[D&D Auto Detailing]

True, but supposedly coated leather isnt very porous either.

[er1k024]

Thanks for providing such great info. This truly was a helpful thread.

[togwt]

Originally Posted by JLs Detailing

That makes sense, but if the protective coating is so strong as to keep conditioner from absorbing into it shouldn't leather be so much easier to clean than it is. I mean when you get dirty leather (which should just be a dirty protective coating) it is a bear to clean. I would think that an impermeable coating would wipe clean rather easily.

Just as a clear coat doesn’t ’seal’ colour coat paint per es nor does a protective polyurethane covering.Water molecules are smaller than the molecules of the polythene and therefore a water-based product can penetrate, unlike oil whose molecules are larger. Constant flexing of a polymer will tend to open micro fissures allowing ingress (the same goes for the pigmented (painted) leather. Oil that gets between the covering and the paint surface compromises the adhesion and will tend to enlarge the fissures causing what look like cracks n the covering

It has always been my contention that solvents are use to help penetrate the protective polyurethane covering.

D & D Auto Detailing - great test and some interesting responses both here and other forums.


Another take on oil-based products (Leatherequi) -

First you apply the Rejuvenator Oil which is absorbed into the leather, to restore suppleness to dried leather; this process also loosens dirt, which migrates to the surface. This is then removed when wiping it with Pristine Clean.

Question – How is it that the soil / dirt migrate to the surface but the oils don’t?

[D&D Auto Detailing]

Originally Posted by togwt

D & D Auto Detailing - great test and some interesting responses both here and other forums.


Another take on oil-based products (Leatherequi) -

First you apply the Rejuvenator Oil which is absorbed into the leather, to restore suppleness to dried leather; this process also loosens dirt, which migrates to the surface. This is then removed when wiping it with Pristine Clean.

Question – How is it that the soil / dirt migrate to the surface but the oils don’t?

Thank you! And that is a very good question!

[togwt]

Originally Posted by D&D Auto Detailing

Thank you! And that is a very good question!

"That is the design of the formula for Prestine Clean. It removes just the dirt and not the Rejuvinator Oil. Never use a cleaner first since that will emulsify the dirt and drive it into the leather".

According to this answer from Leatherequi - it defies the normal physics of cleaning or as stated earlier 'it's magic

[carados]

just got back to new orleans after a 10 day trip. Lexus has been in the southern sun for 10 or so days now after i conditioned it and left. I used CG cleaner and conditioner, seats are still more subtle than before I applied it..... Now that tells me that there is a lot more going on that we can see and that our leathers are more porus than we think....

just mho

[D&D Auto Detailing]

Could the sun have softened up the leather?

On a side note, I recently worked on an 02 Lexus and the seats had never been conditioned. The leather was in great condition besides being dirty. Also, if you do enough research, car manufacturers will say its not necessary to condition the seats if its protected leather.

If you think about it, you can imagine why its going to be so hard for people to stop conditioning their protected leather. Look at all those conditioner companies out there.

[Nica]

Originally Posted by carados

just got back to new orleans after a 10 day trip. Lexus has been in the southern sun for 10 or so days now after i conditioned it and left. I used CG cleaner and conditioner, seats are still more subtle than before I applied it..... Now that tells me that there is a lot more going on that we can see and that our leathers are more porus than we think....

just mho

Interesting isn't it

[Peugeot]

Originally Posted by D&D Auto Detailing

Could the sun have softened up the leather?

On a side note, I recently worked on an 02 Lexus and the seats had never been conditioned. The leather was in great condition besides being dirty. Also, if you do enough research, car manufacturers will say its not necessary to condition the seats if its protected leather.

If you think about it, you can imagine why its going to be so hard for people to stop conditioning their protected leather. Look at all those conditioner companies out there.

Take car manufacturer's recommendations with a bit of salt. Toyota especially. Most automakers are AWOL in paint care. We know M-B uses Menzerma, but M-B will probably sue to get that information retracted. Toyota is notorious for un-communication with their customers. They offically recommend against installing any aftermarket stereo system in Toyota automobiles. Toyota Help

Once your car is 5 years old, they don't give a rip about it's condition.

Some automakers are better about the long-term owner satisfaction of their cars, but Toyota isn't one of them. I've owned numerous Yotas (Supras, Cressidas, etc.) and although what they did at the factory was great, once they hit out shores, we're left to the dealer network. I could rag all day on Toyota even though I generally like the cars. But my main point is that you'll be lucky to get any information directly from automakers. All leather nowdays is spray dyed and whatever differences are between them are treated like trade secrets.

I've been looking into leather care products for about two years now and have tried many products including Leatherique. Shortly, I'll do an info-dump of what I've learned.

[Nica]

Originally Posted by Peugeot

Take car manufacturer's recommendations with a bit of salt. Toyota especially. Most automakers are AWOL in paint care. We know M-B uses Menzerma, but M-B will probably sue to get that information retracted. Toyota is notorious for un-communication with their customers. They offically recommend against installing any aftermarket stereo system in Toyota automobiles. Toyota Help

Once your car is 5 years old, they don't give a rip about it's condition.

Some automakers are better about the long-term owner satisfaction of their cars, but Toyota isn't one of them. I've owned numerous Yotas (Supras, Cressidas, etc.) and although what they did at the factory was great, once they hit out shores, we're left to the dealer network. I could rag all day on Toyota even though I generally like the cars. But my main point is that you'll be lucky to get any information directly from automakers. All leather nowdays is spray dyed and whatever differences are between them are treated like trade secrets.

I've been looking into leather care products for about two years now and have tried many products including Leatherique. Shortly, I'll do an info-dump of what I've learned.

Look forward to the info