Cleaning the Leather

Nena · 09-06-2008

Hi everyone! I want to clean for first time my beige leather seats and I am afraid of doing that in case of harming the leather... I bought a product for leather care of the brand ArmorAll... Has anyone of you used this product on your leather or do you have any other better product to recommend me or any instructions of use?

**alroumi** · 09-06-2008

I dont recommend armorall because I haven't ever used it before, what I've heard that its a budget cleaner for a luxury car like the SLK. What you need is a proper set of cleaners such as Meguiars, Autoglym and other manufacturers along those lines.

The Meguiars gold class rich leather cleaner is the adhesive that I stick to whilst cleaning the slk, its a cleaner and conditioner in one bottle making the SLK's leather clean, soft and supple whilst still having that original matte leather look rather than it being too glossy and sticky.

**UK-C200** · 09-06-2008

+1! Avoid the armorall and go for Zaino (it's a two step process) or the Meguiars. I think the Meguiars actually "softens" the leather more than the Zaino.

Neither leaves the leather "greasy" or "shiny".

**etyu** · 09-06-2008

x3, use products from manufacturers like Lexol, AutoGlym. A 2-step process (although time consuming) where you use the leather cleaner first followed by leather conditioner may work better if you're doing this the first time. Test in a small area first. There are also products that combine cleaner and conditioner in one bottle.

Chris-h · 09-06-2008

Hi Nena
I've just cleaned my red leather seats with Autoglym leather cleaner after a week's intensive use in blue jeans. I was a bit worried that the blue dye would be difficult to remove but it has come off really easily. I think the trick is to clean them often with a good quality cleaner and keep them well fed with conditioner
Chris

**alroumi** · 09-06-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris-h

Hi Nena
I've just cleaned my red leather seats with Autoglym leather cleaner after a week's intensive use in blue jeans. I was a bit worried that the blue dye would be difficult to remove but it has come off really easily. I think the trick is to clean them often with a good quality cleaner and keep them well fed with conditioner
Chris

exactly and that is by turning the towel clockwise slowly and rubbing till the blue dye peels off, I had the very same problem with the jeans I wear on my cayenne ( beige interior ).

**arosamond** · 09-06-2008

I just had the seats recocovered in my 13 year old r129 the guy who did the job was an old school tradesman and the quality of his work was phenominal.
I asked him what to use to look after the seats and he said the best thing to use is a non perfumed hand cream and trust me this guy really knows his onions

**smoothbnzf4n4tc** · 09-06-2008

How are the zaino leather products in comparison with the lexol and autoglym products? I'm planning to get the zaino kit and it includes the zaino leather cleaners so I was wondering whether it is worth going for lexol instead.

**UK-C200** · 09-06-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by smoothbnzf4n4tc

How are the zaino leather products in comparison with the lexol and autoglym products? I'm planning to get the zaino kit and it includes the zaino leather cleaners so I was wondering whether it is worth going for lexol instead.

I use the Zanio on my C (ash leather) and the SLK (black). The cleaner works very well, and the conditioner leaves the leather supple but not "slick" or "greasy".

I used a friends Meguiars, and as mentioned before, it seemed to actually soften the leather. Can't comment on the lexol or autoglym from personal experience. One of my good friends uses Lexol on his BMW and swears by it..

I ended up with the Zaino as it came with their kit, and am very satisfied with it so far.

**cruising n coasting** · 09-06-2008

OK well then I will use the Armorall that I picked up last week on the Smart car (cheap and over-priced leather), and pick up some Lexol or Meguires to use on the Merc. Thanks to all for the advice.

**WhiteRabbit** · 09-07-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruising n coasting

OK well then I will use the Armorall that I picked up last week on the Smart car (cheap and over-priced leather), and pick up some Lexol or Meguires to use on the Merc. Thanks to all for the advice.

Did you get the Armorall that is specifically for leather? If you got the type for vinyl, do not use it on your leather seats as it is really oily feeling and looking.

**Gabus** · 09-07-2008

I use Armor all leather wipes

I can't use any creamy product's since the seats are perforated and the cream get stuck in the holes

My 12 years old seats still looks and feels good with no cracks or holes...

09-06-2008	#1 (permalink)
Nena SLK World Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cyprus Vehicle: SLK200 kompressor Posts: 7 Country: Thanks: 7 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Cleaning the Leather Hi everyone! I want to clean for first time my beige leather seats and I am afraid of doing that in case of harming the leather... I bought a product for leather care of the brand ArmorAll... Has anyone of you used this product on your leather or do you have any other better product to recommend me or any instructions of use?

09-06-2008	#2 (permalink)
alroumi Moderator Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kuwait City, Kuwait Vehicle: 2006 Kleemann Designo Mocha Black SLK55 AMG Other Toys: 2007 Ebony Jaguar XKR Coupe' and 06 Black Cayenne S Posts: 6,271 Country: Thanks: 288 Thanked 231 Times in 145 Posts	I dont recommend armorall because I haven't ever used it before, what I've heard that its a budget cleaner for a luxury car like the SLK. What you need is a proper set of cleaners such as Meguiars, Autoglym and other manufacturers along those lines. The Meguiars gold class rich leather cleaner is the adhesive that I stick to whilst cleaning the slk, its a cleaner and conditioner in one bottle making the SLK's leather clean, soft and supple whilst still having that original matte leather look rather than it being too glossy and sticky. __________________ 06 Kleemann Designo Mocha Black SLK55 AMG 06 Porsche Cayenne S 07 Jaguar XKR Coupe' I use the Torque and keep the HP for my Steak Sauce!

09-06-2008	#4 (permalink)
etyu Founding Member #2 / Ambassador Of Good Will Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Orange County, CA Vehicle: 2008 SLK 55 Posts: 5,279 Country: Thanks: 376 Thanked 277 Times in 168 Posts	x3, use products from manufacturers like Lexol, AutoGlym. A 2-step process (although time consuming) where you use the leather cleaner first followed by leather conditioner may work better if you're doing this the first time. Test in a small area first. There are also products that combine cleaner and conditioner in one bottle. __________________ *Eddy* To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Pewter/Beige, PIII package, Airscarf, Hands-Free Communication System, Lighting package Designo Black Leather Cover on e-brake handle, ( To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Bill T), SmartTop v1.0, Kleyman 3BFM (NoRegret Custom), Green Air Filters, *Mod. R170 ant.*, EuroClear sidemarkers w/PIAA PlasmaIon lamps, chromed front & rear turn indicator lamps, PIAA SuperPlasmaGTX front parking lamps, bilateral rear fog lamps enabled.

09-07-2008	#12 (permalink)
Gabus Elite SLK World Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Søgne Vehicle: 96 SLK 230K Other Toys: Volvo L3314N Posts: 427 Country: Thanks: 17 Thanked 62 Times in 43 Posts	I use Armor all leather wipes I can't use any creamy product's since the seats are perforated and the cream get stuck in the holes My 12 years old seats still looks and feels good with no cracks or holes... __________________ Gabus The Rolls Royce is the Mercedes amongst cars To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

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09-06-2008	#3 (permalink)
UK-C200 Elite SLK World Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: London, UK & Baton Rouge, Louisiana Vehicle: 04 RHD C200K Coupe, 06 LHD SLK-350 Other Toys: Nacra F18 Posts: 576 Country: Thanks: 37 Thanked 124 Times in 78 Posts	+1! Avoid the armorall and go for Zaino (it's a two step process) or the Meguiars. I think the Meguiars actually "softens" the leather more than the Zaino. Neither leaves the leather "greasy" or "shiny".

09-06-2008	#5 (permalink)
Chris-h SLK World Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Surrey Vehicle: SLK 350 facelift - palladium + gullwing red leather Posts: 27 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 7 Times in 4 Posts	Hi Nena I've just cleaned my red leather seats with Autoglym leather cleaner after a week's intensive use in blue jeans. I was a bit worried that the blue dye would be difficult to remove but it has come off really easily. I think the trick is to clean them often with a good quality cleaner and keep them well fed with conditioner Chris

09-06-2008	#7 (permalink)
arosamond Senior SLK World Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Manchester, England Vehicle: SLK350 06 Obsidian Black Posts: 107 Country: Thanks: 53 Thanked 18 Times in 9 Posts	I just had the seats recocovered in my 13 year old r129 the guy who did the job was an old school tradesman and the quality of his work was phenominal. I asked him what to use to look after the seats and he said the best thing to use is a non perfumed hand cream and trust me this guy really knows his onions

09-06-2008	#8 (permalink)
smoothbnzf4n4tc Senior SLK World Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: USA Vehicle: 2009 Mars Red SLK55 Posts: 170 Country: Thanks: 12 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	How are the zaino leather products in comparison with the lexol and autoglym products? I'm planning to get the zaino kit and it includes the zaino leather cleaners so I was wondering whether it is worth going for lexol instead.

09-06-2008	#10 (permalink)
cruising n coasting SLK World Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Miami Florida Vehicle: 08 SLK350 E10 Posts: 38 Country: Thanks: 12 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	OK well then I will use the Armorall that I picked up last week on the Smart car (cheap and over-priced leather), and pick up some Lexol or Meguires to use on the Merc. Thanks to all for the advice.

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