Vinylex on Leather

[LouDawg]

I found this post on Autopia yesterday concerning using Vinylex, 303, or other protectants on leather. In short, the author says it's not only acceptable, but even recommended in most cases nowadays because most car leather is clear-coated.

It was very enlightening and compelling to me, but I wonder if anyone knows about this or has any thoughts or insight on it? I checked my Accord yesterday and it appears that my leather is indeed clear-coated, at least based on how he says to check. The reason I even searched is because I got a little Vinylex on my leather door trim and *really* liked the way it looked...it just really brought the black color to life. Read on:

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Here is what I can tell you from reading month's worth of posts on this subject.

1. Ron Ketchum(who sadly very rarely posts on this board anymore) has stated over and over that the Big 3 car manuf. and most imports all use CLEAR COATED leather in their autos. The clear is made to protect the leather surface. This clear coat is broken down by OIL based cleaners and conditioners. Ron mentioned that using a water based PDMS dressing (303, Vinylex etc) was the proper way to dress leather seats. Here is a post from an email sent to me

"Never apply "oils" as it slowly disolves the clear coating. That coating is
made, like so many from petrouleum and as with any coating of that type, the
oils try to return it to it's natural state.
Use a very mild cleaner and be sure and rewipe the cleaned area with a towel
that is wet with water and then dry it to remove any of the surfactants in the
cleaner that may be left behind.

Then apply 303, our Rubber Protector, etc,. Let it set, determine how much gloss
factor you desire, the longer you let it set the higher the gloss factor and
then wipe dry with a dry towel to set the resins and remove any excess.

Any "conditioning" is not really happening, that is "marketing" ********.
Kinda of like adding "oils" or "feeding" the paints clear coat.

Sure makes people buy product though."


Test the leather on an out of the way spot. Take some general purpose cleaner, spray it on a rag, wipe a VERY small spot the leather in an out of sight area. If color comes off on your rag, then you have non-clearcoated leather. If no color comes off, you have clear-coated leather.

If your leather is NOT clear-coated then an oil based conditioner(lexol, leatherique etc) is the way to go.

If you have clear coated leather then clean with a mild cleanser(lexol leather CLEANER, or mild soap and water). Make sure you rinse with a clean, damp cloth to remove the soap. Then dry with another clean towel, then apply your PDMS product.

Just to provide more data, the owner's manual in my 2002 Ford F-150 Supercrew states the following:

"Do NOT use oil based leather conditioner products on your F-150. The leather is clearcoated. To condition, use a quality vinyl conditioner. Wipe on the Vinyl conditioner, and let set, then wipe clean with a clean cloth."

I currently use Pinnacle Vinyl and Leather cleaner on my leather and Vinyl, and 303 to dress all Vinyl and leather. I have had the 303 on the seats for two months, and have no complaints. The leather is not overly slick or greasy, and has a nice matte shine.

My wife spilled a little water on the seats the other day, and the water beaded up like it had Klasse on it. Really nice. Wiped up the water. No marks left afterwards.

Before you use saddle soap or anything else, search this board on leather care and the like, you will find much info.

That all said, it is your choice, and to all other folks who use leather conditioners and saddle soap, if it works for you, stick with it.

Good luck
SJ

 

[Volvohead]

I don't necessarily accept that advice with respect to products like Lexol or Leatherique. Most leathers are finished with breathable coatings and the more established leather care formulas have generally good track records. Especially in an automotive environment, coatings should be more resistant than Ford recommends.

My one vehicle has an unusual Atacama natural leather option, and there is no way any vinyl protectant is ever going anywhere near it.

But as you have said, to each their own.

 

[LouDawg]

I totally understand and agree that you wouldn't use a vinyl protectant on that kind of leather. I'm really just very curious about the whole "clear-coat on leather" thing. I did some more research today and found it in other places as well. I read that the ones who do that use a vinyl clear-coating. If it's true, it would somewhat make sense to use a good, water-based product like that. However, I'm still doing some checking. I've actually got a call into American Honda and am awaiting a response.

 

[bretfraz]

The vast majority of automotive leather is clearcoated to preserve the color of the leather, resist fading and improve durability. There are a few cars that offer special uncoated leather interiors such as Volvo's "Atacama", Ford's "Castano" in their trucks and SUV, "Nappa" leather in some BMW's and so on. Many high end cars like Jaguar, Rolls Royce, Bentley, etc may have uncoated, vat dyed leather. But those cars are the exception.

Vehicles will unusual leather interiors need to be cared for with special products (although as a detailer I dread ever having to clean Castano leather from what I've learned). Everything else can be cleaned with a clean, damp towel, maybe a mild cleaner on dirty areas, and treated with a water-based protectant with UV inhibitors.

A simple test to determine if your leather is clearcoated or not is to sprinkle a few drops of water on the seats and watch what happens. If the water gets absorbed into the leather and looks like a stain, it is uncoated. If the water just sits there on the surface, it's clearcoated.

 

[LouDawg]

Quote:

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The vast majority of automotive leather is clearcoated to preserve the color of the leather, resist fading and improve durability. There are a few cars that offer special uncoated leather interiors such as Volvo's "Atacama", Ford's "Castano" in their trucks and SUV, "Nappa" leather in some BMW's and so on. Many high end cars like Jaguar, Rolls Royce, Bentley, etc may have uncoated, vat dyed leather. But those cars are the exception.

Vehicles will unusual leather interiors need to be cared for with special products (although as a detailer I dread ever having to clean Castano leather from what I've learned). Everything else can be cleaned with a clean, damp towel, maybe a mild cleaner on dirty areas, and treated with a water-based protectant with UV inhibitors.

A simple test to determine if your leather is clearcoated or not is to sprinkle a few drops of water on the seats and watch what happens. If the water gets absorbed into the leather and looks like a stain, it is uncoated. If the water just sits there on the surface, it's clearcoated.

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bretfraz, since you are a detailer, I assume you have a lot of experience with this type of situation. If you don't mind, could you answer a couple of questions?

1. What are your thoughts on the quoted thread, where he says to test it by using a household cleaner (e.g. 409) in an inconspicuous area and see if any color comes off? I tried it on my Accord and no color came off, as I suspected. Water also stands on it as opposed to soaking in.

2. Is it safe to assume that I can use a product like Vinylex to treat the leather areas?

3. What about his assertion that oil-based leather conditioners can break down this clear-coat on the leather?

 

[bretfraz]

1. I'd rather people test their leather using water droplets instead of a household cleaner for obvious reasons. I guess either way is OK but recommending a chemical to test for colorfastness is questionable advice to give out on the internet IMO.

2. Vinylex will work fine on your leather if you like the shine and the feel. I would recommend buffing whatever you used it on before sitting on it.

3. I haven't heard that one before but I could follow up with Ron and see what he says. The comment comes across as hearsay so I'd rather get it from the horse's mouth, so to speak. I will say that few people in the car care products industry know as much as Ron Ketchum. He deals directly with the automakers and knows exactly what the issues are with the mfrs and what it takes to solve their problems. His employers mfr's car care products for automakers around the world.

 

[harrydog]

I wouldn't think any clear coat would last a very long time on a leather surface that is being used constantly like a drivers seat in a car. What happens when this clear coat wears away? At that point vinylex wouldn't be a good idea, would it?

 

[LouDawg]

Bump...

Just wondered if anyone else had thoughts on this. Seems like a pretty important issue as far as leather care goes. Whether or not it's clear-coated would make a big difference on what a person uses, no?

 

[Russell]

As a side note, I have found the OTC Blue Magic brand vinyl and leather cleaner seems to work very well on vinyl and BMW leather. It leaves the suface clean, smoother and a bit softer. I often follow-up with a leather conditioner like Zaino or leatherique.

 

[JHZR2]

I've seen that leatherique pristine clean, etc have recommendations for rubber, vinyl, etc.