Leather care for new car?

[matt@autogeek.net]

I don't know about all that...all I know is that taking care of your leather will make a HUGE difference in the long run, which is what truly matters.

[Junebug]

Cleaning - use Woolite 8:1. Conditioning - try Sonus or 1Z. My 2 cents for Friday.

[TOGWT]

Originally Posted by LazerRed1

Thought I had read on some of the older posts that leather seats had a finish applied to the leather which prevented any type of conditioner, etc. from actually reaching the leather and just stayed on the surface. Not true?

Leather Conditioners:
I have discussed this issue with many people in the leather tanning / preservation / care products industry and haven't received a definitive answer.
My issues are;

(a) How much conditioner will permeate the thick polyurethane top coat on the leather

(b) Chrome tanned leather hides are sealed at the tannery and then pigmented; what could a conditioner do for the hide?

Approximately 90% of vehicle manufacturers are using a split-leather hide and a (thermoplastic) polyurethane covering for their interior upholstery. Vehicle upholstery is chrome tanned and uniquely treated with a light pigmented urethane coating and / or a vinyl covering to make it more viable for automotive seating. It retains the softness of natural top-grain leather but resists fading in direct sunlight, which besides body oil is leathers worst enemy.

The complex tanning process of chromed tanned hides results in the fat liquoring and oils necessary to keep the hide soft and pliable being locked in, this is further sealed by a durable polyethylene covering to protect the hide from abrasion from clothing as well as the dust / dirt introduced by the vehicle’s AC system.

This type of automotive upholstery finish should not be considered a natural leather hide as far as care and its maintenance is concerned, only requiring that you maintain its moisture and protect it from ultra violet (UV) radiation. A water-based cleaner will permeate the polyurethane covering as its molecules are much smaller

[FONT='Times New Roman','serif']Leather Protection is far more viable and will provide better long-term benefits than a conditioner as so many so called leather conditioners utilize chemical solvents in order to facilitate penetration of there oils; this has a detrimental effect of the polyethylene covering causing fissures (cracking). If your leather upholstery is becoming inflexible use Leather Master’s Vital, as leather requires re-hydration (moisture replacement) not a leather conditioner[/font]

[supercharged]

Originally Posted by matt@autogeek.net

Leather Masters is decent stuff...leaves a pretty nice finish but the scent really doesn't do it for me.

As far as the scent, yeah, it doesn't smell pretty...but it's the only option to use if leather sqeek bothers you. I only used rejuvenator, and I will tell you it rejuvenates even better then Leatherique. AG should consider adding this brand...You guys still carry Liquid Glass...anyone ever purchases any product of that brand? I never heard ANYONE EVER talking about that brand...