Hey guys,

I'm not sure what I am doing wrong, but I am having some issues with my 07 TSX with ebony interior. I've cleaned the leather with Zaino's Z9, then I applied some Zaino Z10. However, after about a week, I am getting little light spots. It almost looks like the conditioner has come off of certain little spots on the bottom seat cushion. I didn't think I was applying it too heavly. I do work it into the leather, so I'm not sure what I am doing wrong. Can anyone give me some advice? Has anyone else had an experience like this? I need to try some new leather product for my TSX. I'm not a big fan of Lexol. Is there anything that is SUPER easy and Super Fast to do? A friend suggested those Meguiars leather wipes, but I can't imagine those are that effective... Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Jeff

 

Leather Care / Cleaning / Maintenance–my first question when asked for recommendations on leather care / maintenance is; what kind of leather finish is it? There are three main types of leather used in automotive upholstery : finished Natural (Uncovered) polyurethane Covered and Unfinished (Nubuck)

Before using a leather care product a detailer needs to know the material they are working on, and wither the product chosen is compatible with the material and will not damage it. Diagnosis is the key, not guess work. Before deciding on what products to use you need to ascertain what type of leather finish you have and wither the pigmented leather has a polyurethane covering, or is (un-coated) finished natural leather, as the cleaning / maintenance varies as to type; although they all require a water-based product to maintain hydration (a suede type leather like Nubuck is the exception).

Automotive leather care is a subject surrounded with misinformation and myth, products such as leather (Saddle) soaps, oil-based Conditioners, Neats-foot oil, and Hide Food still prevail as top sellers, albeit most are made for equestrian tack, in a market that is dominated by pigmented leather with an acrylic polythene protective covering; which are very different leathers with completely differing care requirements. The exact reason why this is the case is unclear. It’s possible that there is an association with old world quality (i.e. leather upholstery and burl wood interiors) with these types of products, despite the fact that the automotive industry has been using polyurethane covered pigmented leather for many years.

I would like to share the knowledge / experience gained to help dispel the hype and myths surrounding automotive leather care / maintenance; we all need to continually learn, and share what we learn about products and changing processes. As things change; we need to change along with them.

Basic Leather care - http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/...ther-care.html

Many of the newer vehicles do not use natural leather hides anymore Approximately 80% of vehicle manufacturers are using (thermoplastic) polyurethane covered pigmented leather for their interior upholstery. Pigmented leather simply means that the finished leather or polyurethane covering has been coloured (you’ve never seen grey cows have you?) Are we to take care of the leather or the protective covering? The answer is to take care of the protective topcoat and the leather will take care of itself.

Automotive leather upholstery is made from natural chrome tanned hides, which is pigmented and some are then further sealed by a durable polyethylene covering to make it more viable for automotive seating protecting the hide from abrasion from clothing as well as the dust / dirt introduced by the vehicle’s AC system. It retains the softness of natural top-grain leather but resists fading in direct sunlight, which besides body oil is leathers worst enemy.

The complex tanning process of chromed tanned hide’s results in the fat liquoring and oils necessary to keep the hide soft and pliable being locked in and therefore there is no need to supplement them. Traditional type conditioner’s cannot penetrate the finished hide, but rather sit on the surface until they are removed by contact with clothing or evaporate. The same is true of most oil or cream-based conditioners, but they will also have an adverse effect on polyurethane.

Water-based leather care products will permeate the finished leather or the polyurethane covering as its molecules are much smaller; oil has larger molecules than water and is unable to penetrate the surface. Incidentally; water will not harm upholstery leather, tanning is carried out by immersing the hide in water.

My best advise; research other options and products, test them and then make an objective decision based upon factual information not hype or brand loyalty. After all, how can you fully understand and properly use any product unless you have all the facts? I would also strongly suggest that you verify any information that I or anyone else shares with you.

 

If your leather is anything like the Acura 06 TL, in my opinion the leather is crap. You need to condition it often and it leaves all these Crease marks on it around the left side of the seat, in addition butt print is showing, perhaps it's due to cold weather but yah, Acura leather sucks.

 

^disagree, its real leather so it wears easily, esp when your side constantly presses on the bolster. But I use lexol on the leather. this is how I clean and condition the leather.

I clean the leather using a damp MF towel and a 6 to 1 mixture of water to woolite. I scrub it good with the towel and then dry off the leather with another dry towel. Next using a hair drier, I heat up the leather unit its hot (heat up then condition one seat at a time). I quickly then apply some lexol leather conditioner to the seat, DO NOT WIPE ANY EXCESS OF, JUST SPREAD IT AROUND. Wait a few hours if possible then wipe off any excess of the seat.

From what I have read on some other forums, heating the leather helps it absorb more conditioner.

 

That's interesting. I'll have to give it a try next time.

 

I used to use Zaino Leather products, but recently switched to Lexol

Here is a picture of 16 year old Acura Leather...not too shabby.

 

Hmmmmmmmmm..............any difference in leather quality from a TL, TSX etc. and a NSX ?

 

that depends on how chunky the cow was...