Best off the shelf leather cleaner....?

[I_Finally_Have_A_Cad]

Enough already! Like I said above, act your age. The attitude represented here is worse than one might find in a preschool. At this point I am completely in favor of locking this thread because the way everone wants too treat each other.

[I~LUV~Caddys8792]

^ at my post?

[90Brougham350]

Originally Posted by I~LUV~Caddys8792

Damn, I almost wish I had leather to try all this stuff out on!

Cool, you can help me do mine over Christmas break! I think the name-calling and "know what's best" attitudes should cease. I've never tried anything like this before, and I'll admit it sounds a little unorthodox, but I'm willing to give it a try. I showered with a bar of Ruthie's Dove soap this morning. It was waaaaay better than showering with my normal yellow bar of Dial. I figure there's gotta be something to it, it must do something to leather.

[GEORGEC]

For an automobile, or any other leather product that is short lived, it probably does not what matter what product is used on the leather. If it cleans the leather and it looks good to the current user it accomplishes the major goal.

The damage that the soap based solutions do to the leather is only apparent after many years or many, many uses. It takes time for these products to dry out the leather to the point that the user is able to see what has happened.

The oldest piece of leather furniture in my house has been with us for 37 years. This is a all leather chair that I purchased at the birth of my son.

If I had of been using soap based leather care products for the past 37 years this chair would no longer have been with us.

In summary, abusing the leather on a vehicle does not really matter as it is a short lived item regardless.

G

[Sandy]

Yes, it's so very hard to keep a car a long long time, (like 37 years). When I go to car shows and see some of these 35 to 40 year old cars, I am left speechless as to how these folks are able to maintain them. Okay, old Fords & Chevys are eaiser due to the aftermarket parts companies....but you see many other makes and discontinued makes and Studes & Edsels and Ramblers and ~ like where do these people find the correct parts? I can tell you that right now 70% of all parts for my 1993 Sixty Special are "out" and cannot be ordered at a Caddy dealer. (Especially cosmetic parts). (and) She's only 13 years old. What if I was, say 38 years old, and had bought her at age 25, (rather than at age 46,) and wanted to keep her for 37 years (using your furniture as and example, here) ... at which time I woulda been 62. How would I even keep her running? Especially here, in the North East with severe climatric changes ? I just cannot see how people are able to do that, yet, they do, as I see proof at every car show.
I'm scared as heck to drive my "60 Spcl." for fear - great fear - of getting "hit" and not being able to obtain parts, yet many - no, most, of the folks I meet at shows come from considerable distances and they drive the things there !!! I probably traveled 5 miles to the show, and heart beatin' like sump pump outta fear of road damage, i.e. kicked up stones, etc. and they are all like "no big deal" ... " ya I came up from Phila., Pa. - no big deal" THAT attitude amazes me....for I'd enjoy my Caddy alot more, if I didn't treat it like a newborn baby. Everytime it leaves the garage, I worry like mad !!!

[I~LUV~Caddys8792]

Originally Posted by 90Brougham350

Cool, you can help me do mine over Christmas break!

Ok! I cleaned/conditioned my Roadmaster's leather once, but that was so long ago I don't even remember what I did. The leather in that car was so shot it didn't even matter anyways.

[brougham]

Originally Posted by Sandy

Yes, it's so very hard to keep a car a long long time, (like 37 years). When I go to car shows and see some of these 35 to 40 year old cars, I am left speechless as to how these folks are able to maintain them. Okay, old Fords & Chevys are eaiser due to the aftermarket parts companies....but you see many other makes and discontinued makes and Studes & Edsels and Ramblers and ~ like where do these people find the correct parts? I can tell you that right now 70% of all parts for my 1993 Sixty Special are "out" and cannot be ordered at a Caddy dealer. (Especially cosmetic parts). (and) She's only 13 years old. What if I was, say 38 years old, and had bought her at age 25, (rather than at age 46,) and wanted to keep her for 37 years (using your furniture as and example, here) ... at which time I woulda been 62. How would I even keep her running? Especially here, in the North East with severe climatric changes ? I just cannot see how people are able to do that, yet, they do, as I see proof at every car show.
I'm scared as heck to drive my "60 Spcl." for fear - great fear - of getting "hit" and not being able to obtain parts, yet many - no, most, of the folks I meet at shows come from considerable distances and they drive the things there !!! I probably traveled 5 miles to the show, and heart beatin' like sump pump outta fear of road damage, i.e. kicked up stones, etc. and they are all like "no big deal" ... " ya I came up from Phila., Pa. - no big deal" THAT attitude amazes me....for I'd enjoy my Caddy alot more, if I didn't treat it like a newborn baby. Everytime it leaves the garage, I worry like mad !!!

