Leather Care
- Thread starter ohten
- Start date
imported_DetailDan
New member
Remove the Lexol and leave nothing on the leather for a couple days. See if you still notice a smell.
Todd@RUPES
Just a regular guy
I don't 'think' its the Lexol, and the reason being is that many people use it and never have a complaint. Can you be more specific about the smell (does it resemble Lexol's smell to begin with)?
I would start by cleaning everything first, and thoroughly inspecting under the seats, in the dash, etc. When something stinks after being heated, it is usually something rotting in my experience. This may sound crazy but has anybody had any diary products in your car, maybe some spilled milk? If it s a putrid, rotten (as you described smell) there is a very good chance you have something else going on. Smell the Lexol in the bottle as well, does it have a similar odor?
Alternatively you could attempt to remove the Lexol product and see if that solves your problem. Mix a little Woolite laundry detergent (about 1 part Woolite to 10 parts water) and lightly wipe the seats and leather down with this (alternatively you can use Blackfire's Interior All Surface Cleaner).
See if that's the problem, either ways, let us know when you figure it out please as I would be interested in hearing about Lexol being the cause.
I would start by cleaning everything first, and thoroughly inspecting under the seats, in the dash, etc. When something stinks after being heated, it is usually something rotting in my experience. This may sound crazy but has anybody had any diary products in your car, maybe some spilled milk? If it s a putrid, rotten (as you described smell) there is a very good chance you have something else going on. Smell the Lexol in the bottle as well, does it have a similar odor?
Alternatively you could attempt to remove the Lexol product and see if that solves your problem. Mix a little Woolite laundry detergent (about 1 part Woolite to 10 parts water) and lightly wipe the seats and leather down with this (alternatively you can use Blackfire's Interior All Surface Cleaner).
See if that's the problem, either ways, let us know when you figure it out please as I would be interested in hearing about Lexol being the cause.
Strange. Are you the original owner and sole driver? IOW, so you know the history of the vehicle since it was sold? I haven't heard of this re Lexol, I use it occassionally on my '04 545.
What I'm wondering is whether this may be due to improperly cured leather??? I'm throwing spaghetti against the wall on that one.
Have you searched the web for rotten smelling leather in BMWs, cars or just in general?
Also, some synthetic products can have a rotten smell. Have you literally put nose to car seat and verified without a doubt it's the source? Is it true for all the leather seats or just the ones that get sat in?
Sorry, I don't have the answer, but these are a start, you may have already checked these things or ruled them out.
What I'm wondering is whether this may be due to improperly cured leather??? I'm throwing spaghetti against the wall on that one.
Have you searched the web for rotten smelling leather in BMWs, cars or just in general?
Also, some synthetic products can have a rotten smell. Have you literally put nose to car seat and verified without a doubt it's the source? Is it true for all the leather seats or just the ones that get sat in?
Sorry, I don't have the answer, but these are a start, you may have already checked these things or ruled them out.
DigTheRide
New member
What sort of rotten smell is it? Musty, mold, spoiled food, sweat, etc.
Seems like it'd be more likely that something had been spilled and soaked into the seat foam. I'd check the carpets though. Seems like they have more of a tendancy to get a funk to them. My dad had a Passat with rubber floormats that trapped water under them and boy did that smell by the time we figured it out.
Seems like it'd be more likely that something had been spilled and soaked into the seat foam. I'd check the carpets though. Seems like they have more of a tendancy to get a funk to them. My dad had a Passat with rubber floormats that trapped water under them and boy did that smell by the time we figured it out.
David Fermani
Forza Auto Salon
ohten - feel free to contact me - I'm also in Boynton Beach. I'd love to come by and check it out and see what's causing this. Interiors are my specialty.
Eddy Fiuza
Honorary Master Detailer
Ohten:
Nice car by the way. To bad you have to deal with bad smells on such a new car. It takes the fun of smelling the new car scent. Allow me to start by asking a few questions. Did you buy your car brand new? Are you the first owner? I notice it's a 2008. Was the car a demo at the dealer? Was it park outside when you bought it? What drew you to single out the leather? I did read that it only has 5k.
