Mike Phillips
Active member
- Dec 5, 2022
- 51,004
- 6
Perforated Leather - How to clean, condition and protect - 2016 Mercedes-Benz S550 Coupe
I don't do a lot of interior work mostly because it's not my passion or my focus. But if a customer asks, and I don't have to wear a Hazmat Suit, then I'll do it.
This is a 2016 Mercedes-Benz S550 Coupe just shipped to Autogeek from Texas for my buddy Joe. Some of you may remember another car I detailed for Joe.
Most of the interior is still in mint condition but the front two seats and mainly the driver's seat and everything the driver would touch, steering wheel, center console, door panel, arm rest, paddle shifters, etc. were brownish with skin oil and grime. Eeww..... :bolt:
The thing that really stands out in this interior is the massive perforation in all the seat surfaces.
For leather interiors I use the PBL Trio and the results are always phenomenal and consistent. The key technique for working with MAJOR perforated surfaces like you see here is to apply whatever product you're going to use to a towel or an applicator and then distribute it and work it into the towel or applicator. This way you don't load all the holes up with product.
Step-by-Step - How to clean, condition and protect perforated leather
Step 1: Start by wetting a clean microfiber towel with the Hide-Soft Leather Cleaner.
Then rub down all the perforated and also non-perforated or flat surfaces. Add more cleaner as you go and remember you can use the other side. For really dirty interiors, switch to a fresh towel.
Step 2: Apply the conditioner to a clean microfiber applicator pad and work the product INTO the applicator.
This applicator is dampened with conditioner. As you press it against the perforated leather, it releases small amounts of the conditioner that you then massage over the perforated and also non-perforated or flat surfaces. Apply more conditioner and repeat pressing it into the applicator with your hand as you work around the inside of the car.
Using a clean, microfiber towel, wipe the surface to remove any excess.
Step 3: Apply the Leather & Vinyl Coating
Spray the product directly onto a clean, microfiber applicator pad.
Massage the product into the microfiber...
Then apply to all the perforated leather surfaces and also non-perforated or flat surfaces.
The leather and vinyl coating will leave a shiny surface behind - don't worry....
Simply wipe the surface with a fresh, clean microfiber towel to remove any excess....
This is how the leather should look when you're all done. Cleaned, conditioned and protected.
No greasy or oily feel...
Here's the final results...
The PBL Interior Trio
Review
The PBL Trio is a really nice combination of products for leather and also vinyl interiors. Normally, if a product is safe enough for leather it's safe enough for vinyl. So the cleaner and the coating work for both. I don't believe you need to use the leather conditioner on vinyl surfaces but it won't hurt anything. Leather interiors as well as vinyl interiors need regular cleaning and protecting to maintain their factory new look and feel. Any place your skin touches, over time these surfaces get grimy. Keep this in mind when cleaning an interior and pay extra attention to areas of high skin contact.
The cleaner really works well. If there's any dirt or grim build-up you'll see it come off the leather and onto your towel. You'll also see a visual difference for the surface you've cleaned. The conditioner is like a rich hand lotion and smells like leather. It gives the entire car a light but noticeable leather scent but don't worry, it doesn't last long. The coating is one of my favorite products. It leaves a tick of a slippery feel to the leather after application but after you get in and out of the car a few times this slippery feel wears off.
I use the PBL Interior Trio on my own cars with leather interiors and because I use these products regularly, the interiors in our cars always look fresh and clean. This is the real secret to maintaining a leather or any type of interior and that is to find quality products you like and then use them on regular schedule. Especially for the high-wear surfaces like the driver's side of the vehicle.
There's no such thing as one-and-done when it comes to your car's interior. Just like the outside of the car you need to stay on top of it to keep it clean and looking new. Not only does this make driving your car much more enjoyable, it helps to retain the resale or trade-in value.
If you don't have a collection of products already for taking care of your car's leather interior, check out the Pinnacle Black Label Trio or PBL Trio. These are top shelf products that won't disappoint. Using the techniques I shared above makes getting professional results easy enough that anyone can do it.
On Autogeek.com
Pinnacle Black Label Hide-Soft Leather Cleaner
Pinnacle Black Label Hide-Soft Leather Conditioner
Pinnacle Black Label Leather & Vinyl Coating
Cobra Microfiber Applicator Pads
The Rag Company FTW Premium Twisted Loop Microfiber Towel - 3 Pack
:buffing:
I don't do a lot of interior work mostly because it's not my passion or my focus. But if a customer asks, and I don't have to wear a Hazmat Suit, then I'll do it.
