How Do You Keep Leather Looking Like New?
 

Since many people will be getting leather in their RX8, I thought it might be a good idea for those with experence in caring for leather to tell us what you use.

I don't have much experience in looking after leather but I always moisturise it every so often with something like Auto Glym leather cream to stop it cracking.

Zaino LEATHER IN A BOTTLE.

All Zaino products I've used are excellent!

Meguiar's products also produce excellent results. Cheaper and more readily available than the Zaino products.

Just never use regular Armor-All on your leather interior. It's ok short term for vinyl and plastic though.

that leather in a bottle stuff sounds like itll do just the trick.
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This may sounds stupid- but how about regular old saddle soap and saddle oil? I mean, I used them for years on my tack, and it's all still in great condition. I'd assume the leather they use in car upholstry may not be quite as durable, but I'd think the stuff would still do the trick, wouldn't it?

It would probably work, but how many people have saddle soap and oil?:)

well, me, obviously ;)

I don't actually have any at the moment, but it's easy to find on the web. It's a heck of a lot cheaper than specialty leather cleaner- a bar of saddle soap runs between $.50-$1, and a half gallon of oil is probably around $6. I was thinking about this more the other day, because I use it on my purse- pretty much waterproofs the leather, while cleaning and conditioning it. I really think that it might be the way to go. In any case, I'm going to try, and I'll post my results on here. Though I imagine that'll be a ways in the future.

Elara,

This is from a long time ago but I was looking for info how the saddle soap does on leather. You may have posted your results but I never could find them.

Thanks for any help.

Use Griot's Garage's leather care treatment. Combination cleaner/conditioner in one. Works great.

If you want a two-step approach; get Lexol cleaner and conditioner separately. Either will work great for you. Keeping the car out of direct sunlight will also go a long way toward keeping the interior nice.

Buy mink oil from Wilsons Leather or any leather shop. Apply it with your hands. Let your car sit in the sun (make sure its a hot day) for a few hours. Only do this on hot days. Mink oil is far superior to anything out there

The best stuff i have used is the Meguires medallion series leather cleaner/conditioner. Had only a couple creases in the leather of my PT Cruiser after 3.5 years. You have to order it from the catalog or the website. BTW ive bought zaino products before and have not been impressed. Im not going to twiddle my thumbs for 2-3 hours waiting for the stuff to dry, and if its still wet it just makes a mess.

I didn't post my results, but it works very well. I went to the local Southern States and bought the liquid spray-on saddle soap, and it cleaned it up nicely. It does smell a little odd, but the Zaino Leather in a bottle takes care of that.

Zaino now has a product called ZFX that allows it to 'dry' faster, in about 20 mins. or so. If the car is prepped properly and Zainoed correctly, you will be impressed.

For leather you can use Zaino, or Lexol, both quality products. I would avoid all-in-one products because you need to use the cleaner to REMOVE the dirt, and then the conditioner to condition the leather. Without the two steps, you're just conditioning the dirt into the leather.

I've always used Neatsfoot oil on my Rx-7 leather...those 15 year old seats look good as new....do a google search on neatsfoot oil and you can read all about it....it keeps the leather very supple but i'm going to try the leather in a bottle stuff i think because i've heard it really keeps the car smelling like new...neatsfoot oil has a nice odor but its not the new car leather smell

Yep, Zaino is high quality stuff. Best wax to use on your cars also. Actually its a polish that protects like a wax, but its non-abrasive, so you can apply every day if your bored...
Another good leather product is the Meguire's leather cleaner, for those who want to take care of the leather but not make it shiny like armor all.

edit: I have found out through experience that when looking for a nice gloss, Pledge wipes (yes the furniture stuff) work well, just have a paper towell to wipe off the excess. If you are planning on adding any stick-on dash kits(CF, aluminum, etc) Pledge is a better option, as some conditioners work like an armor all and leave a residue that only comes out with alcohol (which doesnt go well with leather or vynil).

Some people have problems applying Zaino polishes. It takes a very small amount of the polish to wax the car, and often a small amount for a person used to a regular wax proves to be excessive for Zaino.

I'm in college and on the weekends I work at a detail shop, and out of all the waxes we used Zaino had the best polish. Specially for the customers w/ darker paint. Have been using it on my black car ever since...But its a matter of taste.

If you are having problems with Zaino, you are not using it right.
I've run detail shops, and now my own detail business and let me say Zaino is one of the best products.

As far as leather, Zaino is the best, but Lexol is great too. THe conditioner stains so you have to do it in a pattern.

If anyone has any detailing Qs feel free to PM me.

Neatsfoot oil is what I always used on my saddles and tack after the saddlesoap. I haven't tried it on the 8, yet, because while I like the smell on a saddle, I don't know what it'll be like on the 8's seats :)

I have been using Zaino leather cleaner and leather in a bottle on my Miata's leather seats for 4 years now. I will continue to use this great stuff on my black/red leather in my 8 . A little pricey, but works great and is easy to apply and use.

