[Lola's mom]

Here is a subject near and dear to our hearts .... we would like some input please!:yesnod

We are looking for an exceptional leather cleaner and conditioner ... what brands do you use and recommend?
:seeya

Lola's mom

 

[Bounty Hunter]

Lexol,buy it cheap in the saddle dept. at a farmer's Co-Op:yesnod

 

[DarkJediTL]

The Lexol is good and also Zaino. You probably want to use a conditioner to keep the leather nice.

 

[DarkJediTL]

I have found a great place to find good car care tips and ideas is on the corvette forum (there is a link to it on the main page here). Their car care section has a lot of perfessional detailers and many people with great tips and ideas.

 

[rufcar]

leather

I own and run a Historic home and car restoration business. Mostly Rolls and Bentley. I have tried them all and have learned much about leather. There is a small company in NE PA called Color Plus they match leather for redying. There system comes several ways but you can buy there citrus leather cleaner which you dilute with water spray on clean and wipe off with a damp towel. Then the next day extremely lightly and for a few seconds sand the leather with a 220 paper that open up the pores of the leather and apply liberely. There leather rejuvenation oil used properly and often you can soften leather hard as a board!Then Park the car in the sun with the windows up! yes up! for a few hours the if the leather is new just use a a damp towel again to wipe off the excess and let dry.
NOTES! The reason most items do not work is your body oils have closed off the pores of the leather and everything you use just lays on top and does nothing.! Leather is suppose to be treated 2-3 times a yr! Thats why it drys out! Remember its just animal skin and that dries out very quickly when not tanned. YES ITS WORK BUT IT PAYS OFF! YOU DONT NEED TO DO THE TOTALLY OIL SOAKING ALL THE TIME UNLESS THE LEATHER IS OLD AND DRY. AFTER THE 1ST TIME YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO JUST CLEAN ,WIPE DRY, OIL, WIPE, DONE! jiM f

 

[jeanszoo]

I don't know what to use and I want to thank all of you for all the wonderful information written here. :cheers :cool :flag :thumbs

 

[Lola's mom]

Are any of these products both a conditioner and cleaner .... that can be used also to freshen up, like during a general cleaning???

 

[rufcar]

leather

LM, We all like easy but the best ways are not easy. If you use the citrus cleaner 1st when detailing your car and then after wiping off with a damp cloth and let dry you can still drive the car but in a few hrs if its hot and dry out you can oil it and do the same. I ususlly do all the steps in the same day, especially in a newer car. The olny time i need to do the extreme measures is older leather that was never taken care of. From all the things I have read products like lexal have a lot of water in them. I have tried the Maguries leather wipe's they work ok but remember they are just not putting the oil back in to the leather. Later today I will put the color plus info on line. Good Luck Jim

 

[XLR_Lover]

I'm assuming all this leather talk is about the full-grain leather found in most cars, including the XLR--what about we "V" owners?

That Velcro-like stuff (Suede leather) has to be treated differently. What's best to use on it?

Floyd

 

[rufcar]

leather cleaning

LM, The company is in the Poconos of PA her name is Joanne Price her father invented all these products for dying and taking care if leather. 570-686-3158
or <www.colorplus.com >

This is for all leathers. I will get back to you on the suede later when I have more time. jim

 

[Lola's mom]

Thanks for all of the recommendations - we are checking out the products and websites as I write this! Great info and I bet you helped more than just us with your info. Thanks again!

