Leather Cleaning Products
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Leather Cleaning Products
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CLEANING & CONDITIONING LEATHER To clean and condition new or aging leather... It is the job of soaps and cleaners to emulsify dirt. Most of them do that very well. However, on leather, because it is a porous material, the emulsified “mud” will be absorbed directly back into the fibrous leather, causing the hides to appear dingy, lack their original luster and hand. (Some liquid cleaners are very strong and tend to streak the finish if applied in uneven concentration.) The first step to your initial cleaning on new leather, or leather that you’re properly cleaning for the first is to massage in a film of Leather Rejuvenator. You can use your hands so you become tactilely aware of where your leather is more dry. The top of the back deck is an area that is often neglected in interior maintenance. So begin your massage from the top of the back deck and work down, complete the back seat bottoms. Then massage the Rejuvenator on the front seats, starting from the top and working down, pay attention to the shoulder areas that get exposure from the sun. Allow the Rejuvenator to sit and be absorbed into the hides several hours on a sunny day, or overnight. Warmth makes the leather fibers relax, and drink in the proteins and collagens greedily. Park the car in a sunny spot, and roll up the windows to create a steam room to allow the Rejuvenator to fully penetrate into the hides. Once the leather fibers are plump, by their own nature, they will expel any dirt to the surface. Then apply your Prestine Clean to a soft cloth, towel, or sponge, and gently clean the surface. For upholstery older than two years, follow up with another coat of Rejuvenator, allow it to soak in. Older, thicker hides such as Connolly found on Rolls Royce, Bentley, Jaguar, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Astin Martin, or quality European hides such those on Mercedes, BMW, Saab, Volvo, Citroen, and other European Marks will require three or more coats. While it is contrary to the commercial products to condition first, once you’ve done the process, you will be amazed at the difference. And when you think about it, it makes perfect sense. Remember you should treat your leather as well as you treat your own skin.
After the first six months of use, upholstery leather begins to lose its natural oils. This occurs particularly in perforated areas or places where the leather is joined together with stitching. These “punctures” in the surface coating are natural “release” areas where the leather begins to lose its preservatives and softeners. This is also the area where the Rejuvenator will enter the hides first, and migrate laterally under the finished surface. You can finish with a thin film of Rejuvenator massaged into the hides, allow it to be absorbed, then buff to a natural finish.
Maintenance
Once your leather is healthy, future maintenance is much easier and less time consuming. In warmer climates that get a lot of sun, or for older vehicles with thicker leathers, use a thin film of Rejuvenator 3-4 times per year, followed by Prestine Clean. Use Prestine Clean each time you dust and detail your car. Prestine Clean can be used on all the interior, vinyl, pvc plastics. We have lots of window tinting companies who will advise their customers to use Prestine Clean on the window trim to keep it supple and extend it’s life. Prestine Clean is also perfect for bumper maintenance, and to keep tires healthy and supple, without the fake looking glazed donut look that is achieved by silicone sealers on tires. In temperate climates, or for newer cars, reapply 2-4 times per year.
Leather Furniture and upholstery
As we’ve learned, all leather is basically the same molecular structure. While tanning and surface coloring methods may differ, maintenance is similar. You want to keep your leather well nourished, plump, and healthy so it can breathe, and stay clean. Because leather furniture may not be exposed to as much temperature change, massage Rejuvenator onto all the surface twice a year, allow it to sit overnight to be absorbed, then gently clean with Prestine Clean and a soft cloth. Use Prestine Clean each time you dust your furniture. Pay particular attention to any areas that face windows or get direct sunlight. UV rays are drying to leather, and can fade furniture and carpets. If your leather furniture is becoming faded, or if armrests or seating areas have become worn or scratched, your surface can easily be refinished. Lightly damaged areas can be wipe dyed, which is a simple process of re-staining and building up layers as necessary, or completely refinished as outlined below. Colors can also be enhanced or altered to fit your décor. One of the wonderful things about leather is it’s versatility, durability, and ease of re-coloring. |
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