What is your leather conditioning regimine ?

[pingable]

Is it monthly ?



I usually give the seats a good wipe with a wet cloth every time I wash the car.



On the conditioning, I usually do it every 2 months when it's warm and I give it a nice HEAVY coat till it won't soak no more in early November and also in March.



I remember hearing a *pro detailer* mention that he does his every month. Seemed kinda overkill to me. Just curuious to see what ya'll leather conditioning regimes are .

 

[hondaguy2582]

Its usually every other month when the weather is hot enough. I use 303 every other month for uv protection, and lexol for conditioning on the months i dont use 303.

 

[PeterS]

I use Soffener for restoration level conditioning, maybe once a year, then Lexol or Zaino leather conditioner every time I wax the car.



--Peter

 

[Matt M PA]

As I mentioned in a thread awhile back..I toow ould like to know the right way to keep my leather nice.



My concern is not so much of "how often", but more along the lines of what is the right thing to use. Here's my concern.



If leather (in most cases) is coated, how do any of the "protectants" actually get to the leather's fibers? Are we better off (as 303 suggests) to just use a vinyl product for UV protection....since the leather products can't sink it anyway? I do know that two companies I contacted said their products will be absorbed into the leather, but I am leaning more to think that these leather products just sit on the surface.

 

[canisestinvia]

If leather (in most cases) is coated, how do any of the "protectants" actually get to the leather's fibers? Are we better off (as 303 suggests) to just use a vinyl product for UV protection....since the leather products can't sink it anyway? I do know that two companies I contacted said their products will be absorbed into the leather, but I am leaning more to think that these leather products just sit on the surface.

My thinking is that if our cars' leather can dry out, meaning moisture is leaving through pores, then through those same pores, it can accept conditioning products.

 

[SAZMan]

My thinking is that if our cars' leather can dry out, meaning moisture is leaving through pores, then through those same pores, it can accept conditioning products.

This makes a lot of sense to me. Consider also that people have used leather restoring products on coated leather, and they seem to work.

 

[Matt M PA]

Guys.....I honestly don't know, and am trying to find out myself.



I would expect that leather could also dry out from the backside. I know that one way to test for coated leather is to see if a drop of water soaks in or beads up.....



Again...I have been trying to get a definitive answer too.

 

[PeterS]

I mentioned Soffener, I can verify that it does absorb into the leather, even the typical hard, vinyl-like German leather.



First you use their cleaning solution. I noticed that along with removing dirt, it "raised the nap" of the leather, giving shiny spots more a matte look. Let it dry for a day, then apply the conditioner and leave your car out in the sun to bake, the hotter the better. You can place black plastic trash bags over your seats to get even more heat. After 24 hours, wipe off the excess with a damp towel. After a few more hours, the seats are dry and noticabley softer.



I've never seen anything work so well. The downside is that it can be a 3 day process to do right.

 

[Threxx]

Month 1 starts with the first warm weather we get in the spring - Leatherique rejuvinating oil and prestine clean



Month 3 - Zaino Z9 and Z10



Month 5 - Zaino Z9 and Z10



Month 7 usually ends up being one of the last warm months in the summer - Leatherique rejuvinating oil and prestine clean



Month 9 fall/winter- Zaino Z9 and Z10 (I use a space heater to keep the interior of the car above 65 degrees so that the conditioner will actually soak)



Month 11- Zaino Z9 and Z10 (again, space heater unless I can find a decently warm day to do this)



Start back over at month 1