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Leather Seat Maintenance
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Comments
Pat
Community Leader/Maintenance & Repair Conference
I've only used a horse-hair brush on the suede: (Griot's Garage [ http://www.griotsgarage.com/ ])
I'd appreciate any information.
Take care.
Joe W>
I suppose if you drove a black car with black seating surfaces, it could get a bit warm in the summer. I have a white car with a lighter leather interior, and this past summer with temps over 100 degrees, the seats were never "hot and sticky". Last winter, with temps in the single digits, they were no colder than any other car, plus I have a seat heater, so in a matter of seconds, the seats were the warmest part of the car!
My dad first got a car with leather seats about 10 years ago. He lives in Texas, and never complained about them being too hot during the summer. In fact, he was the one who encouraged me to get leather in my new car.
1. Can anyone suggest a cleaner that might be able to remove this dye?
2. If so, what can we use to protect this seats against this in the future?
3. If not, what is the next best thing? Replacing the seat covers? Changing to a darker leather (yuck)?
Bruce
I will probably never buy another car with leather seats. The leather is rich, and pretty to look at, but I don't like owning a car with leather. Everytime the kids get in the car, I have to check for pens/pencils in their back pockets! My son keeps reminding me that the leather is too cold on his legs after his indoor soccer games, and I am sure I will hear from him after his outdoor games this summer. Objects on the seats slide back and forth, and there are little squeals from the seats.
Once the leather cracks.... how much does it cost to replace it, and how good does it match the rest of the seats?
Primary reason---poor quality of leather material (some automakers buy 2nd or 3rd grade)
Other reasons: --exposure to elements, lack of maintenance, and, of course, dogs, kids, etc.
Some of the "leather conditioners" aren't very good either. They are meant for ladies shoes, not for cars. A good product is HIDE FOOD, from Connelly leathers in the UK and available at many dealerships (Lexus, Jaguar, Benz) and occasionally at good auto parts stores.
I often advise people not to get the leather interior, especially on convertibles, or if they have one of those "active lifestyles" as we say in California.
The really best, high quality leathers are only found on the most expensive cars, and even there, you have problems. Ask any early 90s Lexus owner. Leather quality is simply not what it was 50-75 years ago.
Some leathers "dress well" (like American hides) but don't wear well. Hides from Scandanavia are good because they don't use barbed wire, so the hides are often unmarked. I'm told that leather can also be weakened if it is dyed, rather than left natural.
But look at it this way....you clean and treat your leather every 3 months, keep it out of direct sun, and keep coffee stains, kids and dog claws off it, and it will last pretty much no matter what you buy. But of course, don't expect the same quality in your Honda as you get in a Rolls or Jaguar.
PS: Takes 5 cows to pave a big 4-door car in leather.
-Chris
I've been using Armorall(maybe typo!) for most of the cars I've owned for the past 20 years, and its been a very good investment of time with good results. Are there other products out on the market with better results? Thanks.
Cary
i dont endorse the site, but it does provide a (unobjective??) description of the products with lots to chose from. hope it helps.
But if you treat your leather and get a sun shade for windshield and side windows, in most cases your leather shouldn't heat up more than normal in a coupe.
Since I am addicted to this board, I bought them all. Hide Food is the best, far and away. It is a cream that is rubbed into the leather, making it softer. My Pathfinder has perforated leather. Since the Hide Food clogs in the perforations, I use Lexol on the perforated sections.
Most Jaguar dealers carry Hide Food, so that's one source in Canada
P.S., what symptoms should I watch for in case my car catches Mad Cow disease? )