Caring for leather upholstery

**Paulc1964au** · 26-02-2012, 07:17 PM

Just wondering when I receive my R what should i do to protect the leather upholstery? Anything I need to do or should I just leave it?

**Wolfgang** · 26-02-2012, 08:05 PM

You can seal the upholstery with Nanolex Textile and Leather Sealant if you want to keep cleaning to a minimum and you have the added bonus of it preventing any stains if anything is spilt as it will just run off.

Alternatively if you don't mind cleaning something like Duagloss Leather Cleaner works really well. Depending on how much use the car will get and how clean you want to keep the upholstery you can clean as often as every three months to once a year. You don't really need leather conditioner with moredern leather seats (waits for debate to rage).

Car Care Products will be able to supply you with either product.

**Stuwey** · 27-02-2012, 08:58 AM

Originally Posted by Wolfgang

You don't really need leather conditioner with moredern leather seats (waits for debate to rage)

Errr.... What? Don't think so. I work at a trim shop, and I see busted out, dry, neglected leather every day. New leather isn't tanned like it used to be, and it won't last as long, either.

It's leather - ie; dead skin. It needs to be looked after. Keep it out of the heat as much as you can. Keep the conditioner up to it too.

**dasrattles** · 27-02-2012, 11:03 AM

i'll admit i dont use my car that much, just under 9k km after a yaer of ownership. what i do is to get a bottle of cleaner/conditioner (nothing fancy for me) and clean the leather bits once every month/2 months. doesnt take THAT long, 30 mins to an hour would suffice.

seats still look pretty brand new and i have the beige leather.

my mum's 3 year old 90k km Subaru gets the seats clean + conditioned once in 8 months or so and despite the regular wear, it still looks and feel good. again, no fancy conditioner/ cleaner.

i think we both use Megs Gold Class leather cleaner

**Wolfgang** · 27-02-2012, 11:36 AM

Originally Posted by Stuwey

Errr.... What? Don't think so. I work at a trim shop, and I see busted out, dry, neglected leather every day. New leather isn't tanned like it used to be, and it won't last as long, either.

It's leather - ie; dead skin. It needs to be looked after. Keep it out of the heat as much as you can. Keep the conditioner up to it too.

It's a debate that is on at the moment. The argument is modern leather is painted and therefore doesn't soak up leather conditioners like old school leather does. Any leather conditioner I've tried on my upholstery leaves a greasy mess no matter how well I wipe it down.

As you said, heat is the killer.

**FSI 220** · 27-02-2012, 12:27 PM

What about differing types of leather? My old Subaru would eventually soak up the conolly leather conditioner, Our Toyota just doesnt seem to soak it up at all , that has a shiny leather that almost seems plasticised...

Having just picked up a Passat with Nappa leather, that feels silky and sheer, is that a candidate for conditioning? and since the topic is "caring for leather", is there away to minimise damage from baby seats on the leather?

Cheers

John