Hail, fellow Maxima enthusiasts.........I have black leather interior in my Max, and I'm wondering what the best products are to use to clean, and condition it. I am quite the fan of Mothers products. My motorcycle only gets cleaned with exclusively their stuff. Well, I have used the Mothers cleaner and conditioner a few times over.......but have found that the leather is still hard. Is this a characteristic of Max leather? I've only owned the car for year, its mint, and i keep it real clean. Would Lexol be a good alternative? My friends 99 Volvo C70 coupe is much softer, with a more genuine feel. .....that car flies, blows me away. The same friend's car before the C70, was a 90 SE, and his leather was also hard and crappy feeling..........but I just assumed it was due to its age, and maybe the original owner's neglect to condition it. Anyways, any and all recommendations will be appreciated.

 

although I haven't used it , I hear Lexol is suposed to be one of the best. I bought Armor all leather conditioner before I heard about Lexol. AA, looks good when first applied, but doesn't last long. When my bottle of AA is finished I'll check out the Lexol.

 

Meguilars...(I think I spelled that wrong) but that is GOOD stuff.

 

Yeah, I have heard good things of Lexol, my friend. My brother is assistant service manager of a Volvo shop in Long Island, and his parts guy recommends it for a car's leather interior. Its the same stuff that i use on my leather jacket. I should be able to find a large bottle of the cleaner and the conditioner at any leather retail shop. On a side note, I've never liked the results of Armor All products on any car that I've had. On my dash, door panels, etc.. I use Mothers Protectant........good stuff! It doesnt attract dust, has a nice smell, and lasts quite a while.

 

It's really 6 of one, 1/2 dozen of another. When you think about it, how do you treat your leather sectionals at home? You don't. If you spill, you wipe with a damp cloth. If your dog pees on it, you throw the furniture away. But you never armorall it. Not ever.

I guess there is a perception that in the car everything has to have a shiny, greasy, slick look to it. So just use a armorall cleaner/conditoner, or lexol if you like spending $, or Meguiars, or ******, all will do. The Maxima looked nice because the tiny leather squares had "gathers" when brand new. But those are all gone after year one anyway.

 

I don't know about you, but I house train my dogs

 

I have black leather too. My seats are hard too. Ive used Lexol-didnt work. Ive used other cheap crap-didnt work. Theres a thread in the detailing section now called "Crunchy Leather Seats" Someone in there told me about the expesive stuff to condition them. If you buy it and use it let me know how it works out. What kind of Meguires do you use to condition-the wipes or the step#2 Aloe conditioner, b/c I've beed thinkin about usin that..........

 

I have always used Lexol leather products. They are excellent and are the best thing you can use for your leather. They come highly recommended by leather manufacturers. My leather is not the softest. I think this is common with the leather they use in the Maximas, but the lexol helps and keeps it from cracking. I don't have one crack in any of my leather seats and my car has 80,000 miles on it.

 

You're forgetting one major factor. A car's interior is subject to the effect of the sun. Most likely your leather couch isn't. And there is definitely a difference in products and their results. I also use Lexol by the way. It's good stuff, but somehow I expected more.

 

they got lexol neatsfoot whats that for? after using lexol conidtioner what does the interior smell like.. pinnacle leather conditioner is good, nice smell but its $25 for a bottle

 

how about mixing lexol and mothers leather con./something like sraying on the lexol work it in a lil bit then work in the mothers let sit for a minute then wipe

 

Both the cleaner and the conditioner are both neutral to quite odorless in smell after use. The interior does seem much 'fresher' also after use. I highly recommend Lexol after having it recommended to myself by a friend who works at a high-end dealership and uses it on their cars.

My uncle uses "Leathertique" in his car and has had favorable results in softening the leather. Both are excellent.

 

What about for leather thats in fairly bad shape? What do you guys recommend for that (lots of cracks runnin through). my front seats are pretty bad, but I dont wanna go have them permed, washed, treated and dish out 100 bucks. Also, is there a write up for interior or should i follow the bottle directions...or?

 

Gliptone - works and smells great it will also restore hard leather after time

 

very good stuff, ill be using it soon on my new tan leather, but it did a great job on my black leather, plus jason can get it at a good price

 

Another recommendation for "hard" leather would be Leatherique. I have seen many folks on Autopia with neglected leather seats use Leatherique and the seats are rejuvenated.