The leather in a car has been infused/top coated with vinyl like substance. This stuff fills the pores in the leather making it smooth and non-porous. The truth about leather car is that most of it is non-sense except for things you don't want to use on car leather.
For car leather, your best bet is to use a car leather type product, which is more or less leather scented armor-all. These products will clean the surface, leave a nice smell, and the silicone emulsions in the product help seal/protect the surface (which is not 100% non-porus). Gel-like products are more substantive.
For real leather NOS: A cream like product such as Zymol leather cream (available at target) is a good pick. Good for leather, and harmelss to vinyl. Use some Mr Leather (http://www.mr-leather.com) every now and then to infuse silicone which gives a nice handfeel and water protection.
For real leather in harsh enviroments: You want a leather oil type product such as Fiebings neatsfoot oil compound which is a mix of reactive oils which will seep into the leather and stay there. For further protection, you can then apply a wax containing product, such as Hagerty's Vernax, which does a remarkably good job on leather in my experience.
If you use real leather care products on vinyl coated leather (as found in a car) it will create a mess since there is no place for the oil to go! The leather is saturated with top coating. This should be an immediate clue that stuff like Lexol is overpriced snake-water.
For car leather, your best bet is to use a car leather type product, which is more or less leather scented armor-all. These products will clean the surface, leave a nice smell, and the silicone emulsions in the product help seal/protect the surface (which is not 100% non-porus). Gel-like products are more substantive.
For real leather NOS: A cream like product such as Zymol leather cream (available at target) is a good pick. Good for leather, and harmelss to vinyl. Use some Mr Leather (http://www.mr-leather.com) every now and then to infuse silicone which gives a nice handfeel and water protection.
For real leather in harsh enviroments: You want a leather oil type product such as Fiebings neatsfoot oil compound which is a mix of reactive oils which will seep into the leather and stay there. For further protection, you can then apply a wax containing product, such as Hagerty's Vernax, which does a remarkably good job on leather in my experience.
If you use real leather care products on vinyl coated leather (as found in a car) it will create a mess since there is no place for the oil to go! The leather is saturated with top coating. This should be an immediate clue that stuff like Lexol is overpriced snake-water.
Last edited: