Lexol is a shitty product....

[oc cc]

So ladies and gents, let me make this short. When I first got my car, I knew a shit ton about all the mods I was planning on doing to it. However, I didn't know squat when it came to detailing the inside. On my previous sports car (Toyota Avalon, woo woo!) I would use a wet towel. However, I figured I should do big thangs with this car and take care of it properly. So what did I do? Search hours and hours on the internet about detailing the interior.

Just kidding, I went down to Autozone and bought this:
Armor All Fresh Outdoors Freshening Protectant- 16 oz.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/410PbpW74lL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

For 5 bucks it was cheap, and it worked great. It left like a slippery NON OILY and NON GLOSSY layer on top of the leather (like teflon), making it easier to slip in and out of the car. It protected great- my friend had a zipper on his back pocket and thought he scratched the leather, but nothing happened! Overall it was awesome. But the problem was I had to apply it like every 2 weeks for it to feel nice and slippery. I thought to myself, "If this cheap ass spray bottle does this good of a job, imagine what the REAL stuff could do," picturing my seats as soft as a baby's bottom but protected from the UV rays that cause cracking and wrinkling.

THAT's when the hours of research began, and overall people seemed to like Lexol products. So I said hey, why not try it? Ordered it off Amazon.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51iLOU4FogL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

Used the cleaner and conditioned after. Overall, I heard people say it leaves an oily sheen, but that is because some people use too much. So I was careful with how much I used. Not only did the finish come out shiny, it made my seats super sticky and nasty. Not only did I waste money, now I had to clean it up! I used a wet towel- didn't work. So I ended up going out and buying more of the armor all to clean it- my seats are back to being super smooth and not sticky. Overall, Lexol sucks. Anyone know some good brands? Heard of Leatherique, but still not sure about it. Not looking to spend more than $50 for a cleaner/conditioner.

[DavidD]

How did you apply it to your seats? I believe you're supposed to rub in it, let it sit for about a mintute or so, then buff the rest off with a dry microfiber.

[kickr]

I'm assuming you removed the Lexol the same day you applied it? If you in fact did, I can understand where you are coming from. It takes a good 2-3 days of normal use for the smell and the stickyness to disappear, but you are left with a product longevity of far more than two weeks.

[A42.0Jordan]

Lextol are for Honda's!

[DavidD]

Lextol are for Honda's!

Thanks for your keen insight and proper spelling and grammar...

If you have a better product, why don't you suggest it?

[Borti]

Leather Masters Soft and Strong Cleaner with Leather Protection Cream.

I have also used Leather Vital Conditioner - but found it does not work for our leathers which have a urethane top coat (it mostly leaves a streaky finish), so a protection cream from Leather Masters or Wolf's sealant is ideal.

[kickr]

Lextol are for Honda's!

Lol

[VroomVroom]

Just wow.

Lexol makes good stuff that works great. Personally, I don't use it because the odor (I would say, "scent," but this stuff does stink, IMO) is strong, and takes days to dissipate. However, I've never had issues with feel or shine. IME it cleans well, conditions well, and leaves a matte finish that is not sticky.

For over-the-counter stuff I'd choose Meguiar's over Armor All. If you're up for some online shopping, I'd recommend Zaino and Poorboy's, in that order. Zaino works a wee bit better, but Poorboy's offers amazing value for the dollar spent. If you demand the best, by all means go with Leatherique. Just keep in mind there's a bit of a learning curve, and proper use requires both time and heat. You'll be without the services of the car for a minimum of eight hours....ideally 24. Without such a commitment, you're wasting money.

Lots of great products out there. All except Leatherique are quite intuitive in use, and offer pretty much instant gratification. That said, except for the smell, the same applies to Lexol. I don't want to sound like a jerk, but it is worth carefully following the directions, and using quality terry & mf towels. Similarly, if you have a spill or stains to clean, it's worth going after the worst of the damage with warm water and a small amount of APC or mild (i.e. Woollite) detergent prior to using the leather products. The chief selling point of Armor All stuff is the extreme ease of use, but don't mistake that for quality or durability.

[maga4]

I have used lexol on non car things for years and use it in my A4. The smell goes away for me after about 2 hours after wiping it down.

Parsa, did you spray/pour a few sprays/drops of water on the sponge with the cleaner or conditioner? This makes it easy to scrub/wipe off and I think it is what helps with the smell. I probably use 75% product and 25% water (maybe 80/20).

[GarrettReid]

I like to use a brush to agitate the Lexol a little bit before wiping it up with a microfiber.

[ENV²]

Leather Masters is my choice. I also hear good things about Leatherique

[Crucible35]

I've been using 1Z Lederpfledger for the past 3 years and have to say that I'm very happy with it. Does a great job at cleaning and conditioning and does leave a slick (slide into the seat with ease) finish once you buff it off. I also like the scent......subtle.

[A42.0Jordan]

Thanks for your keen insight and proper spelling and grammar...

If you have a better product, why don't you suggest it?