I can continue asking a million questions but perhaps we will never know exactly what has cause this inconvenience of the overwhelming smell. Let's have some fun as we do some CSI work. This is going to take a while, so some of you might want to take a nap and check back a few month later to see if we found the problem. Being a detailer for many years I have work on many types of interiors. A few month ago a customer called me that his brand new car smelled horrible after some rain water got in from a passenger window that was left open. He told me that once he had notice this he took action by drying it with towels.
He told me that everything was dry to the touch. He then park the car in the sun with the windows down all day. At the end of the day everything seem as it went back to normal. The next morning he gets in his car and WAM! The smell was back. He even took out the rear leather seats to find that in less then 24hrs it had mold. Now this is the Huge problem. Carpets underneath can build up mold. But you can't see it unless you remove the entire carpet. Just type in on google what creates mold. Now keep this in mind. Mold likes to give birth in shaded, or humid areas. It can even survive with some sun. It can even live inside your leather seats and inside your A/c vents with out detection.
The only reason I will begin by telling you to start with the leather is because your convince that's the problem. After I explain the way I clean the leather. You should try it and then a day or a week later you should know if this fix the problem. This way if the smell is still there we move to the next thing. In your case I would professionally steam clean the leather first with out using chemicals in the steamer tank. Only distilled water. I clean the leather in sections. Example one seat at a time. I start first by spraying with a product called Leather Therapy wash. This is there site. http://www.leathertherapy.com/ Ask for Pino or Ana. They are the owners. They are very knowledgeable about leather care. There products are also used in horse riding gear, leather jackets, leather shoes, motorcycles and for leather furniture. I have been using it for years even on my Italian leather sofas. These products will TKO the mold issue. But yet it will protect your leather from uv and a list of other things.
This product has done amazing results for me through out the years. I exclusively use leather Therapy products to ensure quality leather treatment.
According to Leather Therapy most leather care products fall short. Soaps and some tropical preparations may be alkaline (pH above 7) and break down leather fiber. Soaps can leave behind a soap scum or residue while some treatments darken leather or migrate, creating greasy spots that encourage mold and mildew problems. Others are unable to lubricate the corium of the leather, the interior matrix that provides vital cushioning and flexibility where leather works hardest.
If you have never used a professional steam cleaner, perhaps you can ask around this forum who can offer you this service. Also warning. Steam can get very hot. My machine can get up to 300dg. But I can control the psi and steam. Also make sure not to remove dye. Professional steam cleaners are known to do wonders. It will kill most issues such as germs, dust mites, mold etc. This machine has been my best friend. It has been worth every penny and more. My machine can clean just about anything. No more using Q tips around tight areas.
Now if you don't have a steam cleaner you will have to do it by hand. You will need brushes for leather and a few white small cotton towels, a bucket with about two gallons of distilled water. You can buy at your local publix. A hose to be able to rinse the towel before you re-dip into the bucket of distilled water. You should put nice size white towels on the rug. In front of the seat and in back and in the sides. This will prevent water from soaking your rug. Start from the top of the seat first by soaking your brush in the clean water bucket then by spraying the brush with leather therapy wash.
You can keep the seat tilted back a little so all the grime will run down. Don't over kill. Once the top part of the seat is clean remove any grime from the button part that has run down. Do the same to everything that is leather. Once all the leather is wash and cleaned make sure everything is dry. Always keep windows, sun roof and doors open. Now it's time to feed the leather. Leather Therapy conditioner. Use latex gloves. Put some on your gloves and massage all the leather with this conditioner. Have fun massaging. Now you can also use an applicator sponge or even a pair of white socks over the latex gloves.
You should allow the leather conditioner to work it's self in for a while. Take a break. Get your self a dry white sock or a cotton white shirt and wipe off any excess oils. I buff the leather to a nice sheen. Now pat yourself on the back after hours of just cleaning the leather and go for a nice ride.
Regards
Nice car by the way. To bad you have to deal with bad smells on such a new car. It takes the fun of smelling the new car scent. Allow me to start by asking a few questions. Did you buy your car brand new? Are you the first owner? I notice it's a 2008. Was the car a demo at the dealer? Was it park outside when you bought it? What drew you to single out the leather? I did read that it only has 5k.
