Best leather cleaner / conditioner?

[Obioban]

It's debatable if automotive leather qualifies as "leather" for this definition. While all leather is heavily processed, automotive leather is so heavily treated and coated it performs as a synthetic. You are cleaning and treating the clear coat.

To be safe, a PH neutral cleaner removes all doubt. Most car wash soaps are PH neutral.

I don't know how you're still on that-- we've seen that it permeates to top coat and gets into the leather.

But, let's operate like that didn't happen-- even if what leatherique is doing is softening the top coat (and not the leather itself), it still results in softer leather (plus topcoat) than just cleaning it. So, perhaps it doesn't matter what's getting treated-- the result from leatherique is a softer, more pliable leather. This is not the result from cleaning alone, or from leather products I've tried (Lexol, Gliptone).

[bmw]

I can't believe we're actually have a debate as to what's better for leather care.... one of the best leather care products on the market (which is solely and only for leather care) or a product that specifically mentions to not use it on leather.

It's debatable if automotive leather qualifies as "leather" for this definition. While all leather is heavily processed, automotive leather is so heavily treated and coated it performs as a synthetic. You are cleaning and treating the clear coat.

To be safe, a PH neutral cleaner removes all doubt. Most car wash soaps are PH neutral.

If you want the leather to remain as soft as new, and not just look as clean as new, cleaning alone isn't going to cut it.

The leather in these cars isn't necessarily soft from brand new.

[Obioban]

I think there's almost two conversations going on here. Some people want to just clean the leather, others want to clean and condition the leather. There's lots of ways to reasonably clean the leather-- including straight water. Simple green looks to do a good job cleaning it as well, but I wouldn't use it due to long term concerns. The resulting seat will look clean (unless you use Lexol, in which case it'll be a shiny mess).

Some people (leatherique people) also want to condition the leather. The leather is dramatically, significantly, not at all subtly softer after leatheriquing. You do not get this from cleaning. For that matter, you don't get it from gliptone (that'w why I went back to leatherique after a single year of gliptone). If you want the leather to remain as soft as new, and not just look as clean as new, cleaning alone isn't going to cut it.

[Obioban]

I bet after you took it out and wiped clean and let it dry - it stained, or changed the color, too.

Zero staining.

I took it out, wiped off the big goops with a paper towel, and then used leatherique pristine clean wipe it down (which is what you use after using Leatherique rejuvenator in the car to remove it, as well):

[Obioban]

Sure, but if you actually look at the ingredients of Simple Green, its no different than most soaps. Water, alcohol, sodiums, baking soda, chelating agents, and preservative boosters.
Diluted 50% it won't harm leather, or anything for that matter. I can almost guarantee these same ingredients in most leather cleaners.

They have dilution guides for various use cases, so they know about that. Instead, for leather, as noted by mentos in the instructions above, simple green says, "Do not use Simple Green on leather seats."

I can't believe we're actually have a debate as to what's better for leather care.... one of the best leather care products on the market (which is solely and only for leather care) or a product that specifically mentions to not use it on leather.

[TexaZ3]

From simple green's web site: Simple green is not recommended for use on leather. They have a vested interest in people using it anywhere/everywhere it won't damage the item being cleaned.

The article on cleaning cloth car seats on the Simple Green site specifies not to use their product on leather.
https://simplegreen.com/cleaning-tip...ive/car-seats/

Sure, but if you actually look at the ingredients of Simple Green, its no different than most soaps. Water, alcohol, sodiums, baking soda, chelating agents, and preservative boosters.
Diluted 50% it won't harm leather, or anything for that matter. I can almost guarantee these same ingredients in most leather cleaners.

[TexaZ3]

I suppose people clean/condition their car seats more frequently for various reasons.
I do it cuz I have to park it outdoors in the sun, and I want to clean the sweat off the leather before the salt does any damage. I imagine I need something that is more on the mild side

Water. Just plain water with maybe a dash of 71% isopropyl (like a capful to a bucket) and damp microfiber. That's all you need for weekly wipe.

