Leather Conditioning Question

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I've got a car that's a little over a year old. I haven't conditioned the leather. The car hardly sees the sun as I park in a garage at home and work. Should I still condition the leather? Or should I wait? The car is a 911.
 
Sonus...designed by a Porsche owner. Best I have ever tried and I have tried alot of em.

Spinnebeck was my favorite till Sonus came along.



You can buy it right here.



Sonus Leather Cleaner is a pH balanced cleaner that’s safe and effective for most pigmented and aniline leather and imitation leather finishes. Our effective water-based formula gently cleans without drying fine leather and vinyl upholstery. Do not use on suede or nubuck. Leather Cleaner is a gel cleaner that you apply with an applicator, not by spraying. The gel formula allows the cleaner to gently loosen surface dirt and grime so it can be gently wiped away. Rinsing is not required. Simply wipe dry with a soft, dry microfiber towel and enjoy the fresh fragrance. Kit includes one 8 oz. bottle.



Formulated in Italy by Dr. Tork, Sonus Leather Conditioner is a protective polymer coating for all leather and imitation leather upholstery. The rich emulsion contains natural oils that are readily absorbed by leather to keep it hydrated, supple and in like-new condition. For imitation leather (vinyl), special waxes help maintain flexibility and prevent discoloration and cracking. Leather Conditioner creates a perfect “factory original� matte finish. Simply wipe on and let dry. Kit includes one 8 oz. bottle.
 
I have been using both the Lexol leather cleaner and conditioner for over 20 years.

I find that lexol doesn't leave the leather with a slick feeling.
 
Why are you 'conditioning' the leather? Cleaning & Protecting would be more beneficial on coated leathers such as this.
 
I have tried many of them and I like Sonus the best. No greasy film or shiny appearance, just a clean, fresh look. And after it dries it smells like Porsche leather ;)
 
The Duragloss cleaner is my favorite for maintenance/light cleanup..it has some light conditioning properties and smells great too..like a new car.



For deeper cleaning, I'd probably go with the Woolite mixture
 
Leather should be cleaned with water based foam detergent cleaners and then followed with a leather protector (not a conditioner).



Cleaners should not contain any waxes or oils as these can remain on the surface and attract more dirt and oils which will eventually damage the finish.



The old feeding and conditioning processes are completely outdated on modern leathers and should not be used as they simply do not do anything for the leather and may do long term damage.



New leather should be protected and then maintained with water based cleaners or maintenance products. The key is to keep leather clean and prevent any build up of dirt or oils.



You need to use a water based foam leather cleaner. Household soaps tend to have too much salt content to be safe to use on leather as this can sometimes break down the finish. It is always best to use products that have been specifically tested for leather use and also products that have technical back up in case you have any problems.



A leather protector acts like a scotchgard. It is fluoro chemical product that leaves a breathable residue on the surface of leather that you cannot feel or see. This will help to inhibit dirt and oils from being absorbed into the leather finish and so help prevent cracking and finish breakdown. The protector also contain UV protectors and will make your leather easier to clean. It will also inhibit dye transfer on light coloured leathers.



A word of caution, some manufacturers are renaming thier conditioners, protectors because of recent publicity about the need for protection over conditioning without changing the product. If this is the case then there will be no protective value in the product.



The effectiveness of protectors can be tested and a supplier should be able to provide samples of leather with proof of how it works.



Leather should not be sealed against water. Water is good for leather which is why cleaners and protectors should be water based. These rehydrate the leather and keep it supple.



The oils in leather which are put back during the retanning process cannot go anywhere (except in very unusual circumstances - spewing) and so are never removed from the leather by cleaning. Any claims about the need for products to replace these oils are false and products containing oils should not be used.

The leather in cars is generally fully corrected and pigmented which means that it is the finish you are cleaning. There is little chance of any oils being absorbed by the leather at all which means that they will only sit on the surface and attract more dirt.



Cleaning should be quick and straightforward and the products should do the work. Anything which needs bufffing, polishing, heating, scrubbing or leaving on for hours is just nonsense as far as leather cleaning is concerned.



Hope this helps
 
Very informative, thanks. Can you recommend some products to go with that knowledge? E.g. What are some foam based detergent cleaners (never used any b4), and what leather protector products?



I just used Meguiar's Gold Class Leather Cleaner & Conditioner this weekend (and have for years), and not sure if this falls into the no-good category of products. Besides my car, I've also used it on my leather couches at home, and they always seem to look (more wet, glossy, brighter) and feel better (softer / smoother) in the end.



So I was always a big supporter of that product, but am always open to experiment with something new.



judyb said:
Leather should be cleaned with water based foam detergent cleaners and then followed with a leather protector (not a conditioner).



Cleaners should not contain any waxes or oils as these can remain on the surface and attract more dirt and oils which will eventually damage the finish.



The old feeding and conditioning processes are completely outdated on modern leathers and should not be used as they simply do not do anything for the leather and may do long term damage.



New leather should be protected and then maintained with water based cleaners or maintenance products. The key is to keep leather clean and prevent any build up of dirt or oils.



You need to use a water based foam leather cleaner. Household soaps tend to have too much salt content to be safe to use on leather as this can sometimes break down the finish. It is always best to use products that have been specifically tested for leather use and also products that have technical back up in case you have any problems.



A leather protector acts like a scotchgard. It is fluoro chemical product that leaves a breathable residue on the surface of leather that you cannot feel or see. This will help to inhibit dirt and oils from being absorbed into the leather finish and so help prevent cracking and finish breakdown. The protector also contain UV protectors and will make your leather easier to clean. It will also inhibit dye transfer on light coloured leathers.



A word of caution, some manufacturers are renaming thier conditioners, protectors because of recent publicity about the need for protection over conditioning without changing the product. If this is the case then there will be no protective value in the product.



The effectiveness of protectors can be tested and a supplier should be able to provide samples of leather with proof of how it works.



Leather should not be sealed against water. Water is good for leather which is why cleaners and protectors should be water based. These rehydrate the leather and keep it supple.



The oils in leather which are put back during the retanning process cannot go anywhere (except in very unusual circumstances - spewing) and so are never removed from the leather by cleaning. Any claims about the need for products to replace these oils are false and products containing oils should not be used.

The leather in cars is generally fully corrected and pigmented which means that it is the finish you are cleaning. There is little chance of any oils being absorbed by the leather at all which means that they will only sit on the surface and attract more dirt.



Cleaning should be quick and straightforward and the products should do the work. Anything which needs bufffing, polishing, heating, scrubbing or leaving on for hours is just nonsense as far as leather cleaning is concerned.



Hope this helps
Click to expand...
 
judyb said:
Why are you 'conditioning' the leather? Cleaning & Protecting would be more beneficial on coated leathers such as this.
Click to expand...





oh yeah, buying a "pre-owned vehicle" is also better than buying a "used car"





it's all the same, whats with the word games?
 
Some people claim that cleaning leather somewhat dries the leather out..hence the marketing lingo of conditioning.."putting the oils back into the leather that the cleaners took out trying to get it clean" and i buy that......but protectant is always important too!
 
Lexus leather cleaner and conditioner! They rock. Make your seats clean, soft as butter and keep those wrinkles away! My seats always look new. Stuff smells good too.



Got rid of my Lexol. Not even in the same league.



I need to check out Leatherique someday.
 
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