Leather Seats
- Thread starter buldog
- Start date
I did a bunch of searching of the archives for the same question when my new car arrived in November. I bought Leatherique, and was going to apply it to the seats - and asked them the same question.
The consensus I got (including reading some of the TraderAlex posts on Edmunds, which you'll also see referred to here):
When a car arrives from the factory, the leather has already been prepped with a coating to preserve them. Although nothing will happen to that coating should you decide to apply something else on top, consensus seemed to be that you should let some time elapse for the leather's coating to dissipate, and then hit it up with some cleaner and conditioner.
I'm going to do mine sometime in the next week. I only have 1100 miles on mine, but the seats are perfect, so no harm in not having applied anything. I'm going to go the Leatherique/303 route.
The consensus I got (including reading some of the TraderAlex posts on Edmunds, which you'll also see referred to here):
When a car arrives from the factory, the leather has already been prepped with a coating to preserve them. Although nothing will happen to that coating should you decide to apply something else on top, consensus seemed to be that you should let some time elapse for the leather's coating to dissipate, and then hit it up with some cleaner and conditioner.
I'm going to do mine sometime in the next week. I only have 1100 miles on mine, but the seats are perfect, so no harm in not having applied anything. I'm going to go the Leatherique/303 route.
imported_killerjg
New member
Here are a few links:
http://216.147.22.29/forum/showthread.php3?s=&threadid=1747&highlight=leather+care
http://216.147.22.29/forum/showthread.php3?s=&threadid=4813&highlight=leather+care
This will keep you busy for a while.
http://216.147.22.29/forum/showthread.php3?s=&threadid=1747&highlight=leather+care
http://216.147.22.29/forum/showthread.php3?s=&threadid=4813&highlight=leather+care
This will keep you busy for a while.
Holy cow did I learn alot.. I thought when I test drove the car that the seat was a little slippery. Wondered if there was some kind of coating on them. Here is a sampling of quotes to summarize, from the archives. Thanks alot I'm learning something here in this forum and apt to make alot less mistakes.
Leather Seats (Clear Coated)
===============
"When a car arrives from the factory, the leather has already been prepped with a coating to preserve them. Although nothing will happen to that coating should you decide to apply something else on top, consensus seemed to be that you should let some time elapse for the leather's coating to dissipate, and then hit it up with some cleaner and conditioner."
JohnN
Senior Member
===============
"If you see the color of the leather on your cloth, it’s time to get out the old "feeding oil." If no color shows, use your water-borne polymer style dressing, let it dry and then buff with a soft, clean towel. END OF EXCERPT
I read this to mean the use of Special Leather products is a waste of time and money. It appears on clear-coated leather the use of something like 303 verses a separate leather cleaner and conditioner is the best bet."
TBird
Senior Member
===============
"From this you can conclude that using a product like Hyde Food on clear coated leather is a big no-no, as Hyde Food contains a good amount of mineral spirits. It also means that 303 is thin enough to penetrate the micro holes in the clear coat to provide some hydration to the leather and protect it from UV damage.
In any case, clear coat or not, I still find that 303 is the best product I have tried on leather. It's not greasy, it evaporates evenly, it does not discolor leather, it doesn't have a smell (good or bad), and it provides the best darn UV protection I've found."
DavidB
Autopia Town Mayor
================
"This is creating a real concern for the manufacturers, especially the lower end vehicles, seems that there is a shortage of quality leather and all are having big warranty issues. Splitting, cracking, dyes coming off, clears not holding to the leather, etc.
It wonder if some of these concerns is due to the public still being convinced by marketing to use oil based products to care for their seats?
The oils will break down the coating as you pointed out, can't help but wonder."
Ron Ketcham
Senior Member
=================
"I suspect that the majority of people do little if anything to protect their leather interiors. This is one of the reasons that a protective coating is necessary. One of the other reasons, which I did not mention, is that most hydes are machine split in half or thirds. Doing so makes better use of the hydes material and creates a softer feeling seat. The down side it that the surface of the split hyde is not as durable as a full hyde.
The big maintnance issue with leather is body oils, sweat, lotions and sun tan oils. These oils and salts are more damaging than any dressing you can apply.
The best maintenance for any leather is a regular wipe down with a damp cloth. I do mine weekly (everytime I wash). With the amount of time and effort I put into my custom leather interiors, I'm a bit of a fanatic about keeping it nice, but I don't think a weekly wipe down is too much."
DavidB
Autopia Town Mayor
=======================
Leather Seats (Clear Coated)
===============
"When a car arrives from the factory, the leather has already been prepped with a coating to preserve them. Although nothing will happen to that coating should you decide to apply something else on top, consensus seemed to be that you should let some time elapse for the leather's coating to dissipate, and then hit it up with some cleaner and conditioner."
JohnN
Senior Member
===============
"If you see the color of the leather on your cloth, it’s time to get out the old "feeding oil." If no color shows, use your water-borne polymer style dressing, let it dry and then buff with a soft, clean towel. END OF EXCERPT
I read this to mean the use of Special Leather products is a waste of time and money. It appears on clear-coated leather the use of something like 303 verses a separate leather cleaner and conditioner is the best bet."
TBird
Senior Member
===============
"From this you can conclude that using a product like Hyde Food on clear coated leather is a big no-no, as Hyde Food contains a good amount of mineral spirits. It also means that 303 is thin enough to penetrate the micro holes in the clear coat to provide some hydration to the leather and protect it from UV damage.
In any case, clear coat or not, I still find that 303 is the best product I have tried on leather. It's not greasy, it evaporates evenly, it does not discolor leather, it doesn't have a smell (good or bad), and it provides the best darn UV protection I've found."
DavidB
Autopia Town Mayor
================
"This is creating a real concern for the manufacturers, especially the lower end vehicles, seems that there is a shortage of quality leather and all are having big warranty issues. Splitting, cracking, dyes coming off, clears not holding to the leather, etc.
It wonder if some of these concerns is due to the public still being convinced by marketing to use oil based products to care for their seats?
The oils will break down the coating as you pointed out, can't help but wonder."
Ron Ketcham
Senior Member
=================
"I suspect that the majority of people do little if anything to protect their leather interiors. This is one of the reasons that a protective coating is necessary. One of the other reasons, which I did not mention, is that most hydes are machine split in half or thirds. Doing so makes better use of the hydes material and creates a softer feeling seat. The down side it that the surface of the split hyde is not as durable as a full hyde.
The big maintnance issue with leather is body oils, sweat, lotions and sun tan oils. These oils and salts are more damaging than any dressing you can apply.
The best maintenance for any leather is a regular wipe down with a damp cloth. I do mine weekly (everytime I wash). With the amount of time and effort I put into my custom leather interiors, I'm a bit of a fanatic about keeping it nice, but I don't think a weekly wipe down is too much."
DavidB
Autopia Town Mayor
=======================
imported_killerjg
New member
"Holy cow"
Any pun?
Any pun?