 

[rufcar]

suede

For all Suede lovers TOUGH BANANAS!!!!!lol WELL NOT REALLY! The number one thing is NO WATER, LIQUIDS, PASTES NOTHING! Because everything will stain it.
The old way was a rosin pad you shook it over the suede then rubbed the pad over it so the rosin could suck up all the dirt. The you vacuumed it. BUT THERE IS HOPE! If you shop around looking for a date at the local grocery store and find you still have time on your hands! Look down the asile's for a product by the name of ( and I am not making this up!) " CADIE PAD" Can you believe it a cadie pad for your cadie!!! LOL anyway it pretty much works the same for suede. Shake the pad over the suede to make a powder and then use the pad to rub it all in and vacuum clean. Good luck to all. Jim F

 

[Guest]

I have a suede brush with two sides. The one side is like a white rubber pad for cleaning and the other is a suede brush to let you brush in the direction you want it.
Bob

For all Suede lovers TOUGH BANANAS!!!!!lol WELL NOT REALLY! The number one thing is NO WATER, LIQUIDS, PASTES NOTHING! Because everything will stain it.
The old way was a rosin pad you shook it over the suede then rubbed the pad over it so the rosin could suck up all the dirt. The you vacuumed it. BUT THERE IS HOPE! If you shop around looking for a date at the local grocery store and find you still have time on your hands! Look down the asile's for a product by the name of ( and I am not making this up!) " CADIE PAD" Can you believe it a cadie pad for your cadie!!! LOL anyway it pretty much works the same for suede. Shake the pad over the suede to make a powder and then use the pad to rub it all in and vacuum clean. Good luck to all. Jim F

 

[rufcar]

Brush

Bobbie baby! Im a pac rat Ill take it. send it to Restorations Unlimited inc 29 S vine St PO Box "V" Elizabethville PA 17023 along with a bill. Better yet Ill buy you a drink at BG! Thanks Bob, Jim

 

[Guest]

I'll bring a new one with me for you.

Bobbie baby! Im a pac rat Ill take it. send it to Restorations Unlimited inc 29 S vine St PO Box "V" Elizabethville PA 17023 along with a bill. Better yet Ill buy you a drink at BG! Thanks Bob, Jim

 

[XLR_Lover]

So, suede doesn't have to be "fed" like other leathers? Just kinda dabbed a bit and brushed?

Floyd

 

[Guest]

Floyd,
Before I knew better I cleaned a soda spot on the passenger seat with the rubber part on the back of my suede brush and then brushed it and it came right out,
I would say no to the feeding. Most suede's are artifical and you can't treat it like leather.

So, suede doesn't have to be "fed" like other leathers? Just kinda dabbed a bit and brushed?

Floyd

 

[XLR28]

Armor All

I know I am not in with the big hitters here but I just picked up the standard Armor All Leather Care Gel. I use it to clean all the leather in the car and bring back a little shine. For me it works great. I also use the ArmorAll Tire Shine Gel - Works great and lasts quite a while - even if it does splatter the wells a little when you first drive off.

Ben.

 

[Guest]

First you don't have to be a heavy hitter for an opinion, we all love to help out.
Hint on the gel splashing your wheel wells: wipe with a rage after putting it on. It still will shine an not look like it came off a used car lot. I hate it when the car wash place does them with the garbage they use and I make them wash them off. When i get home I do my own with the good stuff.
Bob

I know I am not in with the big hitters here but I just picked up the standard Armor All Leather Care Gel. I use it to clean all the leather in the car and bring back a little shine. For me it works great. I also use the ArmorAll Tire Shine Gel - Works great and lasts quite a while - even if it does splatter the wells a little when you first drive off.

Ben.

 

[rufcar]

correctly

Ben, Taking proper care of your care has nothing to do with big hitters but more with consiousness raising! In most cases the wrong things cost even more than the right things! Plus we all do what we like and thats what makes us all different. This forum gives us the oppertunity to tell all of the members what we like or even how WE do things. The decision is up to us to act or not to act upon those ideas. We all belive our ideas are the best. Besides Im Italian and MY IDEAS ARE THE BEST AND IF YOU DONT LIKE THEM I KNOW HOW TO MAKE CEMENT SHOES!!!!!!!!!! Just enjoy your car and remember to do the proper mechanical maintance and most of all to DRIVE THE DAM CARS!!!!! Enjoy Jim