Please explain leather cleaner and conditioner

[daviejon444]

HELLO
Having been to the store to purchase a maguire leather cleaner and conditioner
I found my self questioning how can the product clean and condition at the same
could you explain to me how the product does this?

daviejon444

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Please explain leather cleaner and conditioner

The product has very mild cleaning agents in it that will lift the dirt, allowing the towel to pick it up. What you're leaving behind in the process is adding conditioning agents to the leather.

Whenever you combine multiple steps into a single operation you will have some compromises. In this case the compromise is more on the cleaning side than the conditioning side. If you have very badly soiled leather seats this product is likely not powerful enough to do a "restoration" type cleaning. It's great when used regularly to prevent the build up of soiling over time, however, and when used that way also provides excellent overall conditioning.

[Blueline]

Re: Please explain leather cleaner and conditioner

What you're leaving behind in the process is adding conditioning agents to the leather.

I do not think it really adds anything to leather. The vinyl coating, as used in "finished" automobile leather. is impervious.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Please explain leather cleaner and conditioner

I do not think it really adds anything to leather. The vinyl coating, as used in "finished" automobile leather. is impervious.

The coating put on automotive leather is fairly porous and will indeed take in conditioners through those pores. A lot of work goes into those coatings to make them look, feel and act like leather and they absolutely do benefit from routine treatment to prevent them from drying out and cracking.

[daviejon444]

Re: Please explain leather cleaner and conditioner

HI
I bought a bottle of maguires leather cleaner and conditioner today and gave it a quick try on back seat of my car,and the dirt lift straight on to the cloth and left the leather looking like new (nice one) I am detailing my cars body work with maguires cleaning and polishing products and it as become as a mirror the finish is the best I have ever had, looking forward to tommorrow to continue on my leather seats

thank you daviejon

[Mike Pennington]

Re: Please explain leather cleaner and conditioner

[Blueline]

Re: Please explain leather cleaner and conditioner

The coating put on automotive leather is fairly porous and will indeed take in conditioners through those pores. A lot of work goes into those coatings to make them look, feel and act like leather and they absolutely do benefit from routine treatment to prevent them from drying out and cracking.

According to Dr. Herdon Jenkins at Lexol that is not true. He says the following:

"Contrasting the ability of naked leather to absorb conditioners (and water) with coated leather, Dr. Jenkins states: “While vinyl-coated leather is care free by virtue of its protective plastic surface, it is also inaccessible for purposes of maintenance.” Meaning, of course, there is absolutely no point to using leather conditioners on plastic coated leather."

I would think Lexol knows a bit or two about leather, coated or not. You are wasting your money putting leather conditioners on coated leather. Vinyl protectorant is a different story.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Please explain leather cleaner and conditioner

This is rather interesting then --> http://www.lexol.com/auto.html

[TOGWT]

Re: Please explain leather cleaner and conditioner

This is rather interesting then --> http://www.lexol.com/auto.html

But then the article talks about 'leather' cleaning and conditioning'

There are three main types of leather finish

1. Unfinished dyed leather; aniline dyes are translucent, the transparency of the dye enables you to see the natural marks on the leather. Because it’s the top-grain, this leather has plenty of physical durability.
This type of leather finish is typical of approximately 10% of vehicles

2. Finished leather - is aniline dyed then a topical water-based pigmentation coating; and then a clear coating are applied to the surface. These coating represent the colour and sheen on the leather.

3. Protected leather - with a pigmented urethane coating, without the tensile strength of top-grain, consequently will have a short useful life expectancy. Split-hides are typically heavily pigmented with a heavy urethane clear coat.

The common denominator is that whatever the leather finish any product that is applied to its surface must allow evaporation and hydration i.e. the flow of moisture back and forth

The interior environment of an automobile can be extremely demanding on any material used. Temperatures range from hot dry summer days, to freezing nights. Both high and low humidity, even air conditioning that cools, but also dries. Leather's greatest enemies are; sun, heat, body oils, perspiration (that contains urea as well as organic salts and acids) and ultra violet radiation (UV), which dries the hide, fades the colour by bleaching, and can cause the leather to fail by drying out the fibres causing the urethane and / or the hide to crack.

The most fundamental question to be answered before you clean or care for leather is to establish the type of leather finish used in the vehicle as the methodologies are very specific for each type

Always remember you are dealing with the finished coating on the leather and not with the leather hide itself

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Please explain leather cleaner and conditioner

Bottom line here - while the leather is indeed coated, the coating used is designed to mimic leather as closely as possible. It retains the look and feel, it stretches and creases with the leather, and it is prone to drying out and cracking if never treated. It is not at all the same material as that used on dashboards, door panels, or vinyl seats. These unique properties require different treatment, whether cleaning or conditioning, than any of those vinyl surfaces mentioned above.

[Gleamclean]

Re: Please explain leather cleaner and conditioner

But then the article talks about 'leather' cleaning and conditioning'

There are three main types of leather finish

1. Unfinished dyed leather; aniline dyes are translucent, the transparency of the dye enables you to see the natural marks on the leather. Because it’s the top-grain, this leather has plenty of physical durability.
This type of leather finish is typical of approximately 10% of vehicles

2. Finished leather - is aniline dyed then a topical water-based pigmentation coating; and then a clear coating are applied to the surface. These coating represent the colour and sheen on the leather.

3. Protected leather - with a pigmented urethane coating, without the tensile strength of top-grain, consequently will have a short useful life expectancy. Split-hides are typically heavily pigmented with a heavy urethane clear coat.

The common denominator is that whatever the leather finish any product that is applied to its surface must allow evaporation and hydration i.e. the flow of moisture back and forth

The interior environment of an automobile can be extremely demanding on any material used. Temperatures range from hot dry summer days, to freezing nights. Both high and low humidity, even air conditioning that cools, but also dries. Leather's greatest enemies are; sun, heat, body oils, perspiration (that contains urea as well as organic salts and acids) and ultra violet radiation (UV), which dries the hide, fades the colour by bleaching, and can cause the leather to fail by drying out the fibres causing the urethane and / or the hide to crack.

The most fundamental question to be answered before you clean or care for leather is to establish the type of leather finish used in the vehicle as the methodologies are very specific for each type

Always remember you are dealing with the finished coating on the leather and not with the leather hide itself

Nice post, please answer me one question:

If i have a newer model vehicle that has finished leather, what product can i use to protect the top layer, since according to many here, leather conditioner will not reach the actual leather. I just want to make sure my leather "looks" nice, or the top coat, whichever is visible lol

[Blueline]

Re: Please explain leather cleaner and conditioner

This is rather interesting then --> http://www.lexol.com/auto.html

Definitely for autos using unfinished leather, (there are a few), which that very well may be in the example. However, like Meguiar's I am sure they wish to sell their product. Nothing is going to penetrate the vinyl coating. That is why is it there.

[TOGWT]

Re: Please explain leather cleaner and conditioner

Nice post, please answer me one question:

If i have a newer model vehicle that has finished leather, what product can i use to protect the top layer, since according to many here, leather conditioner will not reach the actual leather. I just want to make sure my leather "looks" nice, or the top coat, whichever is visible lol

Always use a Leather Protection product as it will avoid stains setting onto the urathane, UV protection if you have a convertible (303 Protectant)

Ther are some articles on leather on my blog that will help you with leather care

[Blueline]

Re: Please explain leather cleaner and conditioner

I just want to make sure my leather "looks" nice, or the top coat, whichever is visible lol

You can use Meguiar's conditioner to make it look and smell nice, any leather conditioner will do that, however I would suggest some thing with a UV protector in it. (Maybe Meguiar's does, I don't know) Most vinyl products have it, even ArmorAll, which in my opinion is as good as any. If you want something more expensive 303 Protectant is excellent, but some don't like the smell. From what I have read, and what I truly believe, nothing is going to penetrate to the actual leather on finished leather product...that is why they "finish" it. What you are trying to protect is the vinyl coating from sun damage and wear and tear.

[TOGWT]

Re: Please explain leather cleaner and conditioner

[QUOTE=Gleamclean;440756] Nice post, please answer me one question: