it's likely that perspiration (to be couth ) is what causes the damage to the leather when sitting on it in shorts... the combination of the salt and liquid is probably pretty lethal to leather...
i use the lexol 2 step method... i bought a 4 year old car with leather that looked/felt like it had never been treated... after 3 treatments spaced a week apart, the difference is pretty amazing... all it takes is about 1/2 hour once a week or so, and it's definitely worth the effort.
I work in a store that sells leather furniture. If the leather is "aniline dyed" then using saddle soap or other cleaners will do much more harm than good. A damp cloth is the best cleaner.
If that does not work try a mild dishwashing DETERGENT ( NOT soap!!) Some stores sell cleaners formulated for aniline leathers, but in my experience they do not work much better than a damp cloth.
If the leather has been vegetable dyed (the way a saddle is) then saddle soap (which is pure glycerin) is best. But I have not seen this type of leather used in an auto since the 1960's. (oops, I think I just gave away my age!)
I have found and tested lexol and others but found imperial leather system (found at autosupermart.com) to be the best of them all. it works great, the cleaner / wash is very concentrated to last a long time, and it really cleans dirt you could not even see was there, brings it right to the top of the leather, i had a white leather and i had lots of dirty brown water after cleaning it !! the restorer is very thin and goes right into the leather to make it soft in seconds, they recommend leaving it overnight, which makes it even softer, and it doesnt leave a residue or sticky stuff after applying, its the best again.
ummm... dishwashing detergent is soap with surfactants added in (which is what makes it "detergent")... last time i checked anyway... possibly the surfactants effect the chemical balance so that the adverse affects of the soap (whatever they might be on leather) don't cause whatever problem might occur with using straight soap... detergent by definition is "something else" with surfactants added to it (i.e. detergent gasoline = normal gasoline + surfactants). someone who is a chemist may want to correct me on this, but i believe the above to be true.
Good point! I'm no expert, but common sense tells me that a detergent formulated to cut grease and dissolve food is going to be harsh on leather.
Lexus recommends a weak solution of netutral detergent for wool (I read that as "Woolite"). My car is only 13 mos old, but so far, so good. I've been conditioning with Hide Food.
Ware. What model do you have? On my GS it is pretty easy to tell because the leather surfaces are pliable and the plastic is hard even though much of the plastic has a leather-like design. The seats will be leather except for the seatback on some (maybe all?) models. The steering wheel, but not the hub are leather as is the shift knob. The armrest cover is leather. The back seats and armrest are all leather. And there are leather inserts in the front doors (above the handles).
Fronobulax, I have the GS300. Yes, you are right about what's leather in it. I confirmed that everything that looks like leather is leather except the recessed portion of the front seat backs and the pockets on them. I am going to use Leatherique's products to care for the leather and Lexol's Vinylex to take care of all the vinyl surfaces (although Leatherique's products are also usable on vinyl). I will let you know how well they work.
I just bought a Lexus and wondered if the Leatherique, Lexol, or Zaino leather products are better than the "Lexus" brand leather cleaner & conditioner that is sold at Lexus dealerships. Has anyone tried the leather cleaner or conditioner that Lexus sells under their name and how did it work?. Are these other products better?
Also, my leather seats have more of a matte look right now since they're new. Any comments as to which leather conditioners will leave the leather with more of the original finish and not add a shiny/glossy appearance?
I don't know who makes the Lexus leather treatment products, you should call them and ask. I expect they just rebrand someone's product.
I use Leatherique on my Lexus and it leaves the leather looking natural - not shiny. Their Pristine cleaner can be used as often as you like. It wipes on and off quickly without adding any shine to the leather.
Their Rejuvenator Oil should be used a couple times a year to feed the leather. After letting the Rujevenator soak in for several hours or overnight, the cleaner is used to remove it and any dirt that is lifted up to the surface.
I would hope that any high quality leather treatment will do the job if used on a regular basis. I don't know of any scientific comparison tests between these products, so who really knows which product is significantly better, if any.
I haven't used other products, so I can't comment on those.
I am considering leather seats in a new Maxima or Passat. Problem is I have an 80 pound dog that is well behaved but I am worried about punctures from his nails into the leather. Is this a valid concern or should I go with cloth?
gromain - I bought an Acura 3.2TL with leather seats in the spring, and had the same concerns, with a 65 pound shepherdy type dog, and a 50 pound lab.
I got a car seat cover from LL Bean, but could not tell until it arrived that it is designed to work best with a folding back seat - which I do not have. I have been able to work the straps around the headrests and seat belt anchors well enough to get it to stay put. It has a padded seat and has worked quite well.
I also have used just a large bath towel on the seat. The dogs have been in this car individually probably about 15 or 20 times, and no problems so far.
Once I had to put the shepherd in the car without any seat cover, and no punctures occurred. He had a huge hot spot, took him to the vet, they put medication on it which he promptly got all over the leather seat on the way home. Zaino leather cleaner took it right off, no stains left at all. (And the truth is that when I got him home, I forgot about the stains and ended up letting them dry over night before I cleaned them up.)
Don't know if this is helpful, just thought I'd pass it on....
F.Y.I., I found the Hide Food product on the internet. It sells for $13.95 for a small jar plus S&H. The web site states it should be used once per month not a couple of times a year as posted by someone on this site.
Jeez. I have never heard of having to treat leather more than every 3 or 4 months. Sounds like they want you to use a lot of product (can't imagine why). I sure would not want to treat my leather seats once a month. Too much work.
Here is the site for Hide food; www.mossmotors.com/britishaccessories/carcare/chf.html. Like I said, it's expensive, has to used every month, which is a pain, and I wouldn't believe the hype about it as posted by someone else on this board. It could be that someone works for the company or has a financial interest in it.
I just bought a new Accord Coupe with Charcoal leather seats and went ahead and tried the hide food. It was easy to put on and didn't take too long to dry and you don't use too much of it.
My dad was first to suggest it because he applies it every 6 months on his black leather and after 10 years, it looks ok, not perfect, but pretty good.
BTW, I bought the jar of Hide Food at a Mercedez dealer in the Bay Area for about $10.95. I had called around to BMW, Jag, MB, etc and BMW wanted $20 for the same size jar.
I've been using this for years; both in th house and on my cars. I have a covertible and the top is always down. The seats stay perfect. No drying out and the color has remained true. It was hard to find it locally so I've been getting it on-line now from AutoFanatics.com. They also carry the Meguiar's Medallion brand. Haven't tried that. Anyway...Lexol.
Apparently many of you use and think that Lexol works great on your leather seats. A local detailer suggested that I purchase Meguires Gold, which I did about a month ago for $10 or so. The Sebring I purchased had 8,600 miles on it so I immediately treated the leather by hand rubbing the Meguires into the surface and let it sit 10 minutes before wiping off. Do the town hall viewers think that this product works as good as Lexol, or should I dump the Meguires and buy the Lexol?
i use lexol... i purchased an off lease car, and the seats hadn't been treated in quite some time (if ever at all)... 3 once weekly treatments of lexol brought them back to basically almost new condition... ymmv...
I'm curious if anyone else thinks that the seat heaters on a lot of the cars now accelerates wear and drying out of leather seats? We have leather with heaters on two of our cars and the seats seem to be deteriorating quickly. Probably wouldn't matter in a warm climate where the heaters were never used. Wayne
That is an interesting question, certainly seems possible. Do you use leather conditioner at least monthly on your seats? I use Zaino and think it is an excellent product, but there are other products discussed in this topic as well.
I don't know the specific answer to your question, perhaps someone else does.
No I never have used any conditioner, but I am now after reading this topic. It's been very informative. I went out today and bought some, then came home and applied it. I bought Eagle One Conditioner, it wasn't what I wanted but Wallmart was really low on stock. I rubbed it on by hand and it seemed to work real well. I'll see how it works and maybe look for somethillng better.