I can continue asking a million questions but perhaps we will never know exactly what has cause this inconvenience of the overwhelming smell. Let's have some fun as we do some CSI work. This is going to take a while, so some of you might want to take a nap and check back a few month later to see if we found the problem. Being a detailer for many years I have work on many types of interiors. A few month ago a customer called me that his brand new car smelled horrible after some rain water got in from a passenger window that was left open. He told me that once he had notice this he took action by drying it with towels.
He told me that everything was dry to the touch. He then park the car in the sun with the windows down all day. At the end of the day everything seem as it went back to normal. The next morning he gets in his car and WAM! The smell was back. He even took out the rear leather seats to find that in less then 24hrs it had mold. Now this is the Huge problem. Carpets underneath can build up mold. But you can't see it unless you remove the entire carpet. Just type in on google what creates mold. Now keep this in mind. Mold likes to give birth in shaded, or humid areas. It can even survive with some sun. It can even live inside your leather seats and inside your A/c vents with out detection.
The only reason I will begin by telling you to start with the leather is because your convince that's the problem. After I explain the way I clean the leather. You should try it and then a day or a week later you should know if this fix the problem. This way if the smell is still there we move to the next thing. In your case I would professionally steam clean the leather first with out using chemicals in the steamer tank. Only distilled water. I clean the leather in sections. Example one seat at a time. I start first by spraying with a product called Leather Therapy wash. This is there site. http://www.leathertherapy.com/ Ask for Pino or Ana. They are the owners. They are very knowledgeable about leather care. There products are also used in horse riding gear, leather jackets, leather shoes, motorcycles and for leather furniture. I have been using it for years even on my Italian leather sofas. These products will TKO the mold issue. But yet it will protect your leather from uv and a list of other things.
This product has done amazing results for me through out the years. I exclusively use leather Therapy products to ensure quality leather treatment.
According to Leather Therapy most leather care products fall short. Soaps and some tropical preparations may be alkaline (pH above 7) and break down leather fiber. Soaps can leave behind a soap scum or residue while some treatments darken leather or migrate, creating greasy spots that encourage mold and mildew problems. Others are unable to lubricate the corium of the leather, the interior matrix that provides vital cushioning and flexibility where leather works hardest.
If you have never used a professional steam cleaner, perhaps you can ask around this forum who can offer you this service. Also warning. Steam can get very hot. My machine can get up to 300dg. But I can control the psi and steam. Also make sure not to remove dye. Professional steam cleaners are known to do wonders. It will kill most issues such as germs, dust mites, mold etc. This machine has been my best friend. It has been worth every penny and more. My machine can clean just about anything. No more using Q tips around tight areas.
Now if you don't have a steam cleaner you will have to do it by hand. You will need brushes for leather and a few white small cotton towels, a bucket with about two gallons of distilled water. You can buy at your local publix. A hose to be able to rinse the towel before you re-dip into the bucket of distilled water. You should put nice size white towels on the rug. In front of the seat and in back and in the sides. This will prevent water from soaking your rug. Start from the top of the seat first by soaking your brush in the clean water bucket then by spraying the brush with leather therapy wash.
You can keep the seat tilted back a little so all the grime will run down. Don't over kill. Once the top part of the seat is clean remove any grime from the button part that has run down. Do the same to everything that is leather. Once all the leather is wash and cleaned make sure everything is dry. Always keep windows, sun roof and doors open. Now it's time to feed the leather. Leather Therapy conditioner. Use latex gloves. Put some on your gloves and massage all the leather with this conditioner. Have fun massaging. Now you can also use an applicator sponge or even a pair of white socks over the latex gloves.
You should allow the leather conditioner to work it's self in for a while. Take a break. Get your self a dry white sock or a cotton white shirt and wipe off any excess oils. I buff the leather to a nice sheen. Now pat yourself on the back after hours of just cleaning the leather and go for a nice ride.
Regards
David Fermani
Forza Auto Salon
Nice explanation Eddy - I spoke to Pino @ LT about his products and they seem quite interesting. I atually have some coming. I've been using LeatherMasters with good luck and I'm interested in trying their oil-based "conditioner" for comparison. I've under the impression that leather protectors should be water based fluorochemicals containing no waxes, oils, silicones etc. I was told that "conditioners" are not necessary as they can actually cause more problems by trapping dirt and oils together with friction which can cause the breakdown of the finish. 
