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Cleaning Leather/Cloth Interiors

130 messages,  Last post on Aug 01, 2012 at 3:18 PM

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What is this discussion about? Interior

Messages Page 1 of 13

#1 of 130 Best leather conditioner / cleaner by jtrujillo86

Mar 08, 2004 (9:29 pm)

I have a 2002 Oldsmobile Alero with a leather-wraped steering wheel and shift knob. It currently has about 30K miles on her. I am starting to see stress marks on the shift knob where the leather and the stitches meet. I was curious as to what leather conditioner on the market is the best for my use.
 
Jeremy

#2 of 130 ooh, just like "what's the best oil" ;) by swschrad

Mar 09, 2004 (9:56 am)

duck and cover, buddy, everybody in the world is going to recommend their own pet product.
 
personally, I use a damp cloth to get the sweat and hand oil and dirt off my steering wheel wrap, and then use 3M Refresh cleaner/protectant on all the leather (lemon for me.)
 
you should find the zaino users have a religious fervor about that line.

#3 of 130 by jtrujillo86

Mar 09, 2004 (6:18 pm)

Thanks for the tip and for your recommendation. I'm now going to "duck and cover"...
 
Jeremy

#4 of 130 leather appointments/interior cleaner recommendations.. by justin

Jun 08, 2004 (1:21 pm)

I have a 2003 Honda Accord. Ivory leather seats. For a few months, on the way to and from work, I would place a black leather bag on the passenger seat. The black bag has left marks on the ivory seats.
 
Tried Eagle 1 leather cleaner to get the black marks off. Didn't work.
 
What should I use (brands, where to buy, etc) to get the black off, but not take the ivory color off?
 
The marks are on the actual leather seat surface.
 
I am close to trying Simple Green at this point!
 
Thanks!

#5 of 130 light rub with mineral spirits, perhaps? by swschrad

Jun 08, 2004 (9:24 pm)

the usual caveat about trying a little someplace where you can't see the damage, if it would damage, the ivory leather dye applies. I have gotten a lot of ink/coating type stains off leather and vinyl with either mineral spirits or anhydrous isopropyl alcohol. and there are couple of stains left by technicians' pens that didn't come off, too, but they are little small things and I am not going to have a heart attack over 'em.
 
if the black case had dyed wax or something on there like shoe polish, and it reacted with the ivory colorant in the seats' dye job, it's almost certain to not come out. a bleaching compound might get it, and might not. you'd do best to talk to a shoe repairman or a car detailer if that didn't get it done.

#6 of 130 Coach leather moisturizer by jpstax1

Jun 13, 2004 (3:56 pm)

The top portion of my '98 Regal's leather-wrapped steering wheel was peeling, so I had it replaced last month. The auto upholstery shop owner said that this is a common problem with many GM cars and some Fords too. He said that body oils in the fingers work their way into the leather and cause peeling. I asked him what to do to prevent it from happening again. He suggested using a good leather conditioner. I posted my problem in a different forum and some people suggested using "Coach Leather Moisturizer". My wife just happens to have a bottle of the stuff that she uses to clean her leather purses. However, the back label says "it is not to be used on suede, nubic, water buffalo, or on fabric and leather collections". Any suggestions?

#7 of 130 do not massage your water buffalo with it, then :-D by swschrad

Jun 14, 2004 (8:13 am)

go ahead, let your water buffalo chap in the sun
 
I have chafing on my wheel cover now in the '00 exploder. for some reason, I really sweat and dirt up the wheel cover when driving, and it's a gunky grey mess after a road trip. it's obvious to me that I didn't use enough 3M Reveal leather cleaner/conditioner to keep it worked up. my seats get a lot less grabbing and soaking, and it's kept them in good shape. It hasn't helped, I suppose, using a wet cloth to get the worst of the goo off after I get a monster killer horror buildup.
 
I suppose if I wore driving gloves, it wouldn't be a problem. but then I get dry, chapped hands, and feel like lurching out of the truck in a Frankenstein-monster gait.

#8 of 130 Leather Seats by gto2

Aug 30, 2004 (10:00 am)

Just bought a new Camry 2005 XLE with light gray leather seats. The car is about two weeks old.
 
The leather seems to be rough to the touch and not very soft.
My question is. Can someone recommend a product that will soften the leather and make it smooth to the touch. Thank you.
GTO2

#9 of 130 Complete leather re-upholstering by renees

Sep 20, 2004 (7:40 am)

Hi everyone. I've got one for you. I'm looking for a 2004 Impala base model with leather upholstery and this dealer has exactly the car I want with all the right options, except leather. It's a demonstrator with just over 4,000 miles on it. They said they'd have it re-upholstered for me with leather for $1,200 to $1,500. I thought this was kind of screwy, but they said it would be cheaper than buying a different vehicle with leather and other options I don't want to pay for. Thoughts anyone?

#10 of 130 aftermarket leather can be good stuff by bretfraz

Sep 20, 2004 (8:18 am)

It really depends on who is doing the work and what quality of leather hides they're using. I've seen plenty of aftermarket leather installations and almost all have been very nice. A good friend had one installed in a Maxima and the aftermarket leather was far more supple and luxurious than the vinylesque stuff the factory used.
 
Have the dealer show you cars they've had done. If they don't have one on the lot have them give you the contact info of their installer and visit them to see for yourself. You might be pleasantly surprised.

Messages Page 1 of 13

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