I have a 2003 G sedan in Platinum with Willow interior. I try to have the car detailed twice a year (we live at the beach) and have a good detailer in the neighborhood. However, to protect the leather and vinyl interior, they use mink oil which leaves a sheen. I want the conditioning and protection but I also want to retain the matte look that the car came with. I would really appreciate recommendations of a good conditioning/protection product that I can give to the detailer that has a matte finish. I've heard Lexol is good but will that, or any other product, keep the finish I want?

I look forward to your responses.

Thanks,

Verna

 

I use meguiars leather cleaner and conditioner (this one leaves no sheen) - but it's kind of thick and you've got to be careful not to clog up the perforations. I also use meguiars rich leather wipes (which leaves a little sheen, works well if you wipe it on then use a clean terry cloth towel to even it out and dry) to make the leather a little more slippery. I like the leather to be slippery so when you get in and out of the car you don't wrinkle it.

 

+1
I also us Meguiars leather cleaner and conditioner. Spray it on, give it a light wipe, move on to the other seats and surfaces doing the same and then do one more final wipe.

 

I just did my interior over the weekend with Lexol. I have been using Lexol for years and its a great product that won't leave a shine behind

 

I'm a huge fan of Lexol. I've always heard really good things about it.

It's not a lot of work to apply, but it takes more than 5 minutes, but still I won't let anyone touch the leather of my car (for detailing) anymore. A lot of the detail shops here in L.A. just use a generic protector that really screws up the leather.

I made the mistake in my last car of being lazy once and let them do it. Asked the guy if they used Lexol, and he lied and said yes. Jerks put the same protectant garbage they put on the dash. Seats were never the same after that. :/ I trust no one with my leather anymore!

 

I've recently been using the Zaino Leather Soft Cleaner and Leather in a Bottle Conditioner, both leave the leather matte finish, no greasy look.

 

found these links that had some interesting information.

http://www.properautocare.com/propleatcar.html

and

http://www.properautocare.com/leclcoex.html

The latter is an interview about leather care with Lexol, so obviously biased, but interesting nonetheless.

 

Thank you for all your suggestions and recommendations - really helpful.

Learned more about leather and cleaners, etc than I ever thought I'd need to know from Properautocare.com! I now know that I was right about the mink oil that our detailer uses - it really isn't appropriate for car interiors.

Love this forum. Thanks again everyone!

Verna
Venice, CA

 

I second the Zaino leather cleaner/conditioner. Plus it smells really good.

 

Oh, no I agree, I wouldn't use mink oil, I used to use that on my shoes, but then found out it was a dust magnet, plus it always seemed to have a "greasy" feel to it.

 

I love the zaino leather cleaner/conditioner. It makes it look brand new, removes the creases and makes the leather smell new.

 

Zaino leather in a bottle is great stuff....love it.

 

I'm another Zaino fan ... love the product, and as others have said it does not leave a shine and isn't sticky ... plus smells good too.

 

step 1: search detail forum
step 2: move thread to detail forum
step 3: anyone think I am rude--go to helll in advance--- joking--seriously.

Go Astros........................

 

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Zymol has an excellent leather conditioner. I would advise against combination products (cleaner & conditioner in one bottle). Grain alcohol diluted 50% with water used sparingly and without hard rubbing is an excellent leather cleaner. Follow up with a good conditioner taking care not to rub it into the stitching. Wait 20 minutes and buff with a 100% cotton terry towel or diaper.