Eddy Fiuza
Honorary Master Detailer
David thank you for the complement:
Let's look at leather cleaning as if it were are own skin. Our skin is the largest living organ. When I started Paramedic school in the late 80' I remember my professor asking the question. What is the largest organ in the body... It turns out to be our skin.
I want to bring to the table an interesting analogy to compare to leather interiors. Summer temperatures in the United States can climb above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 de grease Celsius), making heat stroke a big problem for heat stroke.
ATTENTION all detailers. This information can save your life. The human body wants to stay at 98.6 degrees F. The only way to stay at 98.6 is to sweat. By putting moisture on the skin and letting it evaporate, your body can cool itself very effectively and keep its temperature in the proper range.
Sweat works really well as long as there is plenty of water in your body -- it takes water to manufacture sweat. If you run out of water, sweat stops and your body rapidly overheats. It turns out that it is extremely easy to run out of water -- your body can produce 0.5 gallons (2 liters) of sweat every hour in a hot environment. Unless you are drinking water at the same rate, you will dehydrate and then stop sweating.
Your internal thirst meter often is not sensitive enough when you need that much water (and it has been said that by the time you feel thirsty, you're already dehydrated), so you have to keep drinking regardless of how thirsty you feel. Your body can produce a half gallon of sweat every hour in a hot environment.
The other thing that can lead to heat stroke is very high humidity, which keeps sweat from evaporating.
In either case -- be it the lack of sweat or the inability to evaporate it -- the core body temperature can rise very quickly if it is hot outside. Once the core gets to 106 degrees F, it is a serious problem.
a car is an excellent solar oven that uses the greenhouse effect to trap heat. Sunlight heats the sheet metal of the car, and it streams in through the windows to heat the interior. It turns out that glass is completely transparent to visible light but opaque to infrared light -- and infrared light is the heat that is trying to radiate back out of the interior. So the temperature rises rapidly, to the point where you often cannot touch the steering wheel without getting singed.
This is why I explained how important it is to me to steam clean leather. I want all the trap dirt, body oils,conditioners etc to be cleaned off. I want to start with a new clean leather so I can apply conditioners. Note that a lady when she goes to her favorite spa, she will go for the full detail. Her skin is a #1 priority. Her face means the world. They get the steam to there face to release or types of clog pores,black heads, makeup, grime, germs and oils.
They want to always have there face to look younger, fresher. Then comes the green face with tons of ingredients and the massage to there face. And let's not forget the big round cucumbers. Bless all the lady's for taking care of themselves. Now in the other hand imagine if a lady was not taking off her make up and would re apply makeup the next day. No comment.
Guy's (VERRY IMPORTANT) we to need to take care of our skin while we are in the sun by using sun block. Some of us including myself Will take better care of our clients leather in there cars and neglect our own skin. Leather needs to be hydrated and treated right. When you put conditioners on your skin or certain oils it's for nourishment. Providing that your skin is clean, it won't clog up the pores if you maintain the skin properly. Same goes for leather.
If the the leather is not treated correctly it could get hard or lead to dry rot. Well after writing all this I'm taking a steam bath and drinking a large glass of water. I think I will even put a pair of 2 inch jeweling pads on my eyes with coconut oil. Don't let the heat, stroke you down. Keep pressing on.
Regards
Eddy Fiuza
PS
Private message are always welcome if you have any questions. Or you can email me or visit my web-page. http://fiuzasautodetailing.com
Let's look at leather cleaning as if it were are own skin. Our skin is the largest living organ. When I started Paramedic school in the late 80' I remember my professor asking the question. What is the largest organ in the body... It turns out to be our skin.
I want to bring to the table an interesting analogy to compare to leather interiors. Summer temperatures in the United States can climb above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 de grease Celsius), making heat stroke a big problem for heat stroke.
ATTENTION all detailers. This information can save your life. The human body wants to stay at 98.6 degrees F. The only way to stay at 98.6 is to sweat. By putting moisture on the skin and letting it evaporate, your body can cool itself very effectively and keep its temperature in the proper range.
