Leather conditioning

[TOGWT]

@TOGWT - very detailed explanation (as per your usual articles posted on the forum).

So, my take-away from the replies is, all these years, I've pretty much been getting ripped of buying all of these conditioners when a simple damp clothe would have sufficed. Feeling like a sucker right now! Of course, there was a time when Armour All on my dash was the bomb and Turtle Wax Ice was Awesome, until I realized that after a week, I had more dust then shine. I guess I'm evolving!

I looked at one vendor's website an they had more than five pages of lether conditioning products, which are best sellers and make them huge profits; of course they don't want you to use water (hydration) to condition finished leather.

I have always thought that the more facts and information you have at hand the easier it is to judge what information you are being given, all of which will help you to make an informed decision. After all, how can you fully understand and properly use any product unless you have all the facts? In the final analysis; it’s your vehicle, your hard earned money and your choice.

Commercialism brings with it concerns of honesty and true representation. In other words, it’s difficult to know what is true when someone is motivated by income, i.e. directly targeted at product sales, more so than an unbiased opinion. One of the advantages of being independent and not having to answer to shareholders

Choose carefully whose advice you listen to, and more importantly what advice you act upon. The misinformation and myths that are so prevalent in the detail industry is the reason that detailers need to do research on their own. Treat all marketing claims as being just biased marketing claims and if you're lucky they will be based on truth and the company will operate ethically.

I would strongly suggest that you verify any information that I or anyone else shares with you. It is the individual’s responsibility to confirm the information supplied and apply it to their situation.

[Ron Ketcham]

Jon, I could not have said it better.
The "internet" is a wondreful source of information.
However, if one is doesn't actually spend time to "research" the source of the internet information provided, they are open to "agenda/marketing" information, not from those who have real time and work in doing/using products or processes/procedures over a time of such that allows them to see what may be the acutal results of using products, etc, time and time again.
My advice is simple, look at "who" is providing the "information", what is their "back ground" and "time" in the use of such products/processes.
Every year, paints, interior trim, exterior trim, etc are changing, and one or two or even 4 or 5 work that one that one's reads about, well, it is "one persons expeinces, not such that may be at the minimum, a "true and proven", with no damage, etc to what that one's wishes to find a resolution to.
Folks have "ego's", and they love to use the internet to share with others, and just because "it is written" on the internet, does not make it right.
Grumpy

[chrisguga]

Great advice here.

Basically, if the person giving the advice has financial gain/incentive driving their recommendations in any way, take it with a grain of salt.

[D&D Auto Detail]

How many vehicles do you think actually have genuine leather (protected or not) vs. leatherette or "pleather"? Have you ever looked at the back side of "leather" seats?

[Ron Ketcham]

"Back side" is not the "issue" it what the butt sets on, the "acids/sweat-etc" from a body that are emitted", the "dirt/soil" that comes in contact with it.
Outside of very high dollar, exotic's, almost all of the vehicles that the normal detailer has to work with are coated leathers.
Grumpy

[D&D Auto Detail]

"Back side" is not the "issue" it what the butt sets on, the "acids/sweat-etc" from a body that are emitted", the "dirt/soil" that comes in contact with it.

Well of course. That's not what I was getting at though.

[Ron Ketcham]

So, what are you saying or asking?
Body acids attack the "coating" of leather, just like acid rain, bird droppings, etc attack a clearcoat finish, not sure what you are saying.
Grumpy

[TOGWT]

How many vehicles do you think actually have genuine leather (protected or not) vs. leatherette or "pleather"? Have you ever looked at the back side of "leather" seats?

Vehicle mfg are all about 'bottom line' (no pun intended) so why would they use an expensive hide and then cover it with a pigmented urathane?

As RonK has intimated, body oils and (acidic) perpetration are very detrimental to urethane and leather. Some synthetic materials are sometimes more suitable than the original; leather upholstery due to its rigorous environment is a prime example

Clean and providing e protection product to the surface is the best ways to maintain leather

[Quality Leather]

As David said, I use a wringed out terry cloth towel. Usually a good scrubing with the towel takes care of most of the dirt and grime problems. My big thing with the towel is to clean the steering wheel on the drive home. When at a light, I will pick a section of the wheel and go over it a couple of times with the towel. Repeat at every light and the wheel is usually clean by the time you get home. Just don't go overboard in any one section at any one time or you might damage the coating.

Being in SoFl, I recomend against conditioning, but have heard others in drier climates say they have needed it. Still not sure how the conditioner would get through the top coat.

One of the big things these days are the protectors. I guess they are kind of like Scotch guard for leather. I haven't really tested any of them. I think JudyB has one and Stahl has a new one. I have some Stahl samples if David ever wants to drop by and pick them up.

[ls2drew]

For the cleaning aspect I had good results with 3D LVP(diluted 1:10) using a Horse Hair Brush, using a towel was just a pain for me.

[Bunky]

To reinterate my point in a general kind of way; if a mainstream conditioner treatment is used, and you are regularly cleaning to surface to eleminate dirt abrasion, will the use of said conditioner cause any premature avoidable wear?

I do not think there is any real evidence that is does degrade or cause premature wear. The FUD is about whose product is best and the marketing associated with it. The seat will get wear (maybe confused as premature) by actually sitting on it (getting in and out of the car).

We just have to look at all the threads between Roger and Judy on leather care products.

[TOGWT]

Oils and soft plastics i.e. polymers, acrylics and urethanes are not compatible; repeated application on to finished leather can cause the break-down of cross-linking and binding agents. Oil accelerates the deterioration of urethane over time. After extended use the condition of the finished leathers pigmentation (colour) will be removed by the oil causing the urethane protection to become delaminated