Best off the shelf leather cleaner....? - Page 3

Sandy · #31 (**permalink**) 10-05-05, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by youbetcha77

Sandy,
I recently bought a 87 Fifth Avenue that has neglected leather that is very dirty. I will try your trick on it and see how it works.

Blaze

Doesn't work too well on New Yorkers, something about that rich corinthian leather......

youbetcha77 · #32 (**permalink**) 10-05-05, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandy

Doesn't work too well on New Yorkers, something about that rich corinthian leather......

Are you making fun of my car????

youbetcha77 · #33 (**permalink**) 10-05-05, 09:39 AM

And its a Fifth Avenue, not a New Yorker and they are not the same in 87. He he.

I like how you use your car for to show people when those seats havent held a butt for more than 30 minutes and the whole car has less than 10,000 miles.

Blaze

turbojimmy · #34 (**permalink**) 10-05-05, 09:40 AM

Off the shelf I use Lexol cleaner and Lexol conditioner. It seems to work fine. You apply the cleaner with a damp cloth and it foams up to lift dirt, then you wipe it off. The conditioner is applied in a similar 2-step manner, wipe it on and buff it off. Lexol is the only product I've used that leaves the leather looking 'natural' - no shine and no greasy feel.

I've bought all of the cars I've owned with leather interiors as used cars, so all had the beginnings of the bolster wear on the driver's seat - even relatively low mileage cars. The Lexol seems to keep it from getting worse (but obviously doesn't repair it). My minivan was purchased new in late '03 and has about 17k miles on it now. I've used the Lexol from day one and the leather still looks like day one.

Having been submerged in river water for some period of time, the leather in my DTS is not perfect, but the Lexol seems to have kept it supple enough to keep it from cracking. The rear seatback in the car is from a collision-total and the rear seat bottom is the original submerged stuff. After applying some Lexol, you can't tell the difference between the two. Here you can see what kind of finish Lexol leaves:

There's still a couple of divots in the leather in that pic because I had just stretched the leather back onto the frames. It had been sitting in the basement with junk stacked on top of it. To fully appreciate that pic, you have to consider that inside of the car was totally covered in mud, then literally powerwashed for auction. The leather was pretty well dried out when I got it.

Jim

Sandy · #35 (**permalink**) 10-05-05, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by youbetcha77

Are you making fun of my car????

No, just kidding with ya.

Cadillac_Rancher · #36 (**permalink**) 10-05-05, 06:57 PM

Charlies trick worked, made my eggshell leather platinum again. Im gonna see if i cant just put the soap and water in the blender, cause sometimes i cant wait 2 days for this, and its cool to show off.

-The Cadillac Rancher

Sandy · #37 (**permalink**) 10-05-05, 08:59 PM

Rancher, I'd suggest that you damp wipe your seats now, to remove any soap RESIDUE, using VIVA or BOUNTY paper towels and frequently turning them or taking new, & then spray Pledge lightly >>> LIGHTLY and buff off with the Viva/Bounty, to protect from dirt & "feed" the leather.

CandyLac · #38 (**permalink**) 10-06-05, 03:26 AM

ok i just cleaned my leather, but what can i do to maintain it? my cadi is my everyday driver and I dont know if tha dove cleaning and pledge will last for half a year... is it okay if i spray and wipe off some pledge every month or so?

Sandy · #39 (**permalink**) 10-06-05, 08:09 AM

The cleaning should last like 5 months, unless you wear mechanic outfits that have dirt/crime on them. Yes you can LIGHTLY spary and throughly wipe off Pledge in between. Just remember that it takes about 7 weeks or so for the Pledge to wear off. You will have a VERY difficult time claning them (again) UNTIL the Pledge is worn off.

youbetcha77 · #40 (**permalink**) 10-06-05, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CandyLac

ok i just cleaned my leather, but what can i do to maintain it? my cadi is my everyday driver and I dont know if tha dove cleaning and pledge will last for half a year... is it okay if i spray and wipe off some pledge every month or so?

Use Meguire's Leather conditioner on it. It lasts a good while. I did my car in Feb. and it still looks great. In my opinion, Pledge wouldn't last. It was meant to polish furniture that does not have a butt sliding on it several times a day.

Blaze

youbetcha77 · #41 (**permalink**) 10-06-05, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandy

No, just kidding with ya.

The soaps in the bucket and the clocks tickin. I dont know why Chrysler found it amuzing to put these buttons so deep in the seat. Its like playing the game operation to get it all clean. Its worse than the D'Elegance series.

Blaze

Sandy · #42 (**permalink**) 10-06-05, 11:39 AM

Try it, Blaze! (Pledge) (Re: Post # 40) I have found most items Meguire's markets leave a sticky film or residue. Remember, leather is skin, and what's better for skin than Vit. C, Aloe Vera, Lanolin & creme? It does last...about 7 to 8 weeks.

youbetcha77 · #43 (**permalink**) 10-06-05, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandy

Try it, Blaze! (Pledge) (Re: Post # 40) I have found most items Meguire's markets leave a sticky film or residue. Remember, leather is skin, and what's better for skin than Vit. C, Aloe Vera, Lanolin & creme? It does last...about 7 to 8 weeks.

Then why dont we just rub some Vaseline Intensive care Lotion for very dry skin on there? Thats the same ingredients. Won't Pledge make your car smell like a coffee table. LOL

Blaze

Cadillac_Rancher · #44 (**permalink**) 10-06-05, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandy

Rancher, I'd suggest that you damp wipe your seats now, to remove any soap RESIDUE, using VIVA or BOUNTY paper towels and frequently turning them or taking new, & then spray Pledge lightly >>> LIGHTLY and buff off with the Viva/Bounty, to protect from dirt & "feed" the leather.

I did do this, I noticed on my pledge natural beauty can it said also works great on leather, vinyl and plastic, so I said what the heck, I hate the armorall look/feel, but i need something on my dash, wow! its looks so nice, has a natural glow to it, but no greasy and shinny like armorall.

-The Cadillac Rancher

youbetcha77 · #45 (**permalink**) 10-06-05, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandy

No, just kidding with ya.

Hey, it may have peeling clearcoat, hail dents that hold water, peeling chrome, cracked vinyl top, water in the headlights, hanging headliner, windows that fall in the doors, bad engine and a temperamental power antenna, but the leather wrapped steering wheel and seats is mint.

Yehaw - what a find!!!

Okay, fine Sandy, its a piece of crap.

Blaze