I can't see how seat heaters can't hurt the seats to tell you the truth. Although I guess it's no worse than a car sitting in the hot sun all day. Wayne
A couple of posts have hinted at this, but I'd like to make it more clear - Lexol work great, and works best if you rub it in with your hands! I've been using it for more than 20 years with great results on many different cars.
I have a 94 Maxima with tan leather seats. Top of rear seat got baked in the sun, I mean it is as hard as vinyl and wringled too. Is there any product out there for this; to loosen the wringled and soften the leather? I bought it used after 4 years old and I don't think the original owner ever treat the leather.
i seem to remember somewhere earlier in this thread someone suggesting "hide food" for this condition. i personally haven't tried it (i use lexol), but it's worth a shot. try a jaguar/bmw dealer to get it. good luck. -Chris
I too use Lexol cleaner and conditioner for a Camry leather interior - beige in color. However, what do people suggest for stains that do not come out just from the Lexol cleaner? Is there something strong (for specific spots) but safe (won't discolor leather)? Any feedback would be appreciated.
Look at www.leatherique.com for some ideas. They are into restorations and repairs. Also, call them, they are very helpful. I just started using their products and like them so far.
Used a product called "goof off" on ball point ink and it worked great on tan leather. Its potent stuff so try it BEFORE you plaster it all over a visible area. Wash off immediately and treat with Lexol or some other treatment ASAP. Available at house paint stores. Do NOT use it in a confined area but lower the windows and preferably outside.
I found a hole, made by an automatic pencil (don't ask how) in the leather driver's seat of my 2000 Toyota Sienna. The vehicle has less than 1,000 miles on it. After reviewing the postings here, I am assuming that there is nothing that can be done to "patch" the hole (slightly bigger than a pin hole). Can the gouge be kept from growing if the leather is properly conditioned, or is it a tear waiting to happen? As far as conditioning goes, it sounds like the Lexol products might do the trick for me. I am thinking correctly? Tom T.
I'm looking at a used car with a black leather interior that has several scratches most probably from a dog. They are everywhere in the vehicle (save the drivers seat). The scratches denote that the leather has not been fully died by the tanner i.e. a painted on finish(which is a big concern to me) and that sub-grade leather was used. Is this the normal quality I can expect with auto-leather? I consider myself a leather lover, but I have yet to find leather in a car that truly impresses me. Any recommendations on how to make the scratches disappear would be greatly appreciated and comments on leather quality would also be nice.
In general, the "best" types of leather are beatifully to see and touch, but are not durable. Cheaper leather is durable, wears well, thus, suitable for automotive use. Most American and Japanese manufacturers use a process where they basically spray paint the leather. High-end European car makers use vat-dyed leather.
Anyone else have perforated seats? When I treat them I just put a very light coat on the perforated part, hopefully not enough to get through the perforations. what do other folks do with perforated seats? Wayne.
I have a toyota solara with perforated leather seats. I too was concerned about getting conditioner or cleaner 'stuck' in the holes. I asked several detailers online and they said it would not happen. I finally applied and they were right. I use ZAINO leather in a bottle and find it remarkable. the car still smells brand new. and i get comments all the time of the great leather smell. I feel the quality of the leather in the solara is top notch. When i go to car shows that is one thing i always check out. I have found out that toyota/lexus leather is definately softer and more comfortable than most of the other car companies. I even took a friend along one time to see if they noticed the same thing. they did it was not just my opinion. The zaino leather in a botele is also unique in that it does not need to be buffed off after applying. I apply with my hands and just keep massaging it in until it is gone. It leaves the seats softer and not shiny and plasticky feeling and also not slippery.
I have a '99 ES300 with an ivory leather interior. I recently found that the driver's side door (above the armreast) developed a redish- brown discoloration. I used the Lexus leather conditioner and cleaner, but they helped only slightly. My only guess where it came from: my Andrew Marc leather jacket sleeve. As far as cleaning the leather, I'm sure I can take it back to Lexus and they'll restore the color. But how can I prevent and fix this problem myself in the future? Any ideas?
