Leather cleaner?

[kythri]

I want to clean and condition (and make it silkysmooooth!) the leather in my Explorer and Crown Victoria.

The Explorer is long overdue, and the Vic has some grime on the seat from where I rest my hand when driving.

I've got an oooold spray bottle of Lexol leather conditioner a friend at a detail shop gave me, but this stuff has been sitting under one kitchen sink or another for well-on 8-10 years, so I think I'm going to throw it out.

BUT! When I was considering using it, it commented that I needed to use a leather cleaner for dirty leather BEFORE using the conditioner - I guess it's not an all-in-one.

So, my question to you fine folks:

What would you use? Is Lexol's LEXOL-pH Cleaner and LEXOL Conditioner good stuff? I'd imagine it can't be that bad, if it is/was being used by a detail shop that's owned and operated by Methuselah.

Is there something better, or as good-but-cheaper?

 

[Steve from Socal]

Leatherique is what I use and recommend; George the owner is a car guy and his products have done wonders for some very sad looking interiors. Used by pros and enthusiast alike on Auburn's to Zonda's

Steve

 

[ricleh]

I also recommend Leatherique highly. It is very good stuff for cleaning and conditioning.

 

[kythri]

I'll check it out - thanks!

 

[jshillin]

Yep, Leatherique. It's not cheap, but I haven't found anything better. The key to getting it to really work well is heat!!

 

[ron in sc]

Leatherique

 

[Danglerb]

What works the best depends on how the hides were tanned and finished, but Lexol, Leatherique, really any high glycerine leather soap will work (follow the directions). Conditioning the leather is where you have to match the type to avoid color issues.

Vacuum, brush, wash, condition.

 

[alkemyst]

tanner's preserve works well for me. Made for saddles that cost more than many cars

 

[SILVERPLATE]

Leather cleaner and conditioner from Zaino is awesome!

 

[Vinko]

Using Lexol but have considered using Leatherique from looking at some before/after photos on message boards. But Tanner's sounds good too.

 

[kartracer23]

Leatherique is great stuff-if the leather is uncoated. I used it on my Mom's '96 XJS and it did an incredible job on cracked and wrinkled leather. I used it on my 2002 MB and it just sat on the surface and didn't do a thing. And chances are, your 'leather' seats are not really leather anyway - except the center panels.
If you're cleaning a heavily coated leather or synthetic (sides & back of seat), think of it more like plastic - a penetrating cleaner won't work. For coated, I like the Zaino cleaner and the conditioner. I honestly don't know that the conditioner does anything - but it smells nice.

 

[quattrojon]

The best thing i have used is Gliptone's liquid leather cleaner and also their liquid leather conditioner. The conditioner also imparts the aroma of new leather! It worked really well on my Dad's Jaguar. Don't know if it's available in the U.S, i buy mine from www.frost.co.uk Regards Jon

 

[NugeConstruction]

[T]he Vic has some grime on the seat from where I rest my hand when driving.

http://www.autogeek.net/leleca1.html

"[Leatherique] Prestine Clean and Rejuvenator Oil work with a capillary action. The proteins, cleaners, and conditioners find their way deep into the natural pores of the leather and force out the dirt, perspiration, air pollution, and other toxins that dry out and destroy the fibers of the leather, depleting the fibers strength and flexibility, and causing them to deteriorate. Perspiration, and the salts left after its evaporation, easily find their way into the leather fibers. Notice on an older car, the areas where a person rests their hands or arms, steering wheel, arm rests break down the quickest."

http://www.ferret.com.au/c/Permanent-Painted-Coatings/PPC-distributor-for-Leatherique-products-n670835

 

[kythri]

Nice...

I'll be ordering a bottle of that stuff this week!

 

[48548]

I also like Griots garage stuff, the care, and if it really bad rejuvenator, which is oily but works great on dried out leather, I would stand behind this stuff as I have used it for 8 or so years and works great and the interior clean is top notch also for leather and everything else.

 

[Vinko]

Does the Leatherique use dye to get that transition shown in the photo above?

 

[NugeConstruction]

There seems to be no dye in Leatherique.

Here is more about the product and how it works:

http://www.autogeek.net/le32ozkit.html

"After the ph correct proteins and collagens from the Rejuvenator Oil have permeated back into the pours [sic] and fibers of the leather, strengthening and nourishing them, the surface may be tacky, sticky, gritty, or have a white haze. This is simply the dirt, grime, air pollution, perspiration, salts and other toxins that have floated out of the leather to the surface."

http://www.autogeek.net/lereoil.html

"The formula is based on a natural old Swedish Secret and is a complex blend of proteins and collagen that actually restore the tensile strength to the leather..."

http://www.amazon.com/Leatherique-Rejuvenator-Oil-16oz/product-reviews/B0002SPCAI

"We have a Scandanavian leather recliner that is now over 30yrs old and is a favorite of my wife. Over the years much use, animals and UV rays have taken their toll. After speaking with a saddle maker I met at a show purchased the Leatherique Rejuvinator oil. I applied the product and set the chair and foot stool in the sun all day. Afterward I rubbed on some Pristine Clean then used cotton wipes to buff it off. The amount of grunge that came out of the leather was amazing. What was more amazing was that the leather was transformed. It's not magic, this is still an old chair, but it's now a chair with an attractive patina instead of looking tatty and worn. "