Keeping new leather seats from cracking

[p***@yahoo.com]

I plan on purchasing a new Lexus with leather seats. It has disturbed
me to see so many pre-owned vehicles with leather seats (3-4 years old)
with cracks in the leather
I keep my cars for atleast 10 years and want to do my best to preserve
the leather.
There are so many products out there such as Lexol, Leatherique,
Armor-all leather cleaner etc.
Some are all-in-one products, some have seperate cleaner and
conditioner.
Please share your advice on keeping the leather seats in top condition.
Which products? How often to treat? etc.

[a***@home.com]

Post by p***@yahoo.com
I plan on purchasing a new Lexus with leather seats. It has disturbed
me to see so many pre-owned vehicles with leather seats (3-4 years old)
with cracks in the leather
I keep my cars for atleast 10 years and want to do my best to preserve
the leather.
There are so many products out there such as Lexol, Leatherique,
Armor-all leather cleaner etc.
Some are all-in-one products, some have seperate cleaner and
conditioner.
Please share your advice on keeping the leather seats in top condition.
Which products? How often to treat? etc.

autosport.com has an excellent leather cleaner and (separate)
conditioner. Also, you can't go wrong with Lexol.

There's no excuse for cracked leather seats. That's just because the
owner is plain lazy. It only takes a quick swipe with a decent
cleaner and conditioner about every 3-4 months to keep the leather
soft.

[mcbrue]

Can't the dealer do that during their routine check sessions every 5000
miles? And you are right - Lexus leather does crack! There are some
other brands which use thicker leather and it does not crack, but those
are luxury cars.

[a***@home.com]

Post by mcbrue
Can't the dealer do that during their routine check sessions every 5000
miles? And you are right - Lexus leather does crack! There are some
other brands which use thicker leather and it does not crack, but those
are luxury cars.

The absolute worst condition of leather I've ever seen was in a C280.
The leather was so badly cracked that it made crunching sounds when
I pressed on it with my hand.

And it doesn't have anything to do with the thickness of the leather.
All leather is, is basically, skin. If you don't keep it protected it
WILL dry and crack on you...and it certainly doesn't matter what hood
emblem it happens to be resting behind.

If you don't want to take the effort to take care of the leather,
don't buy a car that has it.

And you *don't* have 5,000 "routine checks" in a Lexus. Or, for that
matter, any car.

[Ashton Crusher]

Post by a***@home.com

Post by p***@yahoo.com
I plan on purchasing a new Lexus with leather seats. It has disturbed
me to see so many pre-owned vehicles with leather seats (3-4 years old)
with cracks in the leather
I keep my cars for atleast 10 years and want to do my best to preserve
the leather.
There are so many products out there such as Lexol, Leatherique,
Armor-all leather cleaner etc.
Some are all-in-one products, some have seperate cleaner and
conditioner.
Please share your advice on keeping the leather seats in top condition.
Which products? How often to treat? etc.

autosport.com has an excellent leather cleaner and (separate)
conditioner. Also, you can't go wrong with Lexol.
There's no excuse for cracked leather seats. That's just because the
owner is plain lazy. It only takes a quick swipe with a decent
cleaner and conditioner about every 3-4 months to keep the leather
soft.

I've used several varieties of all in one cleaner and conditioner and
my leather in my 99GT still looks fine as far as any cracking. It
does show some abrasion in one small area, probably from cheap
leather.

[Steve]

Post by a***@home.com
There's no excuse for cracked leather seats.

I agree.

Post by a***@home.com
That's just because the
owner is plain lazy. It only takes a quick swipe with a decent
cleaner and conditioner about every 3-4 months to keep the leather
soft.

No, it takes the MANUFACTURER using decent upholstry-grade leather, not
cheap bonded leather junk like thay all do today.

[Daniel]

Post by p***@yahoo.com
Please share your advice on keeping the leather seats in top condition.
Which products? How often to treat? etc.

===============
Leatherique
Oil twice a year
Prestine clean as needed for quicker light conditioning
Leatherique is applied the reverse of most leather treatment products.
The rejuvinating oil is allowed to soak in, lifting out impurities,
followed by a light application of Prestine Clean, damp cloth and then
buffing with dry cloth.
Leaves no slick or glossy residue, deep cleans, conditions.
Sun is hard on leather.
I live in Southern California where the sun can get very hot, but I
don't like tinited windows, so when parking I use sun shades, front,
side and rear.
I too have seen neglected leather destroyed by prolonged sun exposure.
Leather stays like new.

[a***@home.com]

Post by Daniel

Post by p***@yahoo.com
Please share your advice on keeping the leather seats in top condition.
Which products? How often to treat? etc.

===============
Leatherique
Oil twice a year
Prestine clean as needed for quicker light conditioning
Leatherique is applied the reverse of most leather treatment products.
The rejuvinating oil is allowed to soak in, lifting out impurities,
followed by a light application of Prestine Clean, damp cloth and then
buffing with dry cloth.
Leaves no slick or glossy residue, deep cleans, conditions.
Sun is hard on leather.
I live in Southern California where the sun can get very hot, but I
don't like tinited windows, so when parking I use sun shades, front,
side and rear.
I too have seen neglected leather destroyed by prolonged sun exposure.
Leather stays like new.

sounds like a great product. Any recommendations where to get it?

tks

[Daniel]

Post by a***@home.com

Post by p***@yahoo.com
Leatherique

sounds like a great product. Any recommendations where to get it?
tks

===========================
LEATHERIQUE, 106 Englewood Road Aiken S.C. 29803, [phone]
http://www.leatherique.com/

BTW, last week Prestine Clean removed ink marks from a ball point pen
poking out of the pocket of my teen age passenger. Took a lot of
rubbing and several applications, but did remove it the next day,
without harming the finish or color.
Looks like some of the black dye from new clothes also rubbed off on
the leather - removed that rather quickly.
Leatherique is more costly than other products, but you probably only
need to purchase once a year.
Got their start rejuvinating cardboard hard leather in a classic
Jaguar, details are on the web page.

[Bob]

Post by Daniel

Post by a***@home.com

Post by p***@yahoo.com
Leatherique

sounds like a great product. Any recommendations where to get it?
tks

===========================
LEATHERIQUE, 106 Englewood Road Aiken S.C. 29803, [phone]
http://www.leatherique.com/
BTW, last week Prestine Clean removed ink marks from a ball point pen
poking out of the pocket of my teen age passenger. Took a lot of
rubbing and several applications, but did remove it the next day,
without harming the finish or color.
Looks like some of the black dye from new clothes also rubbed off on
the leather - removed that rather quickly.
Leatherique is more costly than other products, but you probably only
need to purchase once a year.
Got their start rejuvinating cardboard hard leather in a classic
Jaguar, details are on the web page.

I used those products on my 2003 ES300 with excellent results. The beige
leather now looks like new.

[NYLexSC]

If you don't want it to crack, don't sit in it and don't put it in the
sun.

Yes conditioning the leather routinely will help delay the wear and
tear on the leather, but if you're looking for factory leather after 5
years of use, think again. If you don't ever sit in it, yes. You can't
expect to keep it perfect for that long though, let alone 10 years. It
is going to crack, just a truth you must accept. But definitely do the
routine conditioning, this will keep the leather soft and supple and
comfortable, as well as delay the onset of said cracks in the leather.