Good Leather Cleaner Found, Info Inside.

[champagneG35]

Hi guys (& gals),

For those of you still trying to find a good leather cleaner that doesn't take forever to use, & doesn't smell up your interior with its own odor you may be interested in this . I found a product today you may want to try. It's called "Bickmore", it does a good job of getting rid of all the gunk and build up on your leather without destroying the quality at the same time. They make 2 parts to it. "Bick 1" which is a cleaner only and is used 1st if your seat like mine pictured below is very dirty. Then use "Bick 4" which is the leather conditioner, if your seat is not that badly discolored already you can skip using Bick 1 because the contioner also cleans, polishes, & protects. It just doesn't clean as well as Bick 1.

As you should be able to tell I have not finished it, I took about 15 minutes in the parking lot to clean 2 sections and took pictures of it later at night just to show the difference so far. I'll try to finish it tomorrow and post updated photos of the fully cleaned seat. Notice the red eliptical circles, inside these are the areas I cleaned so far using only the Bick 1. The photos are the same except one is with flash and the other is not. Wasn't sure which one shows it off better so I posted both for you, click for larger photos.With Flash = Without Flash =

Here is a photo of the cleaner and conditioner and the brush (made from horse hair so it's not too abrasive) which helps get into the small cracks better, I also used a terry cloth as well but the gentleman I spoke with recommended the brush over the cloth so I went with his advice and it does help get what the cloth can't get into. I did not get these at an automotive shop. I picked them up a place out here called "The Wharf", not sure if there is one near you but it's a western wear/horse shop, so any place nearby that deals with saddles should have this stuff, or order it online at http://www.bickmore.com/bickmore/home/. I figured since most of the saddles are made of leather they probably had good cleaners for them and my hunch was right. There are multiple choices for cleaners they also had saddle soap which was cheaper by far but they told me it was probably too harsh for the seat that it would just strip everything, so they pointed me in the direction of the products you see below. I must say compared to the armor all leather cleaner I've tried unsuccessfully to clean my seat this stuff blows it outta the water !!

[SVTCOBRA]

Good to know! I've tried a few products, but nothing seems to get them clean.Will have to give this a try.Mine are slightly discolored.

[GObsessed]

Has anyone tried the Sonus leather kit?

I bought the kit but am still waiting for the interior to get dirty.

[rn79870]

Mine are slightly discolored.

allover?

[rn79870]

I used to use Lexol, but it had an aroma that wasn't leather like, and it was hard to get the shine /residue off the seats after applying it. It softened them well though but it was a PITA to use.

NEXT question... What works well in the dash but doesn't leave a glossy appearance. I hate the glossy look on a dash and the glare the sun causes when you are driving at certain times of the day? Any suggestions?

[zozoka1212]

I tried last year the lexol turtle wax and griot's all good stuff. I think I'll try this too.

zozo

[Jacko3]

I drive with my window down all the time (summer, fall, winter), so I know about dirt in these cars.

Though a pain the behind, I just use hot water with some liquid soap once a month to detail all the interior leather fittings in the car. It does work. But you must do this consistently---once a month. My car still keeps its new leather smell. My car has the wheat interior, and so I should know if osmething is going wrong or not.

If you let the dirt on the leather to sit for too long, it will begin to get difficult to remove with time, as a result of a reaction with moisture, heat, and some of your sweat, on the leather.

Other than this, anyone of these chemicals should be fine.

[G_whizz]

Good to know.. thanks for the post!

[07g35coupe]

How often should you do your leather

[W661335PF]

It's amazing this thread hasn't caused a stir like the oil or gas consumption ones do. Having done tons of research on this (and having tanning experience as a kid when I lived in MX, for 13 years). There are actually many excellent products on the market (none are sold at your local Wal-Mart tho), such as Lexol, Griott's, Leatherique Prestine Clean and Rejuvenator Oil, and many others. Here are some articles that may be helpful:

http://www.ocdetails.com/html/leather_c ... rcare.html

[W661335PF]

I

How often should you do your leather

clean mine gently every 3 months with either the Lexol or Griot's cleaners. never, ever use warm/hot water and mild, regular soap, they can leave a residue that damages not only the leather, but more importantly, the threads used to sew it. Also, most leather shops and tanners will tell you NOT to use saddle soap- it was not intended for leather covered in a urethane finish (I suspect the G leather has this finish). G owners rarely discuss this, but from experience, no matter how beautiful the car looks outside, once the leather begins to crack and rip, it somehow contaminates the whole feel of the car and no amount of shine and mods can replace the sense one gets of sitting on a soft, well maintained seat.

[W661335PF]

I used to use Lexol, but it had an aroma that wasn't leather like, and it was hard to get the shine /residue off the seats after applying it. It softened them well though but it was a PITA to use.

NEXT question... What works well in the dash but doesn't leave a glossy appearance. I hate the glossy look on a dash and the glare the sun causes when you are driving at certain times of the day? Any suggestions?

The Lexol does leave a real raw odor. I usually will do the car and let it sit for several hours (usually in a warm garage or after the car has been driven and the interior is warm., then take a moist micro-fiber cloth and clean off the ressidue. They are now softened and you don't have to live with the odor.

For the dash, I use the Black Magic towelettes, no shine and there are some preservatives (some products use silicone to give a shine- this often damages the vinyl y magnifying the UV rays and causing it to crack). Many detail shops use a moist micro-fiber towel to all vinyl surfaces and put nothing on them-- this is possibly the best route.

[Jacko3]

Please, the G-35 Coupe's seat was already cracking before my first clean. I have been cleaning my seats for 8 months with luke warm water and light soap, and it has worked. Haven't seen a difference in quality of the leather. And, when I sut the door for a few hours, I still get the new car smell. Anyway, how often do you see leather that lasts forever? Maybe in a Mercedes Benz or a Lexus.

