade magic eraser” Sonax sells an example of an auto grade magic eraser, it’s even labeled to be specifically used on leather.
mattmann
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Thanks guys. I am definitely happy they came out like they did. I honestly thought I was going to buy new covers for the seats and have them wrapped. The fact that i didn’t have to spend that $1500 on that and can spend it on go fast stuff makes me happy. I used a normal off the shelf magic eraser one time on my wife’s forerunner leather and learned a lesson. It left a light color streak in her dark leather. I assume it stripped the color down a bit or something but it was terrible. I never let it get dry anymore. Keep plenty of apc or soapy water on the seat plus keep a bucket of warm water to keep the eraser soaked. I went auto grade this time due to all the chemicals in the other ones. Here is the water after going through two of those erasers. Definitely nasty.
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Eldorado2k
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Thanks guys. I am definitely happy they came out like they did. I honestly thought I was going to buy new covers for the seats and have them wrapped. The fact that i didn’t have to spend that $1500 on that and can spend it on go fast stuff makes me happy. I used a normal off the shelf magic eraser one time on my wife’s forerunner leather and learned a lesson. It left a light color streak in her dark leather. I assume it stripped the color down a bit or something but it was terrible. I never let it get dry anymore. Keep plenty of apc or soapy water on the seat plus keep a bucket of warm water to keep the eraser soaked. I went auto grade this time due to all the chemicals in the other ones. Here is the water after going through two of those erasers. Definitely nasty.
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Awesome job on the update of your results. Pics and all. Really happy it turned out good for you.