Leatherique products are by far the best:
Rejuvenation oil & Pristine Clean

[A4_n00b]

As stated, 1Z Lederpflege is a nice product... I'd also recommend Chemical Guys Sprayable Leather as well... both are easy to use and will yield great results

[vdubjetta02]

I use Lexol on my S4 seats and I think it does a terrific job.... I have been using it for 5+ years

[iinviktus]

Sonax Leather Foam is amazing. Cleans, conditions and leaves a matte finish.

I find Lexol to be greasy and bad smelling.

[TOGWT]

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/TOGWT/Porsche-911_Carrera_2013.jpg


– but were too afraid to ask.

Automobile manufacturers have blurred the distinguishing lines on what exactly leather is. Premium leather is the top split of the hide. There are many so-called ‘leathers’ that are actually the bottom split (the fibrous part of the hide) which are covered with a vinyl or urethane coating. Diagnosis is the key, not guess work. Before deciding on what products to use, you need to ascertain the grade of leather and the type of leather finish applied

Correct information regarding the care of leather is scarce, often contradictory, misleading, or simply wrong. Misinformation can lead to inadvertent damage to your vehicles leather upholstery; my goal is to present clear, concise, accurate information.

There is a great deal of conflicting information on leather care being put out by leather experts themselves who recommend the same products and techniques be used regardless of the grade or the finish applied or use baffling pseudo scientific techno speak as another marketing ploy.

Furniture, Motorcycle, Equestrian Automobile leather, all of which has different type of leather finishes and requires different care. You do need to understand some of the basic chemistry behind the tanning and be able to differentiate between the various finishes applied to automotive leather in able to understand how to renovate, clean or care for them, one size fits all is a vendor myth

All of which makes it difficult to find a definitive, unbiased answer. Using the correct product is important in order to protect your car’s interior. [Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance] - George Bernard Shaw

Automobile model ranges use different materials for their vehicles interiors; leather upholstery like Aniline Immersion Dyed, Aniline Micro Pigmented, (Urethane) Finished, Artificial leather such as MB-Tex and unfinished materials like Synthetics and Alcantara, and sometimes combinations of products (Alcantara seat inserts on leather seating) as well as various grades of leather hide, full-grain, top-grain and split –grain (which is protected with urethane) all of which require different products and applications methods

TOGWT® Autopia Detailing Wiki – “Leather Upholstery Type Surface Identification” - http://www.autopia.org/forum/autopia-detailing-wiki/136895-leather-upholstery;-surface-identification.html#

TOGWT® Autopia Detailing Wiki – “Leather Articles Hyperlinks” http://www.autopia.org/forum/autopia-detailing-wiki/141973-leather-articles-hyperlinks.html
If you have any questions about automotive leather, its care or renovation techniques, please let me know or feel free to send me an email

[madhouse24]

Thanks for your keen insight and proper spelling and grammar...

If you have a better product, why don't you suggest it?

I've been using leather therapy for over 6 years now ... they have been in the leather business a long time with products addressing the needs of the horse care industry and the stuff is phenomenal

[SweetLou]

I've used the Lexol twins for years, very easy to use products that work. Other than the smell, which is not too bad imo, I wouldn't dock it for anything. Leatherique may be a "better" system for more restoration-like applications, but the process is much more extensive than Lexol's.

[FourRingRider]

Has anyone tried Sonax Leather Foam (Cleaner & Conditioner in one)?

https://www.detailersdomain.com/Sonax-Leather-Foam-400-ml_p_336.html

[Chestlock]

C'mon guys, you need to know what type of leather you're "cleaning" before randomly selecting a product. List to TOGWT. QFT. And read the post, and the links...




http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/TOGWT/Porsche-911_Carrera_2013.jpg


– but were too afraid to ask.

Automobile manufacturers have blurred the distinguishing lines on what exactly leather is. Premium leather is the top split of the hide. There are many so-called ‘leathers’ that are actually the bottom split (the fibrous part of the hide) which are covered with a vinyl or urethane coating. Diagnosis is the key, not guess work. Before deciding on what products to use, you need to ascertain the grade of leather and the type of leather finish applied

Correct information regarding the care of leather is scarce, often contradictory, misleading, or simply wrong. Misinformation can lead to inadvertent damage to your vehicles leather upholstery; my goal is to present clear, concise, accurate information.

There is a great deal of conflicting information on leather care being put out by leather experts themselves who recommend the same products and techniques be used regardless of the grade or the finish applied or use baffling pseudo scientific techno speak as another marketing ploy.

Furniture, Motorcycle, Equestrian Automobile leather, all of which has different type of leather finishes and requires different care. You do need to understand some of the basic chemistry behind the tanning and be able to differentiate between the various finishes applied to automotive leather in able to understand how to renovate, clean or care for them, one size fits all is a vendor myth

All of which makes it difficult to find a definitive, unbiased answer. Using the correct product is important in order to protect your car’s interior. [Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance] - George Bernard Shaw

Automobile model ranges use different materials for their vehicles interiors; leather upholstery like Aniