We spoke to Duane Smith at cardetailing.co.za to find out how best to clean and protect leather. Here’s what he had to say.
“Car seats, particularly, the driver’s seat, experience the most amount of wear and tear on a car’s interior. Not only do the passengers have friction with the seats, they may stain the seats with sweat, body oils and of course spill coffee, water, food and other items that may damage the leather,” says Duane.
Ninety nine percent of all modern car leathers have a matt finish and they have are chrome-tanned or synthetically tanned. In the past, vegetable tanning had been the more common method.
However, the age of the leather and the condition of the leather are the main factors to consider when cleaning and protecting leather.
The leather cleaning process
The first step is to vacuum the seats with particular attention given to the crevices and at the seams. All loose dirt must be removed.
Duane adds, “When considering cleaning products, it is worth noting that foam cleaners are more effective than liquid cleaners as they don’t wet the leather as much and less foam cleaner is consumed in the cleaning process.
He recommends using either Colourlock Mild Leather Cleaner or Colourlock Strong Leather Cleaner. The Strong Leather Cleaner is ideal for heavy dirt. Use the Colourlock Leather Cleaning Brush to clean dirt from the depths of the grain.
“Always test any products first on a hidden area of the leather in case they affect the colour. Once you are satisfied that the product doesn’t affect the colour, dispense some foam on a Leather Cleaning Brush. Do not apply directly to the leather!”, says Duane
Clean the leather evenly from seam to seam using the foam and brush in small circular motions. The brush is used to remove dirt from the depth of the grain. Wipe the dirty foam residue from the leather seat with a slightly moistened piece of cloth. Rinse brush and cloth in clean water regularly. Remove the excess water from the brush and cloth when rinsed. Apply more foam to brush.
Repeat the process several times as is necessary. Once the seats are clean allow them to dry.
Contrast stitching or perforation holes in the leather should be treated carefully and should not be made excessively wet.
Regular cleaning will ensure that the heavily used areas remain clean and, when combined with a leather protector, will prolong the life of the leather.
New leather protection
New leather (within the first three years) should be protected with Colourlock Leather Shield. New leather doesn’t need any re-greasing oils or any other kind of treatment, as it’s still fully protected by the tanning process.
Common problems with new leathers arise due to general wear and dye transfer from clothing which penetrates the leather colouration. The driver’s seat, especially the side bolster, is mostly affected by signs of wear after a few years and develops scuff marks.
Light coloured leathers are more often discoloured by denim stains or dye transfer from other clothing. Leather Shield prevents this from happening. We recommend protecting the contact areas on the driver’s seat every three months and other contact areas every six to twelve months.
Protecting old leather
Older leather (cars more than 2 to 3 years old) needs more oils and grease care to stay soft. Such leathers should therefore be treated with Colourlock Leather Protector.
Leather Protector contains oils, UV filters and antioxidants. Protect older leather every three to six months to ensure the leather remains soft and smooth. The anti-oxidizing components stop degradation of the leather and extend the life span.
Older convertibles and classic cars with shinier and dry leather should be conditioned using Colourlock Elephant Leather Preserver. This leather preserver has strong water-repellent qualities which may be necessary on older leather and prevents the growth of mildew.
“Colourlock care products are intense in effect. Looking after leather regularly with little amount of product instead of caring seldom and over-applying is the best method,” says Duane.
If you have cleaned the leather first, only apply the Leather Protector or Leather Shield when the leather has dried completely. Apply the Leather Protector with a soft cloth and let dry without polishing. One application is sufficient.
In the case of Leather Shield, moisten a terry cloth slightly, lightly wipe the moistened cloth over the leather and let dry. Do not buff or polish immediately after application.
For more information or to order these products please contact Duane Smith at duane@handhchem.co.za or Cell 083 653 4088 or office 041 364 2568.