I have a small cigarette burn mark on one of the seats in my TL ("Fern" coloured leather). It's not through the leather but definitely caused a depression and discolouration. I figure I'll have to put a spot of leather dye on it and hope I get the match close. Any other suggestions (other than never let the wife drive it again) before I go ahead?
In my Miata (purchased used) the side, vertical panel of the drivers' seat show serious signs of wear, as if the surface of the hide has been worn away by constant rubbing (I'm pretty sure it is from the seat belt). There are two or three spots like this, each as large as, maybe, an egg.
I doubt I can repair this myself, but am very open to suggestions.
If not, do you have any idea what I'm in for at an upholstery shop? Can the single panel be replaced? Should the entire seat be reupholstered -- nothing else is a problem.
Thanks, I'd like to have a feel for the project before I get to an upholsterer.
If you haven't already, you might want to check out the Sable topics in our Sedans conference as well -- you can find them by keying Sable into the Search window on the sidebar at the left of the page.
Good luck!
Pat Community Leader/Maintenance & Repair Conference
We recently inherited a '86 sab le which was not at all well maintained. And the leather still looks good. A little worn and creased but definitely better than cloth would look by this point in time.
I just finished the interior of my 300M using the Zaino Z9 cleaner and Z10 "leather in a bottle". I am very impressed with both. The z9 cleaned everything up very nicely. My daughter tends to put her shoes against the seatbacks, and the marks came right off with Z9. I rubbed the Z10 on using my fingers. I rubbed in nicely, and I just went over it with a towel to finish up. The leather just feels great, and the SMELL....so good!
I also used the Z10 on the vinyl dash and side panels. It does quite well there as well. Good stuff.
Comments
i use the lexol 2 step method... i bought a 4 year old car with leather that looked/felt like it had never been treated... after 3 treatments spaced a week apart, the difference is pretty amazing... all it takes is about 1/2 hour once a week or so, and it's definitely worth the effort.
If the leather is "aniline dyed" then using
saddle soap or other cleaners will do much more
harm than good. A damp cloth is the best cleaner.
If that does not work try a mild dishwashing
DETERGENT ( NOT soap!!) Some stores sell cleaners
formulated for aniline leathers, but in my
experience they do not work much better than a damp cloth.
If the leather has been vegetable dyed (the way
a saddle is) then saddle soap (which is pure
glycerin) is best. But I have not seen this type
of leather used in an auto since the 1960's. (oops, I think I just gave away my age!)
the restorer is very thin and goes right into the leather to make it soft in seconds, they recommend leaving it overnight, which makes it even softer, and it doesnt leave a residue or sticky stuff after applying, its the best again.
detergent by definition is "something else" with surfactants added to it (i.e. detergent gasoline = normal gasoline + surfactants).
someone who is a chemist may want to correct me on this, but i believe the above to be true.
Good point! I'm no expert, but common sense tells me that a detergent formulated to cut grease and dissolve food is going to be harsh on leather.
Lexus recommends a weak solution of netutral detergent for wool (I read that as "Woolite"). My car is only 13 mos old, but so far, so good. I've been conditioning with Hide Food.
Ware. What model do you have? On my GS it is pretty easy to tell because the leather surfaces are pliable and the plastic is hard even though much of the plastic has a leather-like design. The seats will be leather except for the seatback on some (maybe all?) models. The steering wheel, but not the hub are leather as is the shift knob. The armrest cover is leather. The back seats and armrest are all leather. And there are leather inserts in the front doors (above the handles).
Leatherique, Lexol, or Zaino leather products are
better than the "Lexus" brand leather cleaner &
conditioner that is sold at Lexus dealerships. Has anyone tried the leather cleaner or conditioner that Lexus sells under their name and how did it work?. Are these other products better?