This is a 2016 Mercedes-Benz S550 Coupe just shipped to Autogeek from Texas for my buddy Joe. Some of you may remember another car I detailed for Joe.
Most of the interior is still in mint condition but the front two seats and mainly the driver's seat and everything the driver would touch, steering wheel, center console, door panel, arm rest, paddle shifters, etc. were brownish with skin oil and grime. Eeww..... :bolt:
The thing that really stands out in this interior is the massive perforation in all the seat surfaces.
For leather interiors I use the PBL Trio and the results are always phenomenal and consistent. The key technique for working with MAJOR perforated surfaces like you see here is to apply whatever product you're going to use to a towel or an applicator and then distribute it and work it into the towel or applicator. This way you don't load all the holes up with product.
Step-by-Step - How to clean, condition and protect perforated leather
Step 1: Start by wetting a clean microfiber towel with the Hide-Soft Leather Cleaner.
Then rub down all the perforated and also non-perforated or flat surfaces. Add more cleaner as you go and remember you can use the other side. For really dirty interiors, switch to a fresh towel.
Step 2: Apply the conditioner to a clean microfiber applicator pad and work the product INTO the applicator.
This applicator is dampened with conditioner. As you press it against the perforated leather, it releases small amounts of the conditioner that you then massage over the perforated and also non-perforated or flat surfaces. Apply more conditioner and repeat pressing it into the applicator with your hand as you work around the inside of the car.
Using a clean, microfiber towel, wipe the surface to remove any excess.
Step 3: Apply the Leather & Vinyl Coating
Spray the product directly onto a clean, microfiber applicator pad.
Massage the product into the microfiber...
Then apply to all the perforated leather surfaces and also non-perforated or flat surfaces.
The leather and vinyl coating will leave a shiny surface behind - don't worry....
Simply wipe the surface with a fresh, clean microfiber towel to remove any excess....
This is how the leather should look when you're all done. Cleaned, conditioned and protected.
No greasy or oily feel...
Here's the final results...
The PBL Interior Trio
Review
The PBL Trio is a really nice combination of products for leather and also vinyl interiors. Normally, if a product is safe enough for leather it's safe enough for vinyl. So the cleaner and the coating work for both. I don't believe you need to use the leather conditioner on vinyl surfaces but it won't hurt anything. Leather interiors as well as vinyl interiors need regular cleaning and protecting to maintain their factory new look and feel. Any place your skin touches, over time these surfaces get grimy. Keep this in mind when cleaning an interior and pay extra attention to areas of high skin contact.
The cleaner really works well. If there's any dirt or grim build-up you'll see it come off the leather and onto your towel. You'll also see a visual difference for the surface you've cleaned. The conditioner is like a rich hand lotion and smells like leather. It gives the entire car a light but noticeable leather scent but don't worry, it doesn't last long. The coating is one of my favorite products. It leaves a tick of a slippery feel to the leather after application but after you get in and out of the car a few times this slippery feel wears off.
I use the PBL Interior Trio on my own cars with leather interiors and because I use these products regularly, the interiors in our cars always look fresh and clean. This is the real secret to maintaining a leather or any type of interior and that is to find quality products you like and then use them on regular schedule. Especially for the high-wear surfaces like the driver's side of the vehicle.
There's no such thing as one-and-done when it comes to your car's interior. Just like the outside of the car you need to stay on top of it to keep it clean and looking new. Not only does this make driving your car much more enjoyable, it helps to retain the resale or trade-in value.
If you don't have a collection of products already for taking care of your car's leather interior, check out the Pinnacle Black Label Trio or PBL Trio. These are top shelf products that won't disappoint. Using the techniques I shared above makes getting professional results easy enough that anyone can do it.
On Autogeek.com
Pinnacle Black Label Hide-Soft Leather Cleaner
Pinnacle Black Label Hide-Soft Leather Conditioner
Pinnacle Black Label Leather & Vinyl Coating
Cobra Microfiber Applicator Pads
The Rag Company FTW Premium Twisted Loop Microfiber Towel - 3 Pack
:buffing:
