Whats good for 12 year old leather (seats)

[Tinytots]

I have a cream leather interior with perforations for a seat cooling system.

Whats a good product to clean and put a bit of life back in them?

I'm not sure if I'm restricted on what to use because of these perforations as I neither want to block them or damage the cooling systems.

Whats your thoughts buddy chum pals

 

[JDMUK]

gliptone leather cleaner is good, or auto finesse hide is really good also....

a warm soapy water will also do a good job, use a soft brush (like a soft nail brush) to agitate and wipe off with a damp microfiber and allow to dry. Don't bother with "conditioners" they just add oils that suck dirt in and aren't needed.

 

[John]

I use Gliptone on mine.

I also use a conditioner as I presumed it would keep the leather supple and stop is creasing so much - the smell of it is nice too. I am also unfamiliar with the science of whether it is needed or not.

I've not found my seats get particularly dirty when I next clean them but then I don't have a dirty RS either (in all respects).

 

[Tinytots]

Cheers guys, I've never heard of Gliptone, I'll give it a bash

 

[Dieselman]

Regular mild detergent or soap will work as well as anything. The leather is treated so nothing short of a nuclear explosion can harm it.

 

[whitenemesis]

I'd recommend a thorough clean with Gliptone cleaner, you might need to use it a couple of times to completely remove accumulated muck and any previous treatment. When the cleaning cloth comes away, erm, clean try testing the leather with a drop of water. If the drop just sits there on the surface you have a PU coated leather and conditioning will have no beneficial effect. If the drop sinks into the leather you have one of MBs higher quality 'naked' leathers and most definitely should apply a couple of applications of conditioner. Again Gliptone is one of the better versions available.
Which ever product you use, apply sparingly or you run the risk of it accumulating in the holes and looking yuk!

 

[stwat]

Home Page | Leatherique Restoration Products

 

[WDB124066]

Regular mild detergent or soap will work as well as anything. The leather is treated so nothing short of a nuclear explosion can harm it.

Leatherique goes straight though it DM - trust me on this.

 

[mannikon]

Useful advice & recommendations! Have ordered some Gliptone cleaner, conditioner and leather air fresheners. Will test carefully on old car first.

 

[Tinytots]

Cheers guys, I'm on it. I'll let you know outcome.

 

[alzieboy]

Have over the weekend given the leather seats in my Coupe 3 coats of Gliptone leather conditioner, having first used some carplan leather wipes to clean the seats ,although they were not dirty just a bit dusty, seats are now really looking good and smelling nice, cant say it smells of new leather though but still very nice. Cliptone leather conditioner dries to a nice matt finish

 

[John]

cant say it smells of new leather though but still very nice

No, I've never found it smells like new leather either.

There's a hint of TCP antiseptic about it though.

 

[JDMUK]

Did you just get the gliptone leather conditioner or did you get the cleaner (orange gel) too? Because the cleaner is great the conditioner I've never bothered with, automotive leather doesn't need feeding or conditioning.... I personally use the cleaner with a soft brush then once clean apply g technic L1 I think it is, the leather protect/nano sealant over the top and they stay clean and matt for months! Then clean every 4-6 months with autofinesse hide and that's it.....

Feeding or conditioning just makes the leather oily or more susceptible to dye transfer....

 

[alzieboy]

Feeding or conditioning just makes the leather oily or more susceptible to dye transfer


This product certainly never made the seats feel or look at all oily, will keep a check on seats regarding dye transfer, I was pleased with the look and feel after using cliptone conditioner

 

[whitenemesis]

......

Feeding or conditioning just makes the leather oily or more susceptible to dye transfer....

That would only happen if the conditioner was not absorbed by the leather (i.e. it's PU coated) or one used an oily conditioner! Gliptone is water based so doesn't leave any oily residue

Leather Care | Car leather care | Leather upholstery cleaner

 

[Nyati]

Leatherique goes straight though it DM - trust me on this.

I agree. Leatherique is good stuff. Seems counterintuitive, but use the conditioner BEFORE the cleaner.

 

[millo777]

Gliptone is good for leaving a matte finish. Most other leather conditioners I've tried all leave a nasty shiny effect.

I recently noticed Zymol leather cleaner and conditioner is quite a bit cheaper than Gliptone, and Zymol products are usually excellent. Might be worth a try.

As per DMs post, most newer leather seats are coated anyway so in many cases you're actually only cleaning the plastic/pu coating on the top anyway. It may be the equivalent of using an aluminium polish on a powder coated wheel.