Best Leather cleaner?

[tonyc280]

Get my new (well 1997) C280 with grey leather on Monday and the first thing i'm going to do are the seats. i already have some "Auto Glym" Leather Cleaner but was wondering if there's a better product on the market ? Cheers, Tony.

 

[Dieselman]

Soapy water and a flannel.

 

[tonyc280]

ok mate ill give it a try. i once used washing powder and my montego seats came up amazing but a tad hard on the leather me thinks???

 

[Dieselman]

All car leather is pigmented leather and has a polyurethane coating applied and is stripped of it's natural oils and impregnated with synthetic ones.

It won't absorb anything liquid as it's effectively plastic.

 

[rascalmaster]

if you want to try something other than the suds... a lot of people use this:

Leather Care | Leather Cleaner

 

[whitenemesis]

Try the drop test. Place a drop of water on the leather, if the leather darkens and the drop disappears quickly you have uncoated leather and it would benefit from a good conditioner such as Gliptone.
If the drop just sits there its as Will says, coated and as such needs nothing more than a wipe down.
That said Dr Leather wipes get good reviews on sealed leathers.

 

[Ierton]

All car leather is pigmented leather and has a polyurethane coating applied and is stripped of it's natural oils and impregnated with synthetic ones.

It won't absorb anything liquid as it's effectively plastic.

Cheaper car leathers are pigmented and coated. MB Nappa leather isn't.

 

[Dieselman]

Cheaper car leathers are pigmented and coated. MB Nappa leather isn't.

I'll bet it is. I recently asked a leather restorer about Nappa leather in cars and it is all coated.
As WN says, try the water test.

 

[flango]

I can confirm Nappa leather is. It is based on isocyanate ethyl carbamate. It composes of a polyurethane and acrylic binder system which covers the leather hide the top layer of this gives pigmentation and colour. It is then treated with a top coat to give it softness and abrasion resistance

I knew my chemistry and time spent on tannery effluents would be of use one day

 

[haggis2768]

Out of interest.what happens to those coatings over the years?
In particular when the leather becomes creased and cracks appear in the surface?
Is it still safe to use a wet cloth to clean them?

 

[tonyc280]

Wow this has turned into a real informative thread, thanks chap.

 

[nigel cross]

Dr Leather ::: Dr Leather Leather Cleaner 500ml
Can be bought at other shops as well , works really well

 

[whitenemesis]

Interesting doc from MB. I know it's quite old but still informative

http://db.tt/ogtCLdhG

 

[Ierton]

So it's just Passion leather that isn't treated?

 

[nigel cross]

Interesting doc from MB. I know it's quite old but still informative

http://db.tt/ogtCLdhG

Very interesting would seem that ML's only have one choice while the rest have more than that.

 

[Bri]

Lovely leather

Hi been useing lovely leather by greased lightning on my E class black leather, its about the best i have used.
It cleans and conditions and is very easy to use the leather feels very soft and looks great after a few goes with it and whats more it only £5 off amazon or ebay.
I know some people in the M B club dont like greased lightning products but i have found they do what they say on the bottle.

 

[G.P]

All car leather is pigmented leather and has a polyurethane coating applied and is stripped of it's natural oils and impregnated with synthetic ones.

It won't absorb anything liquid as it's effectively plastic.

BMW recommend in their handbook that you apply a regular cleaner and conditioner, and I can confirm on 1 2012 model it absorb's...

 

[Dieselman]

BMW recommend in their handbook that you apply a regular cleaner and conditioner, and I can confirm on 1 2012 model it absorb's...

Which they sell...

 

[Dieselman]

Out of interest.what happens to those coatings over the years?
In particular when the leather becomes creased and cracks appear in the surface?
Is it still safe to use a wet cloth to clean them?

The paint cracks off exposing the leather. Wiping with a damp cloth won't harm them, but they need a repaint.

 

[Billy-cls55]

Get my new (well 1997) C280 with grey leather on Monday and the first thing i'm going to do are the seats. i already have some "Auto Glym" Leather Cleaner but was wondering if there's a better product on the market ? Cheers, Tony.

Buffalo cleaner, Buffalo leather conditioner, only one on the market that I know of that puts back the leather smell, best stuff I have used