[m3nt0s]

The article on cleaning cloth car seats on the Simple Green site specifies not to use their product on leather.

https://simplegreen.com/cleaning-tips/automotive/car-seats/

[Icecream]

Looking at the back of the hide - this is NOT what BMW uses on the seats. This is not top-coated leather (which BMW is), looks more like full grain aniline dyed product. This hide will permeate 100%.
I bet after you took it out and wiped clean and let it dry - it stained, or changed the color, too.

Nappa for BMW M cars is significantly softer and has a much nicer hand than the rough, thick leather found in other models which may not be permeable.
Thanks for posting that Ian, pretty definitive though I may try this on my old hides some day when I replace them. I am both surprised yet pleased with the result. You might say I am pleasantly surprised. Wonder if it still permeates after a coat of new dye.

ileatherique must really have something good, I swear other conditioners I have used seems to just sit on top.

[TexaZ3]

I bought it from a bmw dealership, factory bmw imola hide.

I don't know what to tell you other than it does not look like any other BMW leather I have seen in the past 20+ years. This looks full grain. Or at the very least top grain. BMW never used full or top grain in any of their cars. No automotive manufacturers do, except for maybe, Ferraris and Bentleys and Rolls, etc. Maybe if you buy a hide they actually sell you nice stuff

[yhp2009]

Haha, if you get your seats so dirty you need to do this kind of cleaning every two months, you not worthy of having nice things.
And to answer your question - NOT a one time result. I have been doing this multiple times to many, many of my cars (some of which I own for over 15 years) and the seats still look new.

I suppose people clean/condition their car seats more frequently for various reasons.
I do it cuz I have to park it outdoors in the sun, and I want to clean the sweat off the leather before the salt does any damage. I imagine I need something that is more on the mild side

[Obioban]

From simple green's web site: Simple green is not recommended for use on leather. They have a vested interest in people using it anywhere/everywhere it won't damage the item being cleaned.

[Obioban]

Looking at the back of the hide - this is NOT what BMW uses on the seats. This is not top-coated leather (which BMW is), looks more like full grain aniline dyed product. This hide will permeate 100%.
I bet after you took it out and wiped clean and let it dry - it stained, or changed the color, too.

The back of the leather looks the same. See attached stock seat:



I'll pull the test bit out of the trash and use pristine clean on it tomorrow so we can see if there's a stain.

[TexaZ3]

TexaZ3 Kudos that really does look superb
But I have to point out that your example is a one-time result. I dont think anyone doubts that Simple Green will clean your dirty leather seats thats been neglected. I think the question is whether it is good to use Simple green every 2 months year around for the next 10 yrs

Haha, if you get your seats so dirty you need to do this kind of cleaning every two months, you not worthy of having nice things.
And to answer your question - NOT a one time result. I have been doing this multiple times to many, many of my cars (some of which I own for over 15 years) and the seats still look new.

19-year old Cinnamon on a car that has 157K miles:
IMG_5751 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

16-year old black napa on a 115k mile car:
sgAAAgBhQ-A-960 by Italian Horses, on Flickr


21-year old black napa on a 111k miles car:
qGAAAgDEyeA-960 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

20-year old black napa on a 117k miles car:
joAAAgK1g-A-960 by Italian Horses, on Flickr
XoAAAgK1g-A-960 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

21 year old black napa (crappy e36 no less) on a 131K miles car:
AIAAAgDbieA-960 by Italian Horses, on Flickr

All my personal cars. All daily drivers. APC and water. Le Tech for conditioner. That's all I use for decades.

[Obioban]

Looking at the back of the hide - this is NOT what BMW uses on the seats. This is not top-coated leather (which BMW is), looks more like full grain aniline dyed product. This hide will permeate 100%.
I bet after you took it out and wiped clean and let it dry - it stained, or changed the color, too.

I bought it from a bmw dealership, factory bmw imola hide.