Sweat works really well as long as there is plenty of water in your body -- it takes water to manufacture sweat. If you run out of water, sweat stops and your body rapidly overheats. It turns out that it is extremely easy to run out of water -- your body can produce 0.5 gallons (2 liters) of sweat every hour in a hot environment. Unless you are drinking water at the same rate, you will dehydrate and then stop sweating.
Your internal thirst meter often is not sensitive enough when you need that much water (and it has been said that by the time you feel thirsty, you're already dehydrated), so you have to keep drinking regardless of how thirsty you feel. Your body can produce a half gallon of sweat every hour in a hot environment.
The other thing that can lead to heat stroke is very high humidity, which keeps sweat from evaporating.
In either case -- be it the lack of sweat or the inability to evaporate it -- the core body temperature can rise very quickly if it is hot outside. Once the core gets to 106 degrees F, it is a serious problem.
a car is an excellent solar oven that uses the greenhouse effect to trap heat. Sunlight heats the sheet metal of the car, and it streams in through the windows to heat the interior. It turns out that glass is completely transparent to visible light but opaque to infrared light -- and infrared light is the heat that is trying to radiate back out of the interior. So the temperature rises rapidly, to the point where you often cannot touch the steering wheel without getting singed.
This is why I explained how important it is to me to steam clean leather. I want all the trap dirt, body oils,conditioners etc to be cleaned off. I want to start with a new clean leather so I can apply conditioners. Note that a lady when she goes to her favorite spa, she will go for the full detail. Her skin is a #1 priority. Her face means the world. They get the steam to there face to release or types of clog pores,black heads, makeup, grime, germs and oils.
They want to always have there face to look younger, fresher. Then comes the green face with tons of ingredients and the massage to there face. And let's not forget the big round cucumbers. Bless all the lady's for taking care of themselves. Now in the other hand imagine if a lady was not taking off her make up and would re apply makeup the next day. No comment.
Guy's (VERRY IMPORTANT) we to need to take care of our skin while we are in the sun by using sun block. Some of us including myself Will take better care of our clients leather in there cars and neglect our own skin. Leather needs to be hydrated and treated right. When you put conditioners on your skin or certain oils it's for nourishment. Providing that your skin is clean, it won't clog up the pores if you maintain the skin properly. Same goes for leather.
If the the leather is not treated correctly it could get hard or lead to dry rot. Well after writing all this I'm taking a steam bath and drinking a large glass of water. I think I will even put a pair of 2 inch jeweling pads on my eyes with coconut oil. Don't let the heat, stroke you down. Keep pressing on.
Regards
Eddy Fiuza
PS
Private message are always welcome if you have any questions. Or you can email me or visit my web-page. http://fiuzasautodetailing.com
imported_DetailDan
New member
Eddy Fiuza- It sounds like these products are best used on aniline leathers. From what Ive read, the most important things for protected/ coated leather is to keep them clean and apply a protectant to specifically protect from oils, not a conditioner. What are your thoughts on this?
Great info about staying hydrated, spot on!
Great info about staying hydrated, spot on!
imported_DetailDan
New member
I would take it to the dealership. Something might be going on mechanically.
I have also used lexol products for years on my cars and coats and have never had a smell issue, I am an auto mechanic and the biggest cause of "stinky leather" I have found is sweat.(for example, in my town car the A/C went out, I drove it for 2 days(5 miles each way to work and back)before I fixed it, now, I am not big or unusually sweaty but it took almost a year for it to smell "normal" after 20 miles of summer driving with no A/C..My only other thought is, are you using a "damp" or "wet" rag to apply the cleaner??
is it truly the boot? or is the smell coming from under the car as you drive and just drifting up through the boot? There is also a seal in the floor around the cable that keeps water etc. out of the car, if that's ripped the boot may get wet underneath while driving in wet conditions...
Eddy Fiuza
Honorary Master Detailer
Dan Great question!
First lets define for the other detailers what is Aniline Leather.
Aniline Leather is colored all the way through with a transparent dye. The effect is applied by immersing the leather in a dye bath. Because the finish is transparent and shows the natural markings of the leather, only the best quality hides can be used.
