Zeroing in on leather cleaner.

Don

Don

Darth Camaro 12/27/15
Thanks to all who have provided input on what leather cleaner I should get for an upcoming detail on a Porsche and a Land Rover. So far I have narrowed it down to a few possibilities. Let me know if I'm forgetting anything:

Pinnacle Leather & Vinyl Cleaner

Wolfgang Leather Cleaner

Leather Masters Strong Cleaner

Meguiar's D101 APC

Zaino Leather Cleaner



I'm not so much worried about the conditioner as I can pick up something decent OTC if needed, I'm just concerned about being able to get the leather (tan and brown) CLEAN
 
Don, if you're looking for something neutral, you would try the products from Leather Master.

If you need intensive renovation, it would be the products from Leatherique.
 
OK - I'll be crucified for this BUT, I have tried a bunch of leather cleaners and the best was plain old Woolite (1 oz) to 20oz of water. Let the flaming begin...
BTW - I have never had anything but positive results from this and I maintain my own cars with it.
 
I've always gotten very good results with Zaino leather cleaner but I've switched to Gliptone leather cleaner Spray from Amazon. It cleans my ivory leather exceptionally well combined with a Kiwi shoe brush. It may only work better than the Z9 for me because I was probably reluctant to use the Z9 as liberally as necessary.
 
I'm surprised Lexol didn't make the list. Something I should know?
My favorite leather conditioner has always been Apple Leather Care's. It give no shine at all (not even a little, absolutely 0 shine), and leaves the leather feeling so supple you can actually feel a difference when you sit in the seat.
 
Of the cleaners listed I've only used the LM. No complaints. I do prefer the stuff from Leather Dr. though, and Roger has convinced me regardig the need to ph-balance after cleaning.

marlinspike said:
I'm surprised Lexol didn't make the list. Something I should know?
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I have no real first-hand problems with their *cleaner* but I utterly despise their conditioner/protectant. Never did a ph test on the cleaner though and I kinda suspect it's not sufficiently acidic.
 
Accumulator said:
Of the cleaners listed I've only used the LM. No complaints. I do prefer the stuff from Leather Dr. though, and Roger has convinced me regardig the need to ph-balance after cleaning.



I have no real first-hand problems with their *cleaner* but I utterly despise their conditioner/protectant. Never did a ph test on the cleaner though and I kinda suspect it's not sufficiently acidic.
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Yeah, I don't like their conditioner either. When you say you suspect the cleaner is not sufficiently acidic, do you mean to do any cleaning or do you mean for safety of the leather?
 
marlinspike said:
When you say you suspect the cleaner is not sufficiently acidic, do you mean to do any cleaning or do you mean for safety of the leather?
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The latter. While I geneally find alkaline cleaners are more effective, you want things a little acidic for leather (or so I've been told...). The Leather Doctor approach has a slightly acidic "Rinse" product to use after the cleaner for that reason. No, can't say I've ever had issues from not paying attention to that though, and it's not like I've tossed out my LM Strong or other cleaners (which I haven't ph-tested but assume to be neutral/alkaline).
 
as I said before, just use the Megs APC diluted very well. like 8:1. then you could simply use Megs over the counter rich leather conditioner and you will get the best results you would ever want to get, without spending extra on fancy 2 in 1 products, or wondering what will work and what wont. my opinion.
 
Call me biased, but I'd put HD Total & Protect up against ANY leather cleaner/protector.

Total: gently cleans leather and doesn't harm the color/coating. Plus, it's safe on the complete interior & exterior.
Protect: Softens without any kind of greasy feel. Low to no sheen what so ever. Great scent. Will not promote resoiling.

Check out these write ups on Total:

http://www.autopia.org/forums/detai...-interior-1963-aston-martin-db4-hd-total.html

http://www.autopia.org/forums/detai...terior-dirty-ferrari-definition-products.html
 
Junebug said:
OK - I'll be crucified for this BUT, I have tried a bunch of leather cleaners and the best was plain old Woolite (1 oz) to 20oz of water. Let the flaming begin...
BTW - I have never had anything but positive results from this and I maintain my own cars with it.
Click to expand...

It was/still is recommended very often, but I found a post from 2012 that notes even Woolite's parent company do not recommend using their product on automotive leather: http://www.autopia.org/forums/autop...02-using-woolitea-clean-finished-leather.html

TO THE OP: My recommendation is Leather Masters.
 
Woolite was always one of the recommended cleaners for leather back in the day when it was a pure soap and leather was finished very differently to how it is now. The salts that they now add to these washing products to help the cleaning process are detrimental to the finsihes used on modern day leather so should be avoided.

The safest and most effective way to deep clean leather is with a water based foam cleaner that can be left to dwell and do its job. Foam cleaners will not leave streak marks which can be caused by some liquid cleaners.
Please remember that you are only cleaning with the finished surface of the leather and not the leather itself so the pH of the leather is not altered. Rinses would only need to be use if the cleaners were too strongly formulated in the first place and why do the job twice when there are great products that do it in one go.

The easiest and most effective way of keeping your leather in good condition is to protect from new (or after a deep clean), maintain with a maintenance cleaner (this is a cleaner and protector in one - not a detergent cleaner) and then deep clean once or twice a year depending on colour and usage

Hope this helps
Judyb
 
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