Leather Conditioner + Cleaner?

[SamS]

Originally Posted by rjd598

+3 leather masters is great but as someone else already said it's more of a full interior detail type of product but when you want quick interior cleaning there are more options. i am going to be trying out chemical guy's leather cleaner and their conditioner as my quick route and keep leather masters for the full cleaning times

True. I tried Griot's Leather Care spray, it it did a nice job picking up dirt from my black leather, as well as removing jeans dye from my wife's beige leather seats.

[quadpipes]

BMW's Leather cleaner kit? Like, Dislike, Good, Bad?

[signes]

^^^IMO the best for weekly/monthly maintenance. No smell, not greasy, easy and quick.

[TOGWT]

Unless a Premium Leather option was purchased the type of leather upholstery used by ~ 95% of OEM is a multi stratum covering over the leather hide; the top strata is the surface pigmentation (colour) and an abrasion resistant urethane.

Premium natural leather has a recognizable fragrance that is missing from polyurethane and plastic. Simple cleaning, hydration and protection are the steps that will prolong the life of finished leather.

1. Clean - there are two cleaning-related factors that can cause your leather to wear prematurely. The first is dirt, and the second is oil, combined they become very abrasive, as dirt / grit and subsequent friction cause the finish to wear

2. Hydrated – when leather tanner’s talk about conditioning leather they are referring to its moisture content, re-hydration is used to restore or maintain fluid balance (transpiration and evaporation of moisture); not the replenishment or replacement of the fat liquoring, oils and / or waxes.

3. Protected - is essential as it will protect the surface finish as a sacrificial layer; this way you are not actually cleaning the Leather's original surface, but cleaning from the surface of the protection. It also makes dirt easier to clean off

Urethane doesn’t require conditioning; always keep in mind that you’re dealing with the finished coating on the leather and not with the leather hide itself


“Proper Finished Leather Cleaning and Care” - http://www.autopia.org/forum/guide-d...ning-care.html

[elm3]

Has anybody used the BMW's Leather cleaner kit? I would like to keep the matte look and not have the leathers shine.

Eric

[ChrisK]

I use Zaino, and love the stuff.

No shine, and the smell is incredible.

[Nine]

Originally Posted by elm3

Has anybody used the BMW's Leather cleaner kit? I would like to keep the matte look and not have the leathers shine.

Eric

I have, it works really well, has a nice smell to it. Not the best bang for the buck though.

[elm3]

Originally Posted by Nine

I have, it works really well, has a nice smell to it. Not the best bang for the buck though.

^^^ Thank you so much. When you used it, were the leathers shinny or matte? I like the matte finish myself.

Eric

[signes]

See post #25, two above your original question.

[elm3]

Originally Posted by signes

See post #25, two above your original question.

Thanks man.

[edwinm3]

BMW leather cleaner is lexol with a different label. Now, I've used leatherique and many other products for years, leatherique is an excellent product.

Want something that's also very, very good, try Bentley's hide food. Connolly hide care is the same thing.

[Cortexiphan]

I have just applied Lexol, and it made my seats shine. Will that shining go away? I don't want it to shine, I want the original matte look.

[Martin_D]

Use a quick interior detailer and go over the seats sooner than later. Meguiars Quick Interior detailer from any auto parts store is fine for this...

[edwinm3]

Originally Posted by Cortexiphan

I have just applied Lexol, and it made my seats shine. Will that shining go away? I don't want it to shine, I want the original matte look.

It'll wear off in a day or two

[TOGWT]

Isocyanate based ethyl carbamate (urethane) finished leather upholstery is used by 95% as OEM in modern automobiles. It comprises a multi stratum acrylic and polyurethane resin binder system covering over the leather hide; the top strata are the surface pigmentation (colour) and an abrasion resistant urethane is used to improve flexibility, fastness and adhesion to the leather, then two or three aqueous (water- based) pigmented base coat applications.

And then a clear aqueous (water- based) top coat is applied as the final stage of the finishing process, which usually includes additives to give it a soft feel (patina) and abrasion resistance, as well as a limited amount of ‘slide’ to assist in entering and exiting the vehicle. It also has micro-pores that allow evaporation and hydration (the passage of water vapour through a membrane or pore) they are not sealed per se as some chemicals penetrate it easily; others stay on top dependent upon their molecule size.

Modern tanning and coating processes leave leather dynamic and self-regulating with regard to the moisture content therein. Repetitive heat cycling causes the leather to lose moisture, resulting in the formation of creasing or surface cracks, which further leads to the leather shrinking; however the urethane remains stable, which may lead to delamination

Three Step Leather Care
Simple cleaning, hydration and protection are the three steps that will prolong the life of finished leather; urethane doesn’t require conditioning or rejuvenation

1. Clean - there are two cleaning-related factors that can cause your leather to wear prematurely. The first is dirt, and the second is oil, combined they become very abrasive, as dirt / grit and subsequent friction cause the finish to wear

2. Hydrated – when leather tanner’s talk about conditioning leather they are referring to its moisture content, re-hydration is used to restore or maintain fluid balance (transpiration and evaporation of moisture); not the replenishment or replacement of the fat liquoring, oils and / or waxes.

3. Protection - is essential as it will protect the surface finish with a sacrificial layer; this way you are not actually cleaning the finished leather's original surface, but cleaning from the surface of the protection. It also makes dirt easier to clean off


“Proper Finished Leather Cleaning and Care” - http://www.autopia.org/forum/guide-d...ning-care.html

[Cortexiphan]

Originally Posted by edwinm3

It'll wear off in a day or two

It did Thank you