Also, my leather seats have more of a matte look right now since they're new. Any comments as to which leather conditioners will leave the leather with more of the original finish and not add a shiny/glossy appearance?
I use Leatherique on my Lexus and it leaves the leather looking natural - not shiny. Their Pristine cleaner can be used as often as you like. It wipes on and off quickly without adding any shine to the leather.
Their Rejuvenator Oil should be used a couple times a year to feed the leather. After letting the Rujevenator soak in for several hours or overnight, the cleaner is used to remove it and any dirt that is lifted up to the surface.
I would hope that any high quality leather treatment will do the job if used on a regular basis. I don't know of any scientific comparison tests between these products, so who really knows which product is significantly better, if any.
I haven't used other products, so I can't comment on those.
I got a car seat cover from LL Bean, but could not tell until it arrived that it is designed to work best with a folding back seat - which I do not have. I have been able to work the straps around the headrests and seat belt anchors well enough to get it to stay put. It has a padded seat and has worked quite well.
I also have used just a large bath towel on the seat. The dogs have been in this car individually probably about 15 or 20 times, and no problems so far.
Once I had to put the shepherd in the car without any seat cover, and no punctures occurred. He had a huge hot spot, took him to the vet, they put medication on it which he promptly got all over the leather seat on the way home. Zaino leather cleaner took it right off, no stains left at all. (And the truth is that when I got him home, I forgot about the stains and ended up letting them dry over night before I cleaned them up.)
Don't know if this is helpful, just thought I'd pass it on....
Call them if you can't find it. I believe it will work perfectly if you have fold down rear seats.
www.mossmotors.com/britishaccessories/carcare/chf.html.
Like I said, it's expensive, has to used every month, which is a pain, and I wouldn't believe the hype about it as posted by someone else on this board. It could be that someone works for the company or has a financial interest in it.
My dad was first to suggest it because he applies it every 6 months on his black leather and after 10 years, it looks ok, not perfect, but pretty good.
BTW, I bought the jar of Hide Food at a Mercedez dealer in the Bay Area for about $10.95. I had called around to BMW, Jag, MB, etc and BMW wanted $20 for the same size jar.
Good luck.
But I have not used Lexol.
Gold, which I did about a month ago for $10 or
so. The Sebring I purchased had 8,600 miles on
it so I immediately treated the leather by hand
rubbing the Meguires into the surface and let it
sit 10 minutes before wiping off. Do the town
hall viewers think that this product works as
good as Lexol, or should I dump the Meguires and
buy the Lexol?
Wayne
I don't know the specific answer to your question, perhaps someone else does.
Pat
I can't see how seat heaters can't hurt the seats to tell you the truth. Although I guess it's no worse than a car sitting in the hot sun all day.
Wayne
Good Luck!
I bought it used after 4 years old and I don't think the original owner ever treat the leather.
good luck.
-Chris
Ed
edandty@msn.com
Can the gouge be kept from growing if the leather is properly conditioned, or is it a tear waiting to happen?
As far as conditioning goes, it sounds like the Lexol products might do the trick for me.
I am thinking correctly?
Tom T.
I recently found that the driver's side door
(above the armreast) developed a redish-
brown discoloration. I used the Lexus leather
conditioner and cleaner, but they helped only
slightly. My only guess where it came from: my
Andrew Marc leather jacket sleeve. As far as
cleaning the leather, I'm sure I can take it back
to Lexus and they'll restore the color. But how
can I prevent and fix this problem myself in the
future? Any ideas?
I doubt I can repair this myself, but am very open to suggestions.
If not, do you have any idea what I'm in for at an upholstery shop? Can the single panel be replaced? Should the entire seat be reupholstered -- nothing else is a problem.
Thanks, I'd like to have a feel for the project before I get to an upholsterer.
Take care.
Joe W.
Thanks
Good luck!
Pat
Community Leader/Maintenance & Repair Conference
I also used the Z10 on the vinyl dash and side panels. It does quite well there as well. Good stuff.