The softscrub trick really does work!!! My leather is so clean and soft now. My car is eleven years old, and I guess I never realized how dirty and hardened the leather had gotten, but now I can tell a huge difference.

I got a bottle of softscrub lemon scent (no bleach!) and a small circular nylon brush from Wal Mart this morning. Then working on one panel of leather at a time, I worked the softscrub into the leather with the nylon brush. Then used a terry cloth towel to take it off. I used a white towel just so I could see how much dirt came up, and it was absolutely amazing. The leather looks smooth and feels soft once again.

I finished the job off with some leather conditioner to keep the newly cleaned leather looking fresh and feeling soft.

I have tan leather, I'll let you guys know how it works on black leather later on tomorrow.

-Les

 

Sweet. Thanks for the info. I have tan leather too...it's the color of poop and feels crusty. I'm going to have to try this.

RL

 

i second it. my "leather" looks great. Also if you have the tan seatbelts and they are looking a little dark get a scrub brush and use the soft scrub on those too. You have to scrub the belts a little harder than you do the seats so put a towel or something behind the belt to protect your seat from scrub brush

 

I was afraid to try that, I got tan leather and its dirty. Ill prolly try to clean it that way tom.

 

I decided to try it out to put anyone who was thinking about using softscrub at ease.

 

Ok may be I'm misunderstading things, does the clorox soft scrubkitchen cleaner make your leather softer!?!?

I have black leather that is really crusty, armorall or the trutle interior wax stuff didn't make it any softer.

What can I do to make the leather softer?

 

I used the lemon softscrub on the right in the picture, I'm not so sure about using anything with bleach in it on my car.

 

I just need something to make my black leather softer, the dirt can not bee seen.

 

that's because the leather's black and hides the dirt.. use the lemon soft scrub and it should help..

there's some leather that's beyond help.. mine is hard as cardboard and actually cracking and tearing, so mine's no good to mess with. I guess it's worth a shot to dry though.

 

But Matt, it seems that not many have posted back about using this with the black leather. Do you "feel" that it is ok to use this method on black leather and it have no side effects? Thanks Matt.

 

Isn't there a manufacturer that makes just that; a leather softner?

On searching google I saw suggestion for lexol, but from the website description it seems similar to armorall spray sold at pepboys.

 

I bought the Soft Scrub with Lemon, tried it on my black leather. Did it with pretty good lighting in my garage. Was kind of happy with the results until I saw it the next day. The leather did seem cleaner but it left a white residue everywhere that I used it. This wasnt the same residue that the leather conditioner leaves behind(real easy to get rid of). This was more of some powdery stuff that I had to wipe down severely with leather/vinyl cleaner and I think I still see a little bit that I have to go over once again. Although maybe I didnt scrub enough in the first place but it seemed like I did.


So my advice to everyone with black leather that is looking to try it, just do it on a small surface at first and see if you like the way it comes out.

 

Good advice there at the end. I went behind the softscrub immediately with some conventional leather cleaner/softener as well, maybe that's the key.

 

I got the tan leather OEM interior and the soft scrub method worked well.

 

I remembered that I forgot to take pictures
This is 12 year old leather, but it looks and feels very clean now.

 

ALSO, guys with black leather:
I tested softscrub (WITHOUT BLEACH) on black leather the other day. No change in color or harm to the leather. Just a clean and soft piece of leather

 

I heard of this before and was afraid to do it. But if it work my tan leather needs it. Guess I've got something to do this weekend.

 

Lexol is definitely not similar to any Armor All product. It is one of the best products out there for cleaning and conditioning.

 

I always thought soft scrub was an abrasive & couldn't be used on soft surfaces like leather but from what I'm seeing in this thread sounds like it really works wonders, esp. on older leather.

 

i used soft scrub for my tan leather a couple months ago and it worked really well. the whole interior looked brand new again