Used Meguiers leather treatment on the 80

[IdahoDoug]

I'm not a fan of using leather conditioners. I used to sit in meetings at GM and Lexus listening to various leather mfrs try to convince us to use their products, etc. Leather nowadays is quite processed. What you're sitting on is a plasticized paint atop the leather. So, putting greasy, oily stuff on them tends to cause more of it to come off if it's fractured.

Anyhow, so my leather has never had anything but a wipe down with a wet rag since every year or so. But I noticed it was getting hard here and there and had some time on my hands. So I tried the Mequiers Leather Cleaner and Conditioner. Cleaned it with the wet rag, then the next day let it sit in the sun to get the leather nice and hot. Then used the product. Gave the leather a nicely uniform clean look and a proper dull sheen (no gloss). Within an hour the stuff had soaked in and was find to sit on. Now, a few days later, it has a nice organic leather scent that seems not to come from the product so much as being reactivated in the leather. Nice.

Anyhow, worked well and got a bit more dirt out as well.

DougM

 

[bitfreak420]

thx for the info mang.

 

[StressPuppy]

Good info, thanks!!

I have similar "stiff" spots in my leather and need to do something. I will give the Meguire's a try.

BTW - I use their paint cleaner/protector/wax products and think they are the bomb! Others may disagree, but I think they have a good product (now it sounds like more than that!).

 

[PHAEDRUS]

check out their leather wipes. look like baby wipes but for leather seats. I am kind of particular about the interior of my pig and keep some of these in the back. they work well for spilled kids food and muddy dogs feet on the seats. I am sure there are more expensive products that will do a better job at cleaning and conditioning but I like these for simpe ease of use adn convenience.
Dave

 

[ginericLC]

I've found that the products my wife uses to keep her saddles clean work better than anything made for cars. I've tried the McGuires and it was OK. She uses something called Leather New. It is a two part process, you clean it first and then protect it afterwards. Haven't had leather in a LC in a long time though. Both of my units have cloth. Every now and then I pull the seat covers off and toss them in the washing machine.

 

[Scamper]

I've used both the Meguires and the Zymol (two-part) leather stuff. They both work about as well, though the Zymol is more expensive.

But neither of them was able to get out tough dirt/ink/stains, etc. Finally, in desparation, I tried some Resolve on a small spot where a ballpoint pen had inked up the seat. I was surpised that it got most of it out (like 95%). Also got out most of the other types of crud.

So I now use either the Meg's or the Zymol stuff (whichever I have on hand) to clean up the leather, but use Resolve to do the dirty work first.

 

[PDoyle]

I wanted to post info. about this for some time. I use Meguires on the leather as well. Works pretty good. I had what looked like pen/marker lines ( from P/O) on the inside and around arm rests of the back seat. I used a vynal cleaner and (old) tooth brush, scrubbed it and that worked perfect.
I've had the 80 for about a year. There was a hint of an odor in it for the first few months I owned it. I finally got the chance this summer to pull out the seats and clean the carpets with a carpet cleaner.
The P/O spilled something like coffee and it landed under the driver side front seat. It took me a while to get that out with this carpet cleaner but, that, I think was most of the odor smell. You can clean the carpets until your hands are blue, but after a while the stains come back. Nothing else you can do except replace em...
I'm working on the inside roof now. I took an old white tee shirt with some dish cleaner and a little bit of water and lightly wiped the cloth around the roof. The old tee is looking quite dirty.

 

[landtank]

My wife commented on my roof interior last week. I prefer to drive with the window open so the grime on the roof is pretty bad. Didn't know how to attack it as the material looks to be almost a felt material and didn't want to do more harm than good.

 

[PDoyle]

The tee shirt thing seems to be working pretty good.
Above the back seat seems to be the worst spot. Could be cause the windows are open alot.
But, I think the PO was a smoker. I'm not so I want to rid that smell as much as I can.

 

[IdahoDoug]

Try Fabreze on smoking smells on vehicle interiors. Works well, pleasant scent that dies off and leaves .... nothing.


DougM

 

[aedgington]

was that the meguiars single bottle solution or two part treatment?

 

[e9999]

what?
you guys forgot already about the great Leatherique adventure?

 

[Cruisin'Carolina]

I have a meguiar's one stage leather treatment.

 

[FirstToy]

meguiars gold class cleaner/conditioner & Blue Coral leather conditioner is what I have b/c it's like $5 a bottle.
The leather is in great shape but some hardening on the hides- so I sprayed a buttload onto the seats and rubbed it in by hand, then sprayed some more.

I let it sit that way for a few hours and wiped off the excess. Surprisingly, the leather softened up. I think maybe it's the length of time any product sits on the surface and how thin it is (thicker creams will obviously not penetrate like a liquid) what do you guys think?

I'm going to try doing that a couple more times to see what happens. The rr seats are butter soft, the fronts are good but I would like them to soften a bit more.

I was going to order Griots Leather Rejuvenator but $7 shipping for a $8 bottle is too ridiculous. I'll do w/ something local.

oh yeah, a good tip I got from detailing freaks;
when you clean leather, sometimes it looks worse b/c the dirt stays in th cracks making them even more noticeable.
Take some woolite solution (6:1) and a bristle brush (soft toothbrush for ex) and gently scrub the cracks & wipe off. It really does get the dirt out and even out the appearance.

 

[derrickbwg]

Has anyone had any experience with the item below. Sorry if it's getting OT.
http://www.leatherrepairkits.com/See_how_leather_repair_is_done.htm

 

[e9999]

so you guys like to sit on slowly-decomposing dead animal parts?

 

[turbocruiser]

what?
you guys forgot already about the great Leatherique adventure?

I guess I got lost on that adventure, the whole thing was supposed to help those who wanted lovely leather without relying on other products that wont work well! So what gives??? Someone please 'splain it to me.

 

[Vitesse_6]

I picked up the 2 part Maguiars the other day at Auto Zone....$1.00 each, Ive been waiting for a warmer day to give it a shot.
Thanks for the info

 

[Fly Rod]

Good post. The wifes leather in the BMW is feeling like cardboard. It is pretty frickn cold here now so will put the Maguires to test when it is warm enough. By th way how warm is warm enough?

Fly Rod

 

[AK igloo]

Timely info. I was just thinking of what to use on my leather seats to clean them other than a hot damp cloth to wipe them down. Wanted to detail the inside after installing new rearview mirror w/compass/temp and new head unit.