Most Effective Leather Reconditioner

[kestrel452]

Hey guys,

I was wondering what you think the most effective leather re-conditioner would be. I finally pulled the trigger on purchasing a used car (2012 GMC Acadia SLT), and would like to get something on the leather that will (hopefully) re-condition it, work out some of the wrinkles, and restore the color/sheen/feel. It`s actually very clean and has a bit lower mileage than most other Acadias its age. I don`t want something that will be a pain or difficult to use.

Budget is not a concern unless we are talking $100+ per bottle


As an aside: Does anyone recommend a car cover better than the Covercraft "NOAH"? This vehicle will be living outside for the most part, and this is what I was planning on getting.

Thank you

[Raymoche]

I don`t think winkles can be removed without some major surgery lol, leather gets broken in and those winkles and crevices are normal...

I mentioned this in another thread, but my car is actually new, but the leather is like an ashy, matte, dry and hard feel, The leather is suppose to be black but looks gray. After using Polish Angel Bellaclean then Charisma conditioner, it looks like an awesome rich and dare I say slightly luxurious leather. I`ll try to get some 50/50 shots from my phone to the forums...

Edit:


Driver seat cleaned with Bellaclean and treated with Charisma, Passenger seat came from the factory in this condition...


50/50 Coated in Charisma, but not yet buffed


can you tell which side is treated?

[The Guz]

You could take advantage of this deal and have it price matched on Autopia.

SONAX Premium Class Leather Care Kit

See Mike`s write up

NEW - SONAX Leather Cleaner and SONAX Leather Care Cream - Review and How-To Article

[Striker]

I`m not too sure what to believe anymore when it comes to leather conditioners. Many people are against conditioners. Many informed ones say that it causes more bad than good and having coated leather- I totally buy this.

Ever dropped some water as a test on top of your leather seats? Notice how they don`t seep into the seats but rather hang out on top? That`s what would be happening to the leather surface too. You would only be coating the surface of the leather. Not the leather itself. Anyone else?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[RaysWay]

Easy answer: Leatherique

Leatherique Interior Detail

Do at least two applications and you`ll notice a big difference. Then regular wipe downs with the pristine clean is all you need. The rejuvenator oil should be done every 6-12 months.

[Raymoche]

I`m not too sure what to believe anymore when it comes to leather conditioners. Many people are against conditioners. Many informed ones say that it causes more bad than good and having coated leather- I totally buy this.

Ever dropped some water as a test on top of your leather seats? Notice how they don`t seep into the seats but rather hang out on top? That`s what would be happening to the leather surface too. You would only be coating the surface of the leather. Not the leather itself. Anyone else?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Your seats will benefit from conditioners, its real leather and will saturate with the conditioner over time.

you can always go to a scrap yard and cut a piece of leather out of a car and dip it in water for 10 minutes, it will come out wet. Most conditioner ask you to rub it on, leave it for 10-20 minutes, and buff excess off real good, the results are leather saturated with the conditioning oils/etc to keep it from drying out and becoming stiff.

[Accumulator]

Kestrel452- I`ve found both LeatherMasters and Sonus to work quite well on GM truck/SUV leather. Far better than I`d expected and they`re pretty quick/easy to use. That`s still what I`m using on the Tahoe (very used leather to say the least) even though I prefer better/costlier/more involved approaches for the Audis and the Jag.

And I too consider wrinkles/etc. to simply be "the patina of honest use", don`t give `em a second thought myself.

The NOAH covers I`ve used were absolute nightmares once they got wet, let alone dirty. And the vehicles under them would be a horrible mess. Gave up on them ages ago, but maybe they`re different now. When I had a vehicle outside 24/7 I quickly came to the conclusion that it was best to not bother covering it, but once again...YMMV always applies.

[Striker]

I see that sonax makes a nice leather cleaner and conditioner. Anyone recommend a good upholstery cleaner ? I see sonax makes one


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Accumulator]

Striker- What kind of upholstery? Leather, cloth....

Griot`s Interior Cleaner has always been safe on everything, but it`s so gentle it doesn`t even hurt the dirt (OK, bit of exaggeration there...).

One of the things I like about the Sonus cleaner (leather, vinyl) is that it doesn`t require rinsing. I don`t always (properly) rinse the Griot`s either but do wipe it off with a slightly damp cloth.

Never tried the Sonax stuff, don`t think I`ve tried *any* of their line.

[Striker]

It`s a leather. I really like my new sonax brush for textiles and leather. So now I`m wondering if I can go with the new cleaner and conditioner


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Accumulator]

Striker- Ah, yeah...OK, the white-stitched black, right? IMO it won`t be too finicky about what you use, and you`ll know pretty quickly whether you like how it`s turning out.

[Striker]

I`d like to get something off the shelf but I`m not too sure what`s good and what`s crap.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[The Guz]

I`d like to get something off the shelf but I`m not too sure what`s good and what`s crap.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

In that case Meguiar`s Glod Class Leather Sealer Treatment. I have found it Autozone.

Meguiars Gold Class Leather Sealer Treatment

[Striker]

Anyone ever use autoglym leather conditioner ?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Accumulator]

Striker- I`ve had to clean that Meguiar`s Gold Class off/out of a pal`s leather interior, so I`m not a fan. Others seem to like it though.

Never tried the AutoGlym stuff, and/but for some reason I generally prefer their stuff for "old school applications" and I myself wouldn`t reach for that on a new vehicle...but I could be 100% wrong about that (see below).

The whole "what can/oughta be used on today`s leather" topic is, IME, a genuine YMMV situation. Products that everybody said shouldn`t work on certain leathers, products that *I* would`ve said wouldn`t work, actually worked *great* for me. Products that others swear by were so unsatisfactory for me that I was swearing *at* them. IME you simply have to try stuff and see what works/doesn`t for *you*.

And as I keep saying, I basically don`t do *ANYTHING* to/for my leather interiors other than wipe them with an Interior QD. No, the daily drivers with six-figure miles don`t look showroom new, but they sure don`t need any refurbishing either. Good leather holds up great IME, for decades, with very minimal care. It`s like good leather footwear- after a few decades the creases might be really obvious, but at that point things are just broken in.