Cleaning interior/leather

[curry67]

Hey just wondering what products you guys recommend  for cleaning the leather and the swede. Ive been watching this one detailer on youtube (AMMONYC). He gives great technique tips but he uses his own products. Im scared to use armorall cause it screwed all my surfaces in my old mercury sable. I want something thats ph friendly and wont leave a residue.

[BiGMaC]

For the Plastic, vinyl, etc.  I prefer 303 Aerospace (online or some Ace hardware stores).  It's water-based so it won't turn white like Armorall (which I personally won't let near my car) and it attracts a lot less dust than most. 303 leaves the surface gloss very close to factory, especially diluted a little with water, and is an effective UV protectant.  It takes very little... apply to a MF towel, then the car, then buff off.

For the leather I like Lexol products... readily available in tack stores (I also use it on both working and show saddles).  They soften and maintain well (I've got some 25 year old saddles!).  They don't make the leather slick and won't leave those "wet spots" that get on your clothes. 

For the suede seat inserts... Well... I'm still searching... I want to preserve protect them without significant darkening.... Any experience or suggestions here appreciated! Considering a spot prevention for these... but not Scotchguard.

On the touch/LED screens I use computer screen cleaner.. but usually only a gentle dusting. Definitely no Windex or abrasives and always waterbased!

My 2 cents.  Let's hear from others

[SHOdded]

http://www.shoforum.com/showthread.php?t=125529  For the "suede" inserts.

Ammo products are used by a reputable detailer up in PA, and he likes them a lot.

Leatherique products are very well-liked (look up reviews on http://www.detailedimage.com).  CarPro Fabric & Leather (http://www.carpro-us.com) is a more recent entry, and a good protection product.  Call up Corey at CarPro with any questions, he is super-customer-oriented

Key always being to clean the surface first, then apply protection.

[Larrylu]

For the suede seat inserts... Well... I'm still searching... I want to preserve protect them without significant darkening.... Any experience or suggestions here appreciated! Considering a spot prevention for these... but not Scotchguard.

It was my impression that at least the '10 suede insert was actually a man made synthetic product made from recycled plastic. If I'm remembering right, the care and feeding of that faux material should be quite different than natural suede. Maybe it's different for the later models.

[QwikSHO]

Swedish soap?

[mval]

larry is right suede is not suede & is recycled plastic in '10 for sure. i just use some of my wife bath & body soap. gives it a nice smell that doesn't last too long, usually something with a pine smell, definitely not scotchguard will plug up the holes that cool air comes out of. some body could make a lot of money if they came up with a new car smell soap.
mikev

[SoCalSHO]

For me, it is water for everything with some microfiber cloths. It is all synthetic material anyways. Our "leather" seats have a plastic type coating on them. If I ever had anything on them, just used water and the MF cloth. And some elbow grease if needed. Same goes for the "suede" on the seats. Made from recycled soda bottles and soybeans(?). These seats look better than the leather on any of my other cars. But, if you must, Zaino makes some good leather cleaner. Smells like new leather. (Not like new, just took it off the cow new, but new finished leather
Same for the dash for me, just a moist cloth. My dash was discolored a little when I got it, from sitting in the lot during the California summer. The dealer would have replaced it for me, but I did not want to risk any squeaking.

[DJE624]

I thought "soda bottles and soy beans" was funny until I got to the "cow" part.  LOL

[BiGMaC]

SoCalSHO... Great observation! and a point to remember.  The dealer simply can't do what they do at the assmbly plants..Sometimes this is good, but in the case of a dash ...WOW!  I'd have nightmares at what happened in the R&R, much less those squeaks and rattles that can happen. Sometimes it's better to leave well enough alone.