It used to be that leather interiors were an option only in luxury
cars. Today, you can order leather for just
about any car at any price point. This is a good
thing because leather looks and feels great.
It's
easy to clean and when properly maintained, it can last for many
years. With some simple care and a little time,
leather can have that new look for many years.
Choosing the Right Product
Deciding the right leather cleaning product without any knowledge
about proper leather care or an informed recommendation can make
anyone's head spin. Reading the claims on a product certainly
doesn't help since most sound the same. So, in order to come to a
decision, a buyer will do what most people do: decide based on price
and maybe even the fragrance. Of course we know this isn't the way
to go but how do you choose?
There is a certain romance with treating leather in much the same way as there is with waxing a car.
Sound ridiculous? When's the last time you heard anyone talk about
how much they like polishing their car or cleaning their car's
engine? But the idea of rubbing leather lotion on the leather
surface is a lot more pleasing. Car enthusiasts tend to enjoy the
process of cleaning the leather with a soap and then applying the
conditioner. Some go as far as massaging it into the leather.
Now
imagine the response when you tell that person that there's no need
for the soap and rubbing the conditioner into the leather - that
those days are long gone. The same reaction from you too possibly?
Proper surface care is about knowing the properties
of the surface you want to treat and what product contains the correct
formulation of ingredients best suited for that surface.
Choosing the correct product for a surface makes every
job easier. But not everyone is an expert and require the guidance
of professionals and car care product manufacturers to steer us in
the right direction. Unfortunately, this doesn't always happen to be
the case. Here's hoping we can offer some direction in making a more
informed decision.
Types of Leather
Not too long
ago, to keep your leather looking its best, on a regular basis the
leather had to be cleaned with a leather soap and then conditioned
with a conditioning oil or leather hide food. If the leather didn't
receive this treatment, time and normal wear and tear would take its
toll causing the leather to dry and crack leading to costly repairs.
Fortunately,
as leather has become available to a wider cross section of
customers, the ease of maintenance has significantly increased. And
while today's leather doesn't require the same amount of care and
attention as it did years ago, it still does require proper care to
maintain its look and feel. How it's cared for depends a lot on the
type of leather you're treating. Let's take a look at the different
types.
Aniline Leather
This type of leather
is the finest quality available, sourced from the best part of the hide.
It has a rich and very soft texture, has practically no surface defects
(scars), and is even in color. These features make it the most expensive
leather, which is why it is primarily reserved for high-end luxury vehicles.
The leather is aniline dyed in a vat process and has no polyurethane
clear coating
applied to the surface, which is why it’s referred to as “unfinished
leather.”
Benefit:
Since the leather does not have any coating, it breathes better,
staying cool in the summer and warm in the summer. Its texture is
easily identifiable with its natural, soft feel that doesn't feel
like you're rubbing your hands on a synthetic surface. Feel your
skin and feel a typical ladies hand bag or leather jacket and this
will give you an idea in difference between unfinished leather (your
skin) and finished leather (hand bag and jacket).
How to tell:
It absorbs liquids
easily. To test if you have full aniline leather, place a drop
of water on the surface of the leather – it should absorb into the hide
and darken the surface.
Semi-Aniline
Semi-aniline leather
is dyed and has a coating applied to the surface of the leather. The
dyeing process, followed by the thin coating, allows for soft and supple
feeling leather while offering the protective benefits of a surface
finish. Semi-aniline, or “finished leather,” is the second most common
leather installed in cars today.
Benefit:
While the leather can become hot in the summer and cold in the
winter because of its finished coating, it doesn't stain like
aniline and therefore it's easier to clean and maintain.
How to tell:
Unlike aniline leather, the surface finish does not allow
liquids to be absorbed into the surface. To determine if you have semi-aniline
leather, place a drop of water on the surface of the leather – it should
remain on the surface and not absorb into the hide.
Pigmented
Pigmented leather is
the most common leather application found in today’s cars. The leather
will have surface defects such as scars but a thick coating of colored
pigmentation covers this. The coating may be embossed with a grain pattern
for visual effect.
Benefit:
While it may not contain the highest grade of leather, it's very
cost effective allowing for more car owners to enjoy. It's used in
cars of all price ranges, especially utility vehicles and
convertibles that require more durability against the elements. Like
semi-aniline leather, pigmented leather cannot absorb liquids
because of the protective properties of the finish.
How to tell:
The water drop test should yield the same results
as semi-aniline; the water should not absorb into the hide.
Suede
While
suede is not commonly
found in cars, a synthetic imitation known as
Alcantara®
is commonly found in sport luxury vehicles on the steering wheel, armrests
and seat inserts both for visual purposes and grip (on the seats and
steering wheel). Suede is unfinished like full aniline leather and is
highly absorbent. Because Alcantara® is synthetic; it does not require
the same maintenance as suede. Please refer to the
Alcantara®
website for more information on proper care.
