Condition your leather seats!

[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.

[Chris C Atlanta]

Pretty cynical, Bruce. I find their science and insights into leather and leather care excellent. They've been written up in Pano too for years for their products

My personal tests of Lexol and their product show Soffener is light years better and really does penetrate the leather. Believe what you like.

[Ghostrider 310]

To the MN boxer naysayer on leathercare. My 944 had the leather sport seats, even at 20 years old they looked perfect. I believe due to ongoing maintainence of the leather. Of course I believe waxing preserves the paint too, everyone can do as they wish with their own toys...