You can still get most of the parts for it from the dealer. I wouldnt use that as an excuse to not drive it. It looks nice but cars that never get used start having problems. Nobody wants a car that looks good but you cant use.

[bhoppes]

I just put my Dove soap and water in a container last night. From 9:00 p.m. to 10:00 I sat down and read this whole post. It was all pretty interesting! lol
But I can't wait to try the Dove soap thing on my seats. I think I am going to throw the soap mixture in the blender tonight though.

[Sandy]

Other (non argued) points I made are important, too. While waiting get yourself a small (hand-sized) sponge. They have these at the supermarket. The brand I use is "O-Cello" and come in a 4-pack in bright colors. The UPC code for the package is 53200 0727. DO NOT over wet it with solution, or it will run all over the seat! Use sparingly, & do NOT rub too hard. Use circular motion, and don't be in a hurry. Take your time. Rub lightly and from time to time, rince & squeeze out your sponge. Work a small & manageable section at a time. Remeber.... When you are finished, to get either VIVA or BOUNTY (nuttin' else) paper towels. Take 2 squares, and wet it with water, & squeeze out to make damp. Wipe over seats to remove any soap residue. You should need to use at least 3 two squares of paper towel for each seating area, or 18 squares per front seat. DO NOT OVER WET, squeeze out until "damp" Change 3 times per seating area.

Allow to totally dry to the touch. Then using Pledge, the EXTRA MOISTURING variety (BROWN CAN) now with bronze-copper top. USE ONLY that one! "Extra Moisturing" - Do not use the LEMON PLEDGE ~

Spray it at the seat from like 6-8 inches away, again .... small section at a time, for total control. Buff off using ONLY premium VIVA OR BOUNTY paper towels. They are the softest with the highest cotton content.
Easy on the Pledge. You want a fine mist. IF you can "see" it on the seat after spraying.......you are using too much.

Remember, after Pledg-ing, you will NOT be able to clean any left behind dirt or smudges off of your seats until around St. Patrick's Day in March, when the Pledge will have worn off ! During that time frame, your seats will not get dirty and any dirt that gets on them, is on the Pledge's film and will wipe right off, but dirt not removed BEFORE the Pledge will have to be attended to in April.

Sandy

[youbetcha77]

I had to use the blender as well. My opinion on this procedure is this.. I used the dove soap on one seat and my nornal process on the other. Both came out clean. The dove trick worked, but took more time and elbow grease. Using my regular cleaner was easier. The pledge thing worked good except it wears off quick. It would be good for a car that isnt used much, but a everyday driver is going to wear it off quickly. In three days the pledge was gone. I left a spot on the seat that I didnt clean to see if and when the pledge would wear down. The spot cleaned just as easy as the whole seat did before I pledged them. My opinion is that this whole dove deal works good, but I didnt see any over all benefits of doing it this way or the regular way. Wear and tear is going to be the factor here. In 3 miles I got in and out of my car about 7 times, that is a lot of wear and tear. I do not think that Dove is going hurt the leather. I have noticed that you had to take your time getting the soap solution off of the seats or they will turn white where you left it and your unsuspecting jeans will take it off for you. The dove soap did make the interior smell good.

Blaze

[youbetcha77]

I want to also add that it seems the dove soap trick worked a lot better on the leather in my Chrysler Fifth Avenue, than the leather in my Lincoln Mark VIII. I dont know if it is because of the leather used or what, but it worked better on the Chrysler.

Blaze

[Sandy]

It's the Rich Corinthian Leather !!!

[pcunite]

What an exciting thread!

It is so hard to know what to you with all the advice and different products.
I have been using a product called Leatherique on my leather couch, shoes,
and leather seats. Reading how it works I thought it was the best thing.
Leather is porous and needs oils added back to stay soft, it seemed to make
sense. My shoes (Allen Edmonds) seem to take it well.

Anyway, the dove idea sounds good for "cleaning" but conditioning sounds
scary.



.

[behind-bars]

just a fyi from someone learning the hard way, try to condition leather when its warm outside. I was using some meguiars today and put it on and let it sit, came back a few hours later and it woudnt wipe off, ambient temp was 40s. Guess Ill have to use some elbow grease tomorrow. My pants are all gresasy now since I had to drive it lol.

[IndianaCaddy]

Just to insert my 2 cents--

After reading this threads, in Oct.we tried the Dove on our 99 DeVille and it worked great. Last week my wife used it on my 12 year old leather coat and now I have a new looking coat. Thanks to Sandy and everyone else.

Randy
PS We love our 99 Deville