[tollboothwilley]

the leather in my bmw lasted forever...

just take care of what you have the best you can

As long as you are cleaning it consistently, it doesn't make a huge difference which product, however, I'd use something that moisturizes the leather some

[W661335PF]

Please, the G-35 Coupe's seat was already cracking before my first clean. I have been cleaning my seats for 8 months with luke warm water and light soap, and it has worked. Haven't seen a difference in quality of the leather. And, when I sut the door for a few hours, I still get the new car smell. Anyway, how often do you see leather that lasts forever? Maybe in a Mercedes Benz or a Lexus.

8 months is a brief time from which to assess whether your method is effective or not, but by all means , continue to use it if it works for you.

What often really destroys leather is mold growing on the leather (where does mold come from). It feeds on the fibers, eventually the leather goes dry and powdery similar to dry rot in wood. Other things that cause leather to deteriorate are harsh cleaners (soap not designed for leather-- think soap with a high ph value) that slowly find their way deep into the natural pores of the leather. These agents are what dry out and destroy the leather, depleting its strength, flexibility, and causing it to deteriorate by inducing the break down and the separation of the microfibers and stitching. Imagine women using Cheer or Tide for washing their face-- how would it be before the aging process would begin to take over prematurely.

The reconditioners suggested by others here are designed to revitalize and bring life to the fibers within the leather by moisturizing it much like lotion moisturizes skin to keep it soft and supple. The leather on the G should easily last >15 years if well taken care of-- the one in your car appears to not have been if you bought it and it already had signs of deterioration.

Try a good reconditioner Jacko3 and see what you think! Let us know with some pics.

[Jacko3]

Toolbothwilly:

Excellent advice! Clean you car routinely--both outside and inside--this includes making those wheels shine like new---a clean g-35 is a beautiful G-35.

One day while cleaning my car in a public car wash, a retard (god bless her soul), who was walking by, came to me and innocently told me that she loved the way my car looked, eventhough there were other new and good cars being washed as well---for example, a well moded out Altima. I was impressed with this.

I thanked her for her observation. What I am saying her is that the G-35 gets noticed a lot, amongst other cars. Don't make it look bad.

[Jacko3]

w661335pf:

I don't plan to keep my car beyond 7 years. Infiniti will make a better car by then, And I will probably be experiencing the law of diminishing returns or marginal utility by that time. So, for now, simple solutions and constant maintenance is all that matters. So, to those who want to indulge in complicated methods of leather maintenance, touche!

If by the time I sell the car, the engine, tires, and trasnmission is in great shape, then the buyer better be happy with the 7 yr old car. I don't even expect to get more than $10K in price by that time. Even with that price, I would have gotten my money's worth.

My car is just a toy to me. The G-35 Coupe is not really a practical everyday car imho. So, I enjoy it the way a tou should be enjoyed. Some bought the car for practical purposes. But I didn't. That is why I still have a second car---my beautiful little nissan, for practical use. That little Nissan is as rugged as hell.

[W661335PF]

w661335pf:

I don't plan to keep my car beyond 7 years. Infiniti will make a better car by then, And I will probably be experiencing the law of diminishing returns or marginal utility by that time. So, for now, simple solutions and constant maintenance is all that matters. So, to those who want to indulge in complicated methods of leather maintenance, touche!

If by the time I sell the car, the engine, tires, and trasnmission is in great shape, then the buyer better be happy with the 7 yr old car. I don't even expect to get more than $10K in price by that time. Even with that price, I would have gotten my money's worth.

My car is just a toy to me. The G-35 Coupe is not really a practical everyday car imho. So, I enjoy it the way a tou should be enjoyed. Some bought the car for practical purposes. But I didn't. That is why I still have a second car---my beautiful little nissan, for practical use. That little Nissan is as rugged as hell.

\

Classico Americano (no disrespect intended) with their disposable mindset. We're a poor nation, so you generally see small fuel efficient cars and very ancient ones held together by duct tape, coat hanger wires and bubble gum. At one point, when living in the Chihuahuan Desert (13 years), our fuel pump went out. We removed the gas tank, tied it to the roof of the cab with wires and ran the line down to the carberator. Ran well for about 3 years until other problems emerged. Dangerous-- absolutely, but we had no options as the closest town was 1.5 days via horseback (cars could not cross the mountain range).

Enjoy your ride!

[Jacko3]

w661335PF:

I love to be american. It feels good everyday. However, the reason why I limited the use of the G-35 Coupe to 7 years is for several reasons.

1. The G-35 Coupe is already expensive to maintain as a new car. As it ages, that cost may likley rise because the G-35 was built like a sports car more than it was built like a regular sedan. I cannot say the saem for a G-35 Sedan.

2. After 6 years of paying for a car, some parts will start deteriorating. So why spend all that money on a car that is already exensive to maintain?

3. On top of that, it is generally a gas guzzler. In time, more fuel efficient and faster cars will be produced---like electric cars which are sometimes faster in acceleration than gas power plants.

Only reason to keep a G-35 Coupe is for sentimental value. Or for a vintage show in the future. Sorry, I don't have the garage space to keep my G-35 coupe into the future.

It is good to be creativ with cars. for example, in my little Nissan, I use a piece of Walmart plastic bag as a seal to the oil drain plug--it works. When I need superglue to hold stuff together in my car, I just dissolve some stereoform in fuel(gas), to get a goey substance that hardens in contact with many surfaces.

[WhiteyClay]

I got something 2 that cleans your leather good...its the mexican on a carwashlol

[W661335PF]

[QUOTE=WhiteyClay]I got something 2 that cleans your leather good...its the mexican on a carwashlol[/QUOTE

We're not amused!