Leather care

[GJ1]

Looking for advice on whether to use Autoglym Leather Cleaner & Leather Care Balm or Dodo Juice Leather Cleaner & Sealant.
I intend to use it on 2007 black merino leather seats if that makes a difference.

Daft question number one, do people use it on the gaiter, steering wheel and door cards too?
Daft question number two, what type of clothes/appliers do people use to clean and then treat the leather, any better than others?

Thanks

 

[buzyg]

Yes and yes.

Good stuff and I use it on all the leather bits? Though I clean using Johnson baby wipes then use Autoglym leather care wipes.

 

[Stevo1987]

I don't think you need leather care balm. It just sits on the surface and doesn't do anything. Here is a good article about leather car seats.... https://canadiangearhead.com/the-best-leather-conditioner-for-your-car/

 

[GJ1]

Though I clean using Johnson baby wipes then use Autoglym leather care wipes.

I think I might need to use something more than wipes the first time but may revert to this in future

 

[GJ1]

I don't think you need leather care balm. It just sits on the surface and doesn't do anything.

I think I read somewhere else someone say that but I was thinking surely it would benefit from some form of nourishment.
But now thinking about it, I guess the Dodo Juice sealant is exactly providing any nourishment but simply acting as a protective barrier.

 

[DMike]

My cleaning routine includes vacuuming (especially the seams) at every wash, then usually only APC wipe with MF. BMW leather care balm once a month. For winter hibernation usually a deeper cleaning with BMW’s leather cleaning foam and then I really soak the leather with the balm, MF after half an hour to get the surface matt again. After the deep clean plus balm the leather feels really soft and nice.

 

[scootr]

Leather does need replenishment of natural oils... Leather New is one such product.
My wife has taken to using alcohol wipes on the steering wheel I follow with Leather new :wink:

 

[Stevo1987]

Leather does need replenishment of natural oils... Leather New is one such product

Some say..... the leather has a coating so anything you put on it cannot penetrate the coating to get to the leather.

 

[scootr]

Some could be right but, I'll continue until proven wrong

 

[DMike]

Leather does need replenishment of natural oils... Leather New is one such product

Some say..... the leather has a coating so anything you put on it cannot penetrate the coating to get to the leather.

From what I have read, Dakota leather has artificial grain and a synthetic coating, Merino is dyed (as any leather) but does not have the synthetic coating. Nappa is supposedly close to Merino, but there is variable information regarding the coating.

 

[enuff_zed]

Leather does need replenishment of natural oils... Leather New is one such product

Some say..... the leather has a coating so anything you put on it cannot penetrate the coating to get to the leather.

From what I have read, Dakota leather has artificial grain and a synthetic coating, Merino is dyed (as any leather) but does not have the synthetic coating. Nappa is supposedly close to Merino, but there is variable information regarding the coating.

I'd go with that thought too.
My old 335d and the new 120d both have the grained leather and any balms just sit there looking sticky until you buff it all off again.
But the smooth leather on the sides of the seats on my E89 soak up the balm nicely and definitely seem to benefit from it.
Steering wheels all seem to absorb it ok.

 

[Argyll Andy]

But the smooth leather on the sides of the seats on my E89 soak up the balm nicely and definitely seem to benefit from it

I wondered about that in my new one. The leather seems a totally different texture to the stuff in the 23i. It feels softer and more “natural” I’ll give it a try

 

[enuff_zed]

But the smooth leather on the sides of the seats on my E89 soak up the balm nicely and definitely seem to benefit from it

I wondered about that in my new one. The leather seems a totally different texture to the stuff in the 23i. It feels softer and more “natural” I’ll give it a try

I think you have the same seats as mine, with the leather outers, alcantara type middle and the orange stripe?
So hopefully it should work ok on yours too.
Be warned though, that the smoothness of the leather means the balm has a tendency to slip straight over the top (if that makes sense?), so you need to work it in a little.
The warmer the seats the better it seems to work on mine.
Get an even covering or you'll see smears that take a bit of rubbing to eradicate.

 

[Argyll Andy]

But the smooth leather on the sides of the seats on my E89 soak up the balm nicely and definitely seem to benefit from it

I wondered about that in my new one. The leather seems a totally different texture to the stuff in the 23i. It feels softer and more “natural” I’ll give it a try

I think you have the same seats as mine, with the leather outers, alcantara type middle and the orange stripe?
So hopefully it should work ok on yours too.
Be warned though, that the smoothness of the leather means the balm has a tendency to slip straight over the top (if that makes sense?), so you need to work it in a little.
The warmer the seats the better it seems to work on mine.
Get an even covering or you'll see smears that take a bit of rubbing to eradicate.

Yes, they are the same seats. I’ll give it a try and make sure I work it in properly.

I’ll need to put the heaters and heated seats on first to try and raise the temperature as I don’t see warm appearing again in Argyll for the rest of the year now. We’ve had to defrost the cars a few times already

 

[enuff_zed]

I wondered about that in my new one. The leather seems a totally different texture to the stuff in the 23i. It feels softer and more “natural” I’ll give it a try

I think you have the same seats as mine, with the leather outers, alcantara type middle and the orange stripe?
So hopefully it should work ok on yours too.
Be warned though, that the smoothness of the leather means the balm has a tendency to slip straight over the top (if that makes sense?), so you need to work it in a little.
The warmer the seats the better it seems to work on mine.
Get an even covering or you'll see smears that take a bit of rubbing to eradicate.

Yes, they are the same seats. I’ll give it a try and make sure I work it in properly.

I’ll need to put the heaters and heated seats on first to try and raise the temperature as I don’t see warm appearing again in Argyll for the rest of the year now. We’ve had to defrost the cars a few times already

Ah well, in that case just apply the balm in slices

 

[Stevewi]

I Dodo juiced mine last weekend. Only purchased the car 2 weeks ago. The white leather seats had not been cleaned for a while.
The dodo juice cleaned them up a treat and the sealer feels really good not slimy/oily like some of the balms. Hoping they stay white for longer.

 

[enuff_zed]

I Dodo juiced mine last weekend. Only purchased the car 2 weeks ago. The white leather seats had not been cleaned for a while.
The dodo juice cleaned them up a treat and the sealer feels really good not slimy/oily like some of the balms. Hoping they stay white for longer.

20201016_170127.jpg

That may depend on how a passenger copes with your driving

Whereabouts in West Norfolk btw?

 

[Stevewi]

Walpole St Andrew, it's about as far west as you can get in Norfolk. Right near the Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire Border.

Passengers are used to my driving, it's the Wife's they fear.

Does anybody know what can you clean the bits that are not leather on the seats with?