Best leather Cleaner & Conditioner Matt look?

[DC911SC]

Hi Folks,

I was having a close look at my seats at the weekend.

To me they look like leather but see what you think - I know they sometimes used vinyl on the back on some cars but not sure if Porsche did. They are in good condition with no massive worn patches etc but a few strain marks and pretty shiny and dirty.

It would be great to clean them up, I would prefer a matt / lustre finish and not a glossy one.

I saw the Swissvax Leather cleaner video online and the product looks great but its £80+ for the cleaner and conditioner - and it might not work as well on my seats as the modern 3 series they did the demo on in the video. Any slightly cheaper alternative?

 

[944 man]

If theyre original 944 seats then they will almost certainly have leather front panels with vinyl sides and back. Some cars had a full leather inc leather rear seats or a 'full leather' option with dash, centre console etc....

On a separate note: the leather is coated in a clear seal, so 'feeding' is a myth generated by the companies who sell the pointless products, unfortunately.

 

[eddieedmo]

what colour are the seats ? try LTT in Harrogate for products , a matt finish is difficult to get on old well used leather , without fully restoring and refinishing , because the surface becomes physically polished by use , a good clean and protector treatment will make a big difference.If they are black LTT can provide a colour restore product which is very good .

Nick

www.leatherupholsterycare.co.uk

 

[J4CKO]

I used the Furniture Clinic kit to refinish my seats and was pleased with the results keep meaning to post the pictures but not got around to it, was about sixty quid. first you stip off the original finish, then degrease, apply the colour then a couple of different finishers, the last one being your desired finish, i.e. Matt, Gloss etc.

You have to remove the seats but thats not a big deal, a nice sunny day and it dries quickly, I used a compressor as was struggling with the disposable one in the kit, I put the pigment on with a rag, doesnt seem to need spraying but the finishers do to get them even.


http://furnitureclinic.co.uk/Leather_Colourant_Kit.php


This is the thread that inspired me,

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=233787

knowing about this stuff means now that I dont worry about manky leather when buying a car, knowing I can rejuvinate it pretty well to look new, ok, not ruined but careworn, can knock the price down and use it as a bargaining chip as I know it will cost me a days time and £100 or less.

 

[Chrishazle]

Many people recommend Gliptone products - which happens to be what I use! I also had the front seats of my 968 professionally reconditioned - cost just over £200 but was worth every penny. The man I used is based in SE London and comes to you rather than you having to take the car to him.

 

[DC911SC]

thanks gents, hoping I can do a bit of diy cleaning / tlc before going down the repair / recon route.

The seats are black

 

[eddieedmo]

talk to Judy at LTT 01423 881027- CLEANER/BLACK RE-COLOUR/PROTECTOR ( 150ml OF THE RE-COLOUR will do both seats and some left for another day ) job done .The recolour is a blend of leather pigment dye and a finish. Very easy to apply .
Gives excellent results.

Nick

 

[DC911SC]

Thanks Nick, I just ordered a load of products from LTT they will come in a few days.

I'm pretty busy just now but will try and do some pics to show how it goes.

Thanks!!

 

[eddieedmo]

if you are unsure about anything as you go along give me a bell .
Nos on website.

Nick

 

[Paul 290T]

My black leather seats re-coloured lovely with black shoe dye from Amazon, made by Tarragon. Doesn't wash off or transfer to your cloths. Cost about £5 a bottle.

 

[DC911SC]

so just finished with the LTT kit, in short very impressed.

the cleaner is good first light scrubbing with a soft shoebrush then be left to soak, after the dirt lifts well onto a microfibre cloth.

the dye that I was supplied with is amazing it covers / hides scratches, abrasion and damage very well, this alone was worth the whole price, restores colour very well to a nice flat / soft sheen black.

the only thing i'm not sure about is the conditioner/ protector. I would like a bit more conditioning and a little less sheen, maybe I could put another product on top, soft sources suggest it probably wont soak in very well.

i will post some pics soon!

 

[david924s]

ORIGINAL: Paul 290T

My black leather seats re-coloured lovely with black shoe dye from Amazon, made by Tarragon. Doesn't wash off or transfer to your cloths. Cost about £5 a bottle.

Did exactly the same thing to my black seat where they had wear marks, used KIWI Scuff Coat found it in the shoe box from when the kids were younger. Covered the marks well doesn't rub off and has lasted months. For general cleaning I use Gliptone cleaner and conditioner.

 

[ChasR]

Two products work well in not giving that Jimmy Shoeshine look.

First one is Gliptone. This brough back the colour of my first seats very well (whether they had been recovered is another question). But in all of the cars I have had that pleasant none shiny look.

Meguiars All in One leather cleaner comes a close second. You get around 75% of the result of Gliptone for only 40% of the effort . It can leave a sticky residue behind but if left to dry, it is nothing that a dry cloth once over cannot sort .