Hey guys, I'm looking at putting in some leather seats and I want to clean and disinfect them. What are my options so it won't damage leather but it will clean it?

Will spic n span work? 409? What do you suggest?

 

I have used Lexol Leather Cleaner then their Conditioner to clean up grungy seats before. For maintenance, I use the Meguiar's Leather Wipes.

 

Not advocating those brands, just pointing out something to be dead-sure straight on... specific leather applications. NEVER use general purpose cleaner/detergents on leather.
Look what they do to your hands.. your hands are leather. difference being that skin on your seat aint renewing or producing more oils.

Wife and I keep generic damp wipes in cars to wipe down everything else but NEVER the leathers on steering wheels shifter ***** and especially seats.

 

So do you have a specific brand you use? I know you said generic, but could you name a few? I've heard never to use creams on seats, stick with whatever is water-based. I know y'all have probably heard that before, but I don't deal much with leather.

 

Swartlkk gave you some product brands that have good rep.

Actually the leather cleaners are on the 'To Buy' list..because I dont either. Had the car 2 months and it was detailed when we bought it.
I had some stuff I used on steering wheel and shifter but ran out months ago. Cant remember name and it didnt work real well anyway.
As I said I use generic wet-wipes {from Sams} for NON-leather

As far as 'dont use creams', I would have to read reasons for that and decide for myself. It's not like leather is a new thing and hasnt been maintained and preserved for hundreds of years.

Amazingly, 'Green' cleaners for leather garments are just like when I was a kid 40 years ago. Mild soap {called saddle soap then} applied damp-mode, then an oil conditioner.
http://www.howtocleanthings.com/how-...an-leather.htm
Interesting.. olive oil! I would think the cheap 2nd or third pass oil.. less aroma.

Oh... just found what you may be referring to:
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you..._leather_seats

Well, a lot of that makes sense
Why in the world would anyone use furniture polish on leather!!!! And Silicones are -long term- BAD for anything except rubber product.. they degrade them too but at least they stay supple till the rubber crumbles rather than it get hard then crumble.
And when you apply that conditioner or anything else to leather, you wipe it on sparse then wipe it off.
Clean with mild soap foam, wipe off damp rag. If conditioning wipe on sparse, wipe off thoroughly. Way I did baseball gloves and flight jacket.

until I get here..
ummmm, interesting The writer evidently never saw a 40 year old Rawlings baseball glove that had been put away in good shape.
However.. short term that makes sense. Loading the leather down with lanolin -a hydrator which is really a wax- will make it soft but it could hydrate too much and leather loses shape.
According to what I just read, anyway.

Hmmm maybe the best thing would be to use Barbasol Shaving cream
http://www.google.com/search?q=shavi...eather+cleaner

 

Oh wow, that's a lot of information to digest man lol. Thanks though, you hit exactly what I was looking for.

And thanks to you too Kyle. I'll look for those leather wipes soon.

 

agreed... my jimmy is my 3rd car with leather seats.. and ive always used Lexol and Mequiars... the wipes are really handy.... after using the lexol cleaner and conditioners i use the mequiars wipes every couple weeks and it keeps them looking good for a long time...