99% of the exotic or high end cars I work with have top rated quality leather, such as Italian leather. Now you also have the lesser quality leather on the non exotics. Which they fit into this category Finish leather: Which is any enhancing effect applied to leather after it has been tanned. Examples are dyeing, embossing, buffing, antiquing, waxing, waterproofing, and so on. I have work with cars with less then 10 years old and the leather is torn and had to be replace.
Now When I spray dye on leather I use in the dye what is called a cross linker. This will protect the leather dye from being broken down and coming off with detergents. Most cars have a finish on the leather that protects the dye from detergents and many other products used in the market to wipe down dirt.
The problem with this type of protection at times is that the leather is harder to treat from cracking. I also have the option to spray the leather once its dyed with a low satin clear that is made for dyeing leather. Almost like saying base coat clear coat. Just like clear coats it has to breath.
The pigment underneath depends on how you treat the clear. The oils and rejuvenator or restore help to preserve the leather. Most cars that have gone through years of neglect or have had no attention to the leather will suffer the consequence.
For example I don't like the shiny look on my car or cars leather seats I like a satin or matt look. Yet others like using products that are very shiny with uv protection. But how about protecting the leather. I have personally use and like what leatherherapy has done to the leather of my customers cars. I have been using it for years.
Leathertherapy also make a great product called Leather Finish. It's a protective luster that helps shield against drying sun,wind and moisture. It's a flexible durable surface coating. Will protect dyed, antique or polish leathers. can be used on all color leathers. Always try in a hidden area to see if the gloss is what you like.
This is the truth and facts. I use what works and gives me first as a client to the product the results I expect. would I continue to use this on my cars home leather furniture yes. And is it safe and gives me long term great results yes. I encourage you and who ever has even deeper question to call leathertherapy ask for Pino or Ana. They are the owners and creators of this product. There knowledge on leather care is there specialty.
Regards
Eddy Fiuza
First lets define for the other detailers what is Aniline Leather.
Aniline Leather is colored all the way through with a transparent dye. The effect is applied by immersing the leather in a dye bath. Because the finish is transparent and shows the natural markings of the leather, only the best quality hides can be used.
99% of the exotic or high end cars I work with have top rated quality leather, such as Italian leather. Now you also have the lesser quality leather on the non exotics. Which they fit into this category Finish leather: Which is any enhancing effect applied to leather after it has been tanned. Examples are dyeing, embossing, buffing, antiquing, waxing, waterproofing, and so on. I have work with cars with less then 10 years old and the leather is torn and had to be replace.
Now When I spray dye on leather I use in the dye what is called a cross linker. This will protect the leather dye from being broken down and coming off with detergents. Most cars have a finish on the leather that protects the dye from detergents and many other products used in the market to wipe down dirt.
The problem with this type of protection at times is that the leather is harder to treat from cracking. I also have the option to spray the leather once its dyed with a low satin clear that is made for dyeing leather. Almost like saying base coat clear coat. Just like clear coats it has to breath.
The pigment underneath depends on how you treat the clear. The oils and rejuvenator or restore help to preserve the leather. Most cars that have gone through years of neglect or have had no attention to the leather will suffer the consequence.
For example I don't like the shiny look on my car or cars leather seats I like a satin or matt look. Yet others like using products that are very shiny with uv protection. But how about protecting the leather. I have personally use and like what leatherherapy has done to the leather of my customers cars. I have been using it for years.
Leathertherapy also make a great product called Leather Finish. It's a protective luster that helps shield against drying sun,wind and moisture. It's a flexible durable surface coating. Will protect dyed, antique or polish leathers. can be used on all color leathers. Always try in a hidden area to see if the gloss is what you like.
This is the truth and facts. I use what works and gives me first as a client to the product the results I expect. would I continue to use this on my cars home leather furniture yes. And is it safe and gives me long term great results yes. I encourage you and who ever has even deeper question to call leathertherapy ask for Pino or Ana. They are the owners and creators of this product. There knowledge on leather care is there specialty.
Regards
Eddy Fiuza
imported_DetailDan
New member
Thanks Eddy. Im definitely interested in trying their products, I sent them an email.
Eddy Fiuza
Honorary Master Detailer
Your welcome Dan: You can always pm me if you have other questions.
Sincerely,
Eddy
Sincerely,
Eddy