Best leather cleaner

[Scott R]

I have an old Jag that I had the front seats redone in original Connolly leather, but the rears were nearly perfect condition. They are dirty however. Whats the best deep leather cleaner you guys have used? Lexol isn't cutting it at all.

[wildthing]

Soap and water?

[Scott R]

Well I had not tried that yet, I suppose that's the most obvious thing.

[pwd72s]

Any saddle shops near you? Ask there. Before Lexol & other stuff, I used Saddle Soap.

[island911]

Not a soap, but I've had good luck with melamine sponges (Mr Clean Magic Eraser is one brand)

They are cool in that they are made of the same plastic that old ash trays and cheap plates are made of, but foamed. This makes for essentially tiny very stiff bristles. The structure does breakdown with use, but meh. Also, these sponges are effectively abrasive to the leather; being that the material is harder than the leather. --test / go lightly... Leathers have varying finishes, so it's hard to say if it will give you the results you want. My use was on one of my Cayennes. It worked beautifully, knocking back that dark sheen, returning a brighter, more matte (original) finish. All kinds of dirt trapped in the sponge.

[Gogar]

Imo it’s a crap shoot but my only firm suggestion is “not meguiars gold class.” Streaky and spotty and a pain in your butt for way too long.

[Cooper911SC]

Island has it. 😉

I’m a 20 year+ pro detailer.

Mr. Clean (or generic) magic eraser.

I spray the “eraser” (NOT directly on seats!) with Griot’s Garage Interior Cleaner and scrub small areas at a time. Before the area dries I follow by wiping with a microfiber towel dampened with more Interior Cleaner.

Please DO TEST a small area before going nuts. Occasionally the leather dye will react funny. It may have been “surface dyed” (reconditioned) at some point...you won’t realize it until too late if you start scrubbing!

If the rear seat leather is in need of rehydration Griots Leather Rejuvenator can help. It takes time and multiple applications. Learherique also makes great products.

I’m currently detailing a ‘54 Mercury Monterey. 42k Original mile car. Original vinyl interior, white/coral seats. Super dirty/grimy from sitting. Mr. Clean and Breeze Cleaner is getting it done...

[p911dad]

Zaino makes a good leather cleaner. I have used it, easy on the old leather.

[Scott R]

Originally Posted by Cooper911SC

Island has it. 😉

I’m a 20 year+ pro detailer.

Mr. Clean (or generic) magic eraser.

I spray the “eraser” (NOT directly on seats!) with Griot’s Garage Interior Cleaner and scrub small areas at a time. Before the area dries I follow by wiping with a microfiber towel dampened with more Interior Cleaner.

Please DO TEST a small area before going nuts. Occasionally the leather dye will react funny. It may have been “surface dyed” (reconditioned) at some point...you won’t realize it until too late if you start scrubbing!

If the rear seat leather is in need of rehydration Griots Leather Rejuvenator can help. It takes time and multiple applications. Learherique also makes great products.

I’m currently detailing a ‘54 Mercury Monterey. 42k Original mile car. Original vinyl interior, white/coral seats. Super dirty/grimy from sitting. Mr. Clean and Breeze Cleaner is getting it done...

The "Mr. Clean" eraser you can get from the supermarket? It's not some special automotive detail version?

The seats are in great shape, not cracked or dry or anything the color is good, they are just dirty. Simple cleaning brightened them up a little but I wanted to take them to the next level.

[pwd72s]

The Mr. Clean magic eraser seems to be used for many things. On a pool site I visit, guys say that spraying them with alcohol makes a great shaft cleaning device. Never did use one for car detailing, but can see where it could be effective.

Warning..back in the day when I did detail cars, (Not for a living) I'd try to use anything new on an area that didn't show first...my other rule of thumb was to use the gentlest cleaning product first, moving up to more caustic stuff only when needed.

Oh, Saddle soap isn't really "soap" per se...a very gentle leather cleaner/conditioner.
Comes in a can similar to a car wax can...wipe on a damp sponge to clean seats...then buff with a clean towel.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Leatherique is an incredible product, and I've tried basically all of the FLAPS type products. The oil is great for restoring weathered seats, and the cleaner leaves surfaces clean and doesn't spot or splotch. It also does a great job of bringing back that wonderful leather smell. My 2001 S8 smells new thanks to using Leatherique for routine detailing.

[carreradpt]

I second the Leatherique products. Their rejuvenating oil is some amazing stuff and really softens up the leather.

[tabs]

Rolls Royce uses cows milk to soften leather. Cow hide leather....cows milk or cream....hmmmm.

[cassisrot]

Lexolis great for saddles. Leatherique is great for seats.

[Scott R]

Originally Posted by tabs

Rolls Royce uses cows milk to soften leather. Cow hide leather....cows milk or cream....hmmmm.

Both this car and many Rolls used Connolly leather. It was not easy to track down the replacement hides for the rest of the interior.

[freeform911]

+3 for leatherique..both cleaner and rejuvenating oil...great stuff if you are patient and follow the instructions..

[wayne robson]

Thats interesting, i still have my 1939 Buick Straight eight owners manual
inside that it says, cleaning leather seats, use luke warm water only,.
But my opinion is its always Obenauf time,any time, yes you dont clean your leather,
just rub on Obenaufs heavy duty paste ,not the liquid one,the HD is the best there is.
Just rub on with a semi think white yes white cotton rag ,ill tell you why white soon.
Rub on plenty rub in leave for about 36 --48 hours or longer, then do the same again
with clean dry rag until it starts to shine a little,then do it all again in about a couple of
weeks the same again.
You wont believe the differents old leather starts to be come soft,and it lasts.

The white rag story, if ever you try and restore leather and you start getting the colour
coming off on to your rag, throw it away dont use it ,any product that does that is no good.Thats why you use white rags.

[island911]

^interesting...

Originally Posted by Scott R

The "Mr. Clean" eraser you can get from the supermarket? It's not some special automotive detail version? .

Yup, supermarket.

Originally Posted by pwd72s

The Mr. Clean magic eraser seems to be used for many things. On a pool site I visit, guys say that spraying them with alcohol makes a great shaft cleaning device. Never did use one for car detailing, but can see where it could be effective.

Warning..back in the day when I did detail cars, (Not for a living) I'd try to use anything new on an area that didn't show first...my other rule of thumb was to use the gentlest cleaning product first, moving up to more caustic stuff only when needed.

Excellent advice. The 'Magic Eraser' will lift color. Use caution.
What I like about it is that unlike so many leather cleaner & conditioners, it doesn't leave the surface glossy.

[speeder]

Another vote for Leatherique, the two part process w penetrating oil and the "Prestine" cleaner. Expensive but worth it. And very gentle on leather.

It's important to use it according to directions. At one time, my OCD took me down the rabbit hole of detailing forums and it seemed like the real top shelf guys pretty much agreed on the Leatherique. It does an amazing job of cleaning and re-moisturizing leather and when used properly, leaves you with a nice matte finish like the car left the factory with. Shiney finishes are oils but not the good kind, think of a leather steering wheel after a few years.

[slow&rusty]

Scott R - take pictures of the rear seats please, that would help with the advice we provide. Asking for leather cleaning or treatment recommendations on a car forum is close to asking for a recommended brand and grade of oil.