Condition your leather seats!

[Ghostrider 310]

My family were shoemakers long ago, an uncle who is 80 still can fire on a fresh set of soles like factory. He told me Lexol has been around for a long time and is among the best. I use it and I think it works well. Forget about the McGuires leather product, it smells good but I think it actually dries the leather. I'm using it up on the truck seats now...

[Brucelee]

I use both Leatherique and Lexol.

I really like the Leatherique cleaner/light conditioner.

[AUDIOGUY]

I have actually used an Eagle One product some type of conditioner. It works great, smells neutral and doesnt leave a residue. You actually apply it by hand like lotion on skin. Once it is worked into the seats, take a clean towel and buff off the seating surfaces. It was relatively inexpensive 8 to 10 bucks or so. Try it!

Joe
01S
Triple Black

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but unless you remove the leather from the seats and condition the "raw" back side of the leather, you really are not doing much for your seats by conditioning them. It makes us as car owners feel better that we're doing something, but unfortunately, the effect is negligible.

Leather used for upholstery is dyed with pigment dyes which hides the flaws and the grain in the leather, as opposed to aniline dyes which allow the grain to be seen and the leather to age, darken and develop a patina. Aniline dyes also allow any natural flaws to be visible, which most people don't want to see. Consumers want leather exclusiveness but with "vinyl perfection". So, they use pigment dyes, which is very much like painting your leather with acrylic paint. It coats it, rather than just colouring it.

After dyeing with pigment dye, upholstery leather is then further sealed with lacquer, or similar flexible sealer, so as not to allow spilled drinks, etc. to stain the seats, and to keep the seats from looking worn. It also makes for easy clean up...just like vinyl. Between the pigment dye and the sealer, virtually nothing will soak into the leather...including conditioners, until this sealer coat starts to wear through or crack.... or is removed.

What benefit you are seeing is probably from the massaging action of working the conditioners onto the leather, which, by working the leather with your hands, you are breaking in the leather and keeping it flexible. This is why the driver's seat tends to stay more pliable than the others. Also, in winter, it is the nature of leather to be stiffer than in summer.

i used a natural bees wax type of product (heritage) which worked very well with my old savannah interior but haven't done it yet on grey interior of S

[threpwood]

I use Mcguire's leather wipes. It's simple and works just fine for me.

[MNBoxster]

Originally Posted by creseida

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but unless you remove the leather from the seats and condition the "raw" back side of the leather, you really are not doing much for your seats by conditioning them. It makes us as car owners feel better that we're doing something, but unfortunately, the effect is negligible.

Leather used for upholstery is dyed with pigment dyes which hides the flaws and the grain in the leather, as opposed to aniline dyes which allow the grain to be seen and the leather to age, darken and develop a patina. Aniline dyes also allow any natural flaws to be visible, which most people don't want to see. Consumers want leather exclusiveness but with "vinyl perfection". So, they use pigment dyes, which is very much like painting your leather with acrylic paint. It coats it, rather than just colouring it.

After dyeing with pigment dye, upholstery leather is then further sealed with lacquer, or similar flexible sealer, so as not to allow spilled drinks, etc. to stain the seats, and to keep the seats from looking worn. It also makes for easy clean up...just like vinyl. Between the pigment dye and the sealer, virtually nothing will soak into the leather...including conditioners, until this sealer coat starts to wear through or crack.... or is removed.

What benefit you are seeing is probably from the massaging action of working the conditioners onto the leather, which, by working the leather with your hands, you are breaking in the leather and keeping it flexible. This is why the driver's seat tends to stay more pliable than the others. Also, in winter, it is the nature of leather to be stiffer than in summer.

Hi,

You're correct... to a point. Many Products will not penetrate the various Fillers and Dyes as you mention, but some will. Leatherique is one of these...

Happy Motoring... Jim'99

[Chris C Atlanta]

Read the "About Leather" section on colorplus.com. Lexol is little more than a wet wipe down, water based...won't penetrate the leather. Their products are oil based and work marvelously. No affiliation, yada yada...

[Brucelee]

Originally Posted by Chris C Atlanta

Read the "About Leather" section on colorplus.com. Lexol is little more than a wet wipe down, water based...won't penetrate the leather. Their products are oil based and work marvelously. No affiliation, yada yada...

Consider the source. They are selling their products.

I have used both Lexol and Leatherique with good results.