Help! Leather Cleaner

[Richiez]

Can anyone recomend a good leather cleaner and conditioner. Everyone Ive tries doesnt clean very well and actuall darkens any worn areas?

 

[XLRATING]

I've used the Zaino leather cleaner & separate conditioner without problems, on black leather in a XLR & both dark & light gray leather in other Caddies. Gonna try it on a shale interior next. Only available online at zainostore.com. Cleaner leaves the leather a natural shade of gloss (I.e., not really shiny at all), conditioner will give a little shine but not make it look like shiny vinyl. Both have a great new leather smell.

Zaino cleaner says use a brush, I felt like I got better results using a microfiber towel.

When researching what to use I ran across a lot of positive commentary about Leatherique cleaner & conditioner, but it was a way more involved process than I wanted to deal with. Looked like it would be a good choice if you wanted to go that route.

 

[ccclarke]

Ditto on the Zaino leather cleaner and conditioners. They work as advertised and leave your interior smelling like someone just slaughtered a cow and re-skinned your seats. For scuffs and scratches, you can apply shoe polish and buff out.

CC

 

[MarkSki]

You've got to love that freshly slaughtered cow smell!!

 

[Texas Shriner]

InsaneO for Zaino!

 

[b_pappy]

Adam's sells a really great Leather Cleaner, and a separate Leather Conditioner. They are also the official car car products of Corvette and Camaro, so GM approved.
Bruce

 

[airmike]

Any advice on the suede leather seats? Can that be used?

 

[XLRATING]

Any advice on the suede leather seats? Can that be used?

No, can't use Zaino on that. I just used it on the non-suede leather around that. All I do with the suede is vacuum it. I've run across products for suede jackets/shoes but haven't gotten any - they might work.

 

[05 GRAND DADDY]

Just keep in mind the product I have used in the past for shoes say on the can will darken the color of the material. I would be sure to read the direction!


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Dan & Wendy
"05 GRAND DADDY"

 

[b_pappy]

Correct. the suede is different. I don't recall what they recommend, but I'll post up when I find it.
Bruce

 

[GM MUSL]

Correct. the suede is different. I don't recall what they recommend, but I'll post up when I find it.
Bruce

I don't think it is actually suede. Man made fabric.

 

[hawkeye372]

Adam's sells a really great Leather Cleaner, and a separate Leather Conditioner. They are also the official car car products of Corvette and Camaro, so GM approved.
Bruce

Have to look into this product.


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[V Happy]

Help Leather cleaner

I just did my black leather on my XLR with Doc Baileys Black leather conditioner. Recommended to me from the Harley guys I was impressed with the way it made the worn areas look like new. Could only find it on line.
V Happy

 

[b_pappy]

I lifted this from the Adam's forum for cleaning Alcantara, etc. Dylan is really phenomonal about detailing. This should answer your questions:
HOW DO I CLEAN IT?
Its important to understand Alcantara does not respond well to most chemical cleaners, as a matter of fact, many chemical cleaners will actually discolor or change the texture of the material permanently ruining the benefit of having such a nice material on the interior surfaces of a vehicle.

Daily cleaning and regular maintenance - I recommend the use of a medium-soft bristled brush, like the Adam’s Interior Brush, to essentially fluff and renew the material. As you sit on the seat the material will become matted or tired looking, a quick brushing will revive the material and bring it back to life. Be sure to vacuum first to remove and debris then brush in both directions. In the event you do not have a brush a clean, dry, lint free, microfiber towel will work.

For a more thorough cleaning - Start with a clean, lint free, microfiber towel and spray a light mist of Adam's Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner onto the towel. Gently wipe at any soiled areas or wipe the entire surface if its been awhile since the previous cleaning. NEVER SPRAY THE CLEANER DIRETLY ONTO THE ALCANTARA!! Flip the towel to a clean side and repeat as needed.

After the surface has been cleaned use a 2nd, dry, lint free, microfiber towel to remove any moisture and follow with a brush to re-fluff the material. Its important not to use too much product, a very light misting of cleaner onto the towel is all thats needed.

BUT WHAT IF I HAVE STAINS?

Prevention of stains is the most important thing to keeping an Alcantara surface clean, but accidents happen. In the event you do spill something or do notice a discolored spot the sooner you act the better. The longer a stain is allowed to sit the less likely you'll be able to remove it.

In the event you do get a stain, act quickly (within 30 minutes) and begin treating the stain from the outside edge into the center in order to avoid
the stain spreading. Never pour a cleaning product directly onto Alcantara!!

Before attempting to remove the stain, remove any of the excess spill or substance that has fallen on the upholstery:

If its a very liquid substance like soda or juice use an absorbent towel, a waffle weave microfiber being ideal. You can also use a sponge or synthetic chamois (water sprite, absorber, etc.)

If its a thicker substance, yogurt, milk shake, smoothie, etc. use a spatula or spoon to scrape as much off of the surface as you can. If you have a wet/dry shop vac use that to remove the excess. Avoid rubbing to prevent the stain from spreading or going deeper into the material.

After the bulk of the spill or contamination is removed use a white cloth or a well wrung sponge for the removal of as much of the stain as you can. If you use a sponge, rinse it in clean water and wring it well between each pass. Try to wipe as little as possible, blot as much as possible, apply pressure to get any liquid up into the sponge.

For the specific treatment of the different types of stains follow the instructions below:

• Fruit juice, jam, jelly, syrup, ketchup: Use lukewarm water, rinse by dabbing with clean water, rinsing and wringing the towel or sponge often.
• Blood, egg, excrement, urine: Use cold water; avoid warm water because it makes these substances coagulate, rinse by dabbing with clean water, rinsing and wringing the towel or sponge often.
• Liquors, alcoholic beverages, wine, beer, coke and tea: Use lukewarm water; if the colour mark remains, treat it with lemon juice and then rinse it well.
• Pencil, pastry, cream, chocolate, ice-cream, mustard: Use lukewarm water; rinse by dabbing with clean water rinsing and wringing the towel or sponge often.
• Hair gel, tomato sauce, coffee with sugar: Use lemon juice and then wipe with lukewarm water; rinse by dabbing with clean water, rinsing and wringing the towel or sponge often.

If the stain is no longer water soluble:
Depending on the type of stain start with the specific recommendations above. (water or lemon juice) In the event these do not work pure ethyl alcohol (available at most pharmacies) and follow the instructions below. Keep in mind this is a method of last resort and should only be attempted if none of the previous methods have worked.

Rub with ethyl alcohol, then with water and rinse. Leave the vehicle in a dry environment with the doors or windows open and allow the area to dry. Repeat the alcohol treatment as needed or until there is no longer any improvement in the stains appearance.

 

[cubby558]

Alcantara cleaning

Thanks for the post, Bruce! I have this in both V's, so know I know what not to do!

 

[airmike]

Bruce that is what I was looking for! Thank you

 

[XLRATING]

Zaino on shale

I tried this on a shale interior today. Bear in mind the Zaino cleaner says don't let it dry on the leather, & I've run across elsewhere where someone let a squirt of Zaino conditioner sit a while as they took a phone call, & it left white marks in black leather. So, gotta be sure you wipe everything into the leather right away. Anyway, a problem I ran into that did not happen with any of the shades of gray or the black I used it on was it tried to spot the leather console cover. I sat the Zaino bottle on it while cleaning elsewhere & had a much lighter spot & half circle show up. I hadn't cleaned that yet & all was well once I did (although initially it had a spray spot pattern too), but any overspray kept causing the same problem - but only on the console, not the seats.

Anyway, don't make the same mistake I did - park the bottle somewhere other than on leather - & be sure you wipe it off right away. Beyond that it made everything really nice & clean!

 

[First Robin]

I am still using the leather cleaner and conditioner from my Range Rover and have had no problems with it. It is two separate bottles, clean it first then condition it. Makes all the leather look brand new.

 

[b_pappy]

Glad to help.
Bruce

 

[tyrone]

leather cleaner

Leatherique.........very good stuff. They also make water base leather dyes that I used to re-dye my steering wheel leather.