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The only problem with saddle soaps, mink oils and other traditional leather cleaning products is that they may (and probably will) darken the leather. For black leather it won't make a difference but the tan leather and especially the red leather I wouldn't use it.

I personally use Lexol two step leather cleaner and conditioner because it won't darken leather

Having black leather seats in my RX-8 I am not concerned one bit, but after owning a used Lexus with a light tan interior for a couple years, I have learned to be very careful.

-Mr. Wigggles

303 Aerospace Protectant...works like a charm...it's like sunscreen for your leather as well as all the Black trim on the car...can't beat it...IMO

303 Aerospace Protectant...works like a charm...it's like sunscreen for your leather as well as all the Black trim on the car...can't beat it...IMO

Haven't tried this stuff yet (don't have leather on current vehicles), but think I will try it when I get the 8.

http://www.zymol.com/treat2.htm

Spray-on Leather-New liquid glycerin worked fine on my seats- didn't even change the color while it was wet. Haven't tried the bars yet, and I think I probably won't because of your above points. I've never had a problem with Neatsfoot oil discoloring any of my saddles, so I may try that eventually (but on a small, hidden spot).

My wife got a Coach leather purse for her birthday, and they sold her THEIR leather conditioner. I have confiscated it because it works great. Its available at any Coach leather store for about $8. Very easy to apply, and makes the black leather look awesome.

My 2 cents:

Lexol conditioner for the leather. Vinylex for all plastics and vinyl...
(I did a lot of research on this last year when I got my first car with leather (Acura TL). No smell or discoloration issues.

Do not use Armor All on dash, etc. - apparently having a silicone base is really bad (I do not remember the reasons).

Cheers

I have the black/chapparel interior- Since my car seldom sits in the sun- why do I need a leather conditioner at all?

Also since I got my car a few days ago- when would I first have to start worrying about treating the leather with anything?

I use meguiars leather spray once a week

why not start to protect your leather now

don't what till it starts to look bad

You need at least a leather cleaner occasionally, to get the grime off it. Even though it looks clean, believe me, it isn't. I've cleaned my blact/chapparel seats twice now, and the amount of ickiness I've gotten off them has been crazy.

I have a small black mark on the door panel in my chapparl leather. I've tried the meguiar's leather spray but it hasn't completely come out. Any other products that clean better. I love the color but if it were all black inside I would even see the mark.

When I first got my 8 I Saddle Soaped all of the real leather. Then I use Meguair's Rich Leather Wipes (lint free) with conditioners and aloe to keep them looking good.

The neat thing is that the wipes also take extremely good care of the black plastic, vinyl and interior door pieces that get all those scuff marks on them. I use it for everything black in the car which means everything but the headliner and sun roof cover.

I have used the Saddle soap once a year on every car with leather I have owned for the last 30 years. This is the real key to keeping it soft and preventing cracks. Be prepared for the first time because to properly soap up the leather will take the better part of a day or two if you break for things like food. It is a very labor intensive step because you have to rub it in extremely well for it to last. After that wait at least a week before you do anything else to it.

I have been using the wipes in one form or another for a while as well. I prefer the Meguiar's wipes because they protect from spills and UV and their car care advice hotline is called the Rx Hotline. Sounded to me like it was made for an 8.

Isnt the piece on the door a faux leather?

My vote goes to...
 

Lexol products. They make a cleaner and a conditioner, both of which they say have the proper pH balance.

They made leather care products for horse tack for years, so they should know what they're doing.

As to using saddle soap and oil, I wouldn't suggest it... modern leathers are treated and clear-coated. Saddle soap etc. is designed for "raw" leather.

My $0.02

I use lard.. Crisco works in a pinch too.

eeewww

Ha! I've been struggling to get just the right amount of "tack" into the leather steering wheel. I just realized that chicken fat would probably do it :p

I am trying to decide between leather and cloth. I have some experience with leather products, but never leather upholstry. Most of the leather products that I am familiar with leave a greasy residue.

I have tried about every leather conditioning product out there over the past 10 years, and I have found that most products I've tried have either left the leather too shiny, too sticky, too slippery, changed the color of my chapparal interior to a brighter orange color, or they smell like ass. Those Meguiar's wipes are the worst when it comes to odor.....UGHHH! I bought a container of those things, used them once, and then threw the whole thing away. Smells like bacon grease mixed with Ralph Lauren Polo cologne or something. Smelled like some pimp was driving my car around for a month or something.

I have found that using "The Tannery" spray is the best. It is super hard to find, but I happened to stumble across some at a local drive through car wash/gas station. I've never seen it at an auto parts store. It comes out of the can in a foam and you just work it around on the leather with your hand.....smearing it into the seams and working it in really good. Let it sit for about 15 minutes or so to soak in, and then wipe off all of the excess with a soft towel. The leather is soft, not sticky, no extra shine to it at all, and it smells great. Makes your car have that wonderful smell of a new leather jacket.....and it seems to last a while too.