Leather Cleaner
- Thread starter EPUro2019
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I saw some people recommend leatherique rejuvenator oil and cleaner a while back. I ordered some and have been impressed with it. Really seems to penetrate in, soften and condition the leather. Just apply liberally with a sponge on a hot day, park it in the sun for a while to let the oil do its work, then wipe down with the cleaner. The oil seems to get dirt and grime to rise up off the leather and when you use the cleaner afterwards you get all that out and any excess conditioning oil. Pretty simple and it works very well.
There are lots of threads on MUD on the topic. Here are 3. Happy reading!
PSA: Preventative care necessary for '16 leather seats
Dash and seats
Tips on Cleaning new LC?
I use Lexol and 303 products.
PSA: Preventative care necessary for '16 leather seats
Dash and seats
Tips on Cleaning new LC?
I use Lexol and 303 products.
+1 for Lexol cleaner, and I am a big fan of Leather Milk - #4 for cars, #1 for just about everything else.
Taco2Cruiser
Crazy American Off Road
I bought my 200 with some really, really nasty tan seats. I tried Lexol stuff first, and it was good, but I didn't think it was that clean looking. I like Mothers products, so then I tried their Leather Wash to clean. That returned them to looking new. I then used Mothers Leather Cream to keep them nice and soft. That combi also worked on my brothers nasty interior.
But I don't have a lot of experience with leather, this 200 is the only vehicle I've had with leather so don't take me too serious. Plus I found that I hate leather and will remover it all and stitch up some nice canvas upholstery one day.
But I don't have a lot of experience with leather, this 200 is the only vehicle I've had with leather so don't take me too serious. Plus I found that I hate leather and will remover it all and stitch up some nice canvas upholstery one day.
This is the 5th vehicle now with leather seats for me. My experience/methods:
* Leatherique is really good stuff, but it doesn't do a really deep down cleaning if your seats are filthy or neglected. I use it annually, I really do like it and the results. You need a really hot sunny day to "bake" the Rejuvinator oil into the leather, park it outside with the windows up, I use a remote thermometer to keep an eye on the interior temps. Once it drops back down below about 100d, I give them a good with with the Cleaner, they really do come out nice and feel great. Nice smell too.
* I highly recommend subbing to the AMMO NYC channel on YouTube, then take a look at his videos on interior cleaning. This guy is a fanatic about cleaning/detailing.
* I need to do the seats in the 200 and my wife's IS, both if which we just bought and are at the point that they need attention. Cleaning the dirt out of the perforated leather (if you have cooled seats) is a PITA, Leatherique won't do this. I have found the best way to get them really clean is to first give them a good vacuuming with a strong shop vac, then use a steam cleaner. You do have to be careful not to overheat the leather as some actually have a thin vinyl coating that you can melt. Just go fast, make several passes with the cleaning brush wrapped in a MF towel until the towel stays clean. Just plain water in the steam cleaner, this is the one I have:
Amazon.com: McCulloch MC1375 Canister Steam System: Home & Kitchen
Very useful tool, excellent for cleaning off smudges and grime from plastic. Great for getting stains out of carpet and headliner.
* If you steam clean, be aware that this leaves the leather very clean but strips out the oils, so you need a treatment to keep it soft. Lexol is decent, my favorite is actually the stuff they sell at the Lexus dealers.
* Leatherique is really good stuff, but it doesn't do a really deep down cleaning if your seats are filthy or neglected. I use it annually, I really do like it and the results. You need a really hot sunny day to "bake" the Rejuvinator oil into the leather, park it outside with the windows up, I use a remote thermometer to keep an eye on the interior temps. Once it drops back down below about 100d, I give them a good with with the Cleaner, they really do come out nice and feel great. Nice smell too.
* I highly recommend subbing to the AMMO NYC channel on YouTube, then take a look at his videos on interior cleaning. This guy is a fanatic about cleaning/detailing.
* I need to do the seats in the 200 and my wife's IS, both if which we just bought and are at the point that they need attention. Cleaning the dirt out of the perforated leather (if you have cooled seats) is a PITA, Leatherique won't do this. I have found the best way to get them really clean is to first give them a good vacuuming with a strong shop vac, then use a steam cleaner. You do have to be careful not to overheat the leather as some actually have a thin vinyl coating that you can melt. Just go fast, make several passes with the cleaning brush wrapped in a MF towel until the towel stays clean. Just plain water in the steam cleaner, this is the one I have:
Amazon.com: McCulloch MC1375 Canister Steam System: Home & Kitchen
Very useful tool, excellent for cleaning off smudges and grime from plastic. Great for getting stains out of carpet and headliner.
* If you steam clean, be aware that this leaves the leather very clean but strips out the oils, so you need a treatment to keep it soft. Lexol is decent, my favorite is actually the stuff they sell at the Lexus dealers.
What I use works great on cars with soft nappa type leathers and it works great on the harder leather of the LC too (pre-2016)
Leather master cleaner or Zaino cleaner
Amazon.com: Leather Master Leather Soft Cleaner - 250 ml: Automotive
Zaino Store : Z-9 Leather Soft Spray Cleaner
I always finish with Zaino conditioner.
Zaino Store : Z-10 Leather in a Bottle
It leaves the leather looking like new - meaning MATTE not ARMOR-ALL-SHINY
Leather master cleaner or Zaino cleaner
Amazon.com: Leather Master Leather Soft Cleaner - 250 ml: Automotive
Zaino Store : Z-9 Leather Soft Spray Cleaner
I always finish with Zaino conditioner.
Zaino Store : Z-10 Leather in a Bottle
It leaves the leather looking like new - meaning MATTE not ARMOR-ALL-SHINY
I recently bought a 2011 LX570 whose seats were less than clean, even after the dealer's 'once-over'. I too have been looking relentlessly for the best product to use, and everywhere I've read it comes down to this:
'Premium' cleaners: Leatherique or Leathermaster
'Off the shelf' cleaners: Lexol, Mothers, etc.
I personally used Lexol on my 100-series with a lot of success, but wanted something different. I haven't pulled the trigger on the Amazon Leatherique bundle yet, but I did discover this in my online perusal: Woolite
Water with Woolite (10:1 or 5:1) works like magic. I put it in a spray bottle and used a soft-bristled brush on the leather seat to get all the grime out of the micro crevices in the leather. Scrub it with the brush, then use a damp towel to wipe down clean.
I was really surprised how well it worked and how much extra dirt it pulled off the leather.
I've since followed up with Lexol for conditioning, but will reply to the thread if I ever get around to using Leatherique.
'Premium' cleaners: Leatherique or Leathermaster
'Off the shelf' cleaners: Lexol, Mothers, etc.
I personally used Lexol on my 100-series with a lot of success, but wanted something different. I haven't pulled the trigger on the Amazon Leatherique bundle yet, but I did discover this in my online perusal: Woolite
Water with Woolite (10:1 or 5:1) works like magic. I put it in a spray bottle and used a soft-bristled brush on the leather seat to get all the grime out of the micro crevices in the leather. Scrub it with the brush, then use a damp towel to wipe down clean.
I was really surprised how well it worked and how much extra dirt it pulled off the leather.
I've since followed up with Lexol for conditioning, but will reply to the thread if I ever get around to using Leatherique.
Malleus
Far west of Siegen
Woolite and warm water