Treating the Leather
Aniline Leather Care
Only in rare cases
will you find full aniline, or unfinished leather, which is characterized
by its extremely soft and rich texture. Because aniline leather does
not have a clear coat finish on the surface, it's exposed to the elements and
you can feel the natural grain of the leather.
Although aniline is
the least commonly used type of leather in automotive leather applications,
there are products available on the market formulated specifically to
address aniline leather needs. You can find leather
soaps, conditioners with
neatsfoot oil and hide food
in car dealerships and auto parts stores.
Since aniline leather
has no coating, it can become dry and requires more attention and care.
Car care product companies that make leather care products for
aniline leather produce soaps that are
pH balanced and gently remove grime, body oils and sweat salt
from the leather without harming the hide. They make leather
conditioners that contain natural oils that replenish
lost leather oils due to heat, normal aging, and wear and tear.
Treating aniline leather is the same as treating your own skin: wash
it with soap and apply a lotion to keep it from drying.
Avoid using products
formulated for finished leathers that contain ingredients that address
the needs of the clear coat finish on pigmented and semi-aniline leather
because they can harm the more delicate, non-coated leather hide.
Semi-Aniline and Pigmented Leather
Care
Since the leather hide
has a clear coat finish, when treating the leather, you are
actually treating the clear coat and not the actual leather hide so
you'll need to use a product that
is formulated to treat the clear coat and not the
hide itself as with 'unfinished' aniline leather.
Products specifically
formulated to treat the finished coating contain special cleaners
that remove oxidation, grime, body oils and sweat salt while
conditioners
maintain the flexibility of the finish so that the leather remains supple,
not dry and brittle.
einszett Leather Care
is specifically formulated for treating both semi-aniline and
pigmented leather. einszett worked with local European leather
suppliers to produce a product that effectively cleans the surface,
removes oxidation, and maintains the suppleness of the finish
without it looking unnaturally glossy or greasy. In addition,
einszett Leather Care does not leave a powdery residue around the
stitching, does not clog the pores of perforated leather, does not
contain harsh chemicals that can strip the pigmented dye, and has a
pleasant fragrance. The overall objective is to maintain the
appearance of the leather as it was the day it came out of the
factory.
If you are a professional detailer looking for a product that will only clean
the surface, we suggest
einszett Blitz all-purpose
low alkaline cleaner. Blitz will clean the surface
but not treat the finish so it is important to occasionally treat the
finish with Leather Care.
While cleaning the
finish with a soap-based product on a regular basis is ideal for
cleaning the surface of dirt, grime and sweat, it doesn't condition
the clear coat surface. Constant cleaning of the surface without
conditioning could lead to eventual clear coat failure characterized
by drying and cracking.
Imagine only washing your car’s paint finish and never polishing it; over
the years, the clear coat will eventually lose its luster, become brittle
and crack. The same effect can occur on the leather finish. This is why the
conditioners in
einszett Leather Care, or similar
finished leather care products, are important
to use at least twice a year.
When You Choose the Wrong Product
Now that you
know the importance of matching the right type of leather cleaner
with the right type of leather, let's look at what happens when you
don't get it right.
Slippery Finish
One of the
most common complaints of customers is that their current leather
care product leaves a greasy, slippery residue. While this is
sometimes the result of too much petroleum oils and silicone
formulated in some finished leather care products, most of the time
the problem is a result of choosing to apply a product made for
aniline leather on semi-aniline and pigmented leather. Normally
absorbed by the aniline leather, the conditioner simply stays on top
of the clear coat finish resulting in a slippery and oily finish.
The only surface
the product has an effect on is your legs and pants. It is completely
ineffective in treating semi-aniline or pigmented leather surfaces.
Also, keep in mind
that many leather goods, both automotive and non-automotive related,
are either semi-aniline or pigmented leather. This includes jackets,
luggage, handbags, belts, shoes and wallets.
And never
apply products formulated for finished leather on aniline leather.
The cleaners used to treat the clear coat finish can harm the
sensitive leather hide.
Remember, to
find out if the leather has a finish (semi-aniline/pigmented) or
not, simply place a drop of water on the surface. If it is absorbed
and darkens the leather, it is aniline and does not have a finish.
If it rolls off, it has a finish.
Summary
The key to
maintaining the original look and feel of your car's leather
interior is knowing what type of leather you have and using a
leather care product made for that type of leather. When you have
the right combination, maintenance is simple and you'll get to enjoy
your leather for many years to come.
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