got my seats recovered in leather and i was wondering if anyone uses anything special to keep the leather clean and breathing.

 

I know Armor All makes a leather protectant, but someone told me to stop putting the stuff on my dash. He said it actually dries out the dash and makes it more susceptible to cracking. The dash in my wife's Concorde developed a split about 6 months ago after being garage kept and armor all protected for four years. I was susprised since nothing really caused it except age.

 

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show..._id=119&arch=1

 

cool, howed you find that by the way. my search basicly came back with everything.

 

I use Meguiars Gold Class Rich Leather, find it works great. I sure everyone has one they like and use all the time.

 

Pan

I just had my leather seats redone by Al Knoch at Carlisle this year in my '65. When I picked them up I asked the best method they recommended for keeping the leather clean and in good condition.
His answer surprised me!
They recommended using Lemon Pledge and a hairdryer. Use the hairdryer to warm the leather which will open up the pores of the leather than spray the Lemon Pledge on the seat. Let it sit for a few minutes than just wipe the seats down to remove the excess Pledge.
He said it had to be the LEMON Pledge as the lemon is what conditions the leather good.

Go figure, I would never have thought to use a furniture polish on leather seats but I figure they are the experts on the leather and the seats so who am i to disagree with them.

 

also use on your dash and doorskins

 

Learn something everyday. But if my wife see's me going to the garage with her lemon pledge, she'll be standing in the doorway when I return holding the vacuum, (housework) and I'm not going there

 

I use a combination of cleaners. Sometimes the armor all cleaner, and other times a leather treatment product. Anything that cleans and shines as needed.

kdf

 

that sounds easy for me, especialy as i won't be needing any hairdryer to get them warm. just don't want to fill the pores with stuff that will keep them from breating over time.

 

Lexol is considered by many to have the best leather products. I did a fair amount of research last time and their product seemed to be the most highly recommended. Check with leather care people online, read their info. I can get it at the local Farm & Fleet store.

I used it on both Cadillac interiors. The leather was pretty hard on the 93 DeVille so I let it soak for like 6 hours...applying a little more periodically so it wouldn't dry out. It turned out nice afterwards. Really did soften it up. Still feels nice. The Seville has nicer quality leather interior and I didn't have to leave it on as long, but it still turned out nice. I've used the Armour All leather conditioner too in the past and even saddle soap which is like a couple bucks in the saddle isle for a huge can. Personally, I think they all work well and do a good job. I've found that for older seats it really makes a difference if you let them soak the product up for a long time even though they don't recommend it. I've left the Armour-All stuff on for almost a whole weekend when I first bought the DeVille (bought it used) and it really made the seats feel NIIIICCCE afterwards! They were pretty dry. In your case with new interior, you wouldn't need to do that.

Lexol claims their product is the only one that is manufactured to creat micro dropletts that are smaller than other products and these suspended droplets work their way into the fibers long after application. I can't remember their exact wording but it sounds good. They probably just force it through a micro screen. I'd probably use the Armour-all leather conditioner if I was doing it next time.

I agree with others about Armour plastic protectant and drying up plastic & rubber. But I don't think you can apply the same logic to their leather cond'er. It's a totally different product.

Mark G