Hi, I'm in the market for leather care products. I'm thinking about the Zaino Z-9 and Z-10 and have some questions.

1) Any good/bad opinions about these products?

2) Hows the smell? I would love to maintain that new leather smell that I have from when I first got my TL.

3) What type of towel/cloth should I use (ie cotton, microfiber, etc)?

4) I'm thinking I would use this on the seats, shift knob, steering wheel, and the center armrest. Any other place I'm missing that I could use this on?

5) Any places I should NOT use it on?

Thanks.

 

This stuff left streaks on my Ebony Leather... It makes it much darker so you can see where you missed and didnt appy enough

 

Bumping please. Can anyone else help me? Thanks.

 

1. It leaves streaks on Ebony Leather
2. Open the bottle up and smell it... I think it smells good
3. Use any type of cloth - Microfiber, Terrycloth - I don't think it matters on leather - The microfiber tends to suck up the lotion - Try Terrycloth
4. Use it on all the leather services - but I would try a small amount first and see if it changes the color of your leather.
5. Don't use it on non leather spots - i.e- the vinyl - Use vinyl stuff for those spots.

 

Thanks orange, so to remove the streaks did you just reapply on the areas you missed?

Are you going to continue to use this stuff or are you switching to something else?

Anybody have suggestions for other products, maybe something easier to use thats not a multiple step process and still smells good?

Thanks

 

Where is the non-leather (i.e. vinyl) section of the interior (seats and interior)

 

Where is the non-leather (i.e. vinyl) section of the interior (seats and interior)

 

The leather door inserts.


May I suggest Meguiar's two step Aloe Leather Cleaning/Conditioning products. Never tried Zaino so I can't comment. Out of Lexol, an Ikea product, Formula 2001, and those crappy wipes, the Aloe stuff is the best I've used.

 

I have yet to find a really good product that smells like ACTUAL leather. Zaino, IMO, smells like a chemically artificial leather aroma. Too strong and chemical like to me. I also dislike Lexol's scent, it's a little nauseating.

 

1) I've been using Zaino leather and love it's smell and result
2) It smells exactly like leather
3) I use MF towel to apply. OrangeCream if you are buffing, it leaves a streak but just applu with a good towel applicator and do not buff. I've Ebony too and it goes unifomly.
4) I apply to Seats, back, headrest, shift knob and boot, parking brake handle, perforated door lining, steering wheel, center arm rest in the back and front
5) I do not use it on any other place other than mentioned in 4.

 

thanks guys, hows the smell of the meguiars?

Is the 2 step process simple?

 

thanks JoganJani, do you use both z-9 and z-10 or just z-10?

Does any of the stuff get stuck in the tiny holes of the seats/sid panels?

 

I used Zaino leather cleaner and conditioner once over the summer and probably won't use it ever again. Personally, I didn't like the smell. Also, despite following directions (yes! I did wipe the excess!) I found that it left the seats quite slippery! They still are!

I've used Lexol cleaner and conditioner and MUCH prefer that! No horrible smell (I know some like the Zaino odor - but I didn't), and it leaves a matte, non-slippery surface. I will continue using that.

 

(I used the Zaino in another car this summer....so those seats are still pretty slippery and the cabin still smells like the product... The seats look slightly glossy compared to the matte appearance of Lexol. I've been using the Lexol on the TL and like it a lot more...no probs there)

 

I use both but cleaner I've hardly used since I do not let it get dirty to clean If you apply without buffing, you'll not get anything in the perforation. At least I do not.

 

~One man’s opinion / observations~

For cleaning leather I use a 5:1 solution of distilled water / Woolite.
For leather conditioning Zanio is amongst the best (Leatherique is by far the best conditioner out there)

~Hope this helps~

Knowledge unshared is experience wasted
justadumbarchitect / so I question everything/ Jon

 

When should i start using the leather conditioner. I just got my car like a month ago and was wonderign when should i start.

 

It depends on the time of year and climate, but conditioning should first include a through vacuum, cleaning, and then an oil product. Leather is damaged mostly from UV rays, abrasion from dirt and clothing, and the salts in perspiration. If you condition over that dirt, you make matters worse. I like the Meguair's leather product, as it has mild cleaners, and has wax in it to seal the artificial coating that is the top coat of treated leather. I also recoomend and use the Townsend Leather products at www.townsendleather.com/ Townsend makes zillion dollar leathers for custom aircraft and such.

Lots of good info and products from www.carcareonline.com

 

I use the ZAINO conditioner on all leather parts and on plastic parts. It protect very well the plastic parts. They said on their website you can use it on plastic.
I met at Acura dealer a man specialised in repairing scratch trim or leather and he told me to put a leather product on plastic to avoid scratches, like a wax will do. He also advice me to buy the stuff for the leather at a JAGUAR shop, he showed me the result on his van of five years old and the leather was not craked and looks good.

 

I used Lexol, and found that buffing it is a pain. If you don't buff very good, it leaves the leather sticky. My wife applied the Zaino in her TL, and said it was ok, and not sticky. Though I prefered massaging the Lexol with my hands into the leather. Applying the zaino with the applicator pad was a little clumsy.

As for buying the leather stuff at a Jaguar shop, I heard that before too, 6 years ago when I got my other car. I think the stuff they sell is called "Hyde Food", or something like that. Everyone I talked to about it, swears by that stuff... I don't think there is a jaguar dealer in all of Oregon, so I've not tried it.

 

How often should I condition? I conditioned the leather the first week I bought the car, using Zaino. It did darken the seats noticibly (ebony) but did not look bad at all. I recondition the seats every time I wax the car, is this too much? Or is there such a thing as too much?

 

How often do you wax the car? (I wash/wax my car way too much according to my friends)

You would think there isn't such a thing as too much leather conditioning... But I heard if you condition the leather too much, it increases the likelihood that you accidently tear the leather... I guess it becomes too soft or something... Anyways, I always hear that conditioning the leather about 2 or 3 times a year is plenty...

 

~One man’s opinion / observations~

Covered Leather (Urethane, Vinyl or MB-Tex):
Since late ‘80s early ‘90s 80% of vehicle manufacturers have used covered leather for their interior upholstery. Its made from natural hides, but uniquely treated with a light pigmented urethane resin coating or a vinyl covering to make it more viable for automotive seating. It retains the softness of natural top-grain leather but resists fading in direct sunlight, leathers worst enemy

Spills wipe off with a moistened cloth, the urethane resin or the vinyl covering require the right oils to stop it from drying out (just like a paint system's clear coat) the leather also requires replacement of natural oils. Clean, condition and apply a UVR protection as in items 1, 2 & 3 on page 2.

Identifying characteristics- uniform colour and grain patterns; will not scratch easily; water drops will not change colour.

Recommended products
Urethane Coated Leather- use Zanio Leather in a Bottle Z10, Groit’s Leather Care
Vinyl or MB-Tex Covered leather- use Groit's Leather Rejuvenator or Leatherique Prestine Clean

Do not use petroleum-based (Connolly Hyde Food its oils are formulated for a specific leather) or any product that is formulated with a high solvent / alcohol content on coated leather as it will disintegrate any adhesive and both the stitching and the urethane / polyethylene coating.

~Hope this helps~

Knowledge unshared is experience wasted [each one / teach one]
justadumbarchitect / so I question everything/ JonM

 

I wax (Zaino) the car about every-other weekend, while the Zaino is curing, I detail the interior and use Zaino Leather in a bottle..