What do you guys use on your leather interiors to keep the leather new looking? Thanks, chris

 

http://www.armorall.com/?WT.srch=1

 

Hyde Food from the Jag or Volvo dealers....originally made by the leather company that did the Rolls Royce leather. Great for the steering wheel rim too.

 

Regular use of Meguiar's Gold Class Rich Leather Cleaner/Conditioner will keep dirt from accumulating and keep the leather nice and supple for years to come. I use it monthly on my cars and on my OTC (other than Crossfire ) the seats still look great after 5 years.

 

Please you can do way better than Armor All. Even Target has some Leather cleaners and conditioners that are better than that stuff.

 

Lexol leather care and 303 Protectant. Really hit the driver's seat bolsters heavy.

 

Do you need to let it sit for a while before you get in and drive, don't want to stain my clothes.

 

Agreed. This is what I use. My 2001 Honda seats still look great 8 years later.

 

I just use armor all for a quick wipe down. To keep it really nice, I use some leather care kit my parents bought to keep our leather sofa nice... The process takes a lot longer tho than a simple armor all wet-wipe

 

It's always best to apply the product and let it sit for several minutes, then come back with a clean, dry towel and give it a final wipe down to remove any excess you may have left behind.

This same process holds true for vinyl dressings applied to the dash, or ANY tire dressing used on those black rubber things that go round and round under the car.

 

I use Meguiar's Gold Class Rich Leather Cleaner/Conditioner on all my cars, works well and lasts for a good while

 

I've been using Sonus Leather care for a couple years now, works GREAT, nice finish!

http://www.autopia-carcare.com/son-600-610.html

 

Are the wipes safe to use?

 

I'm sure they're safe to use - Armor All takes a ton of flack, and it really is NOT deserved.

My only complaint about wipes is they tend to carry more product to the surface than I want and the canisters tend to allow the wipes to dry out if not used fairly quickly. On the A-A website they say they are guaranteed not to dry out for one year from date of purchase. That's all fine and well as a guarantee, but I still think they're more hassle than they're worth - and that includes our wipes as well.

The only thing that bothers me about this product in particular is their warning: Not for use on floors, vehicle controls (pedals, grips, steering wheels), bench or cycle seats, cycle tires, brake drums and other surfaces where slipperiness may be hazardous. I can only assume this means the end result of using this product is a shiny, slippery surface. Not something I want on my leather seats (again, that is ONLY a guess on my part, but why the disclaimer otherwise?). On the other hand, there are people who like a shine on their interior surfaces.

 

If you want that new shine look just use silicone spray & buff it off, Ive all ways use this.

 

Leather does not require 'conditioning' with anything other than water.

Keep your leather clean by protecting it with a leather protector and then regular cleaning.
Adding 'conditioners' which generally contain oils and waxes will change the appearance of your leather over time as dirt will build up on the surface and cause a sheen.

Using the correct care methods and products will not alter the factory finish.

This type of leather is 'coated' leather. This is essentially a 'painted' leather with a clear coat finish over the top. The leather may or may not be dyed through with aniline dyes prior to the finish coating.

Essentially it is this top coating that needs looking after. Cleaning is vitally important as the top coat will wear away if allowed to become dirty. Dirt on the surface will aslo become ground into the finish by constant abrassion.

'Conditioners', balms, feeds etc (traditionally oil and wax based) cannot penetrate this finish so are not worth applying - they can also leave behind residues on the finish which will only attract more dirt if allowed to remain.

A protector will make the finish easier to clean and also inhibit dye transfer etc on pale coloured leathers.

Leather however finished has to remain breathable and it will allow the movement of moisture back and forth (transpiration) so the use of water based cleaners and protectors will keep the leather correctly hydrated which is essentail to keeping it in good condition.

The routine for correct care should be
Protect from new (Auto Ultra Protect)
Maintain with a regular clean or maintenance product (Auto Ultra Maintain)
Deep clean with a foam cleaner once or twice a year (Auto Ultra Foam)

This will prolong the life of the finish on the leather

 

One of the biggest mistakes I ever made was using Armor All on a car dash. It wasn't textured like our dash and the shine was forever, or should I say glare. Probably the last time I used an Armor All product.
I use a cleaner and conditioner monthly on my seats but I do have a spot on the drivers seat where I rub when I get in the car and the leather is starting to wear, the dye has definitely started to wear. What suggestions are there for that issue?

 

Great information, thanks.
More on this product at; Cleaning Leather | All About Leather Cleaning

 

I've heard some products like Armor-All will crack the leather and make it peel. So far I have only used warm water but the drivers side bolster is showing some wear after + 60,000 miles. Maybe I'll buy some clear plastic seat covers just like my Dad's 1957 Plymouth had. (just kidding)

 

While in florida last year i was told by a friend who owned a detailing and tuning shop that he does not use armor-all becuase it has cleaning alchol in it and it dries out what ever you put it on. Im not sure if that is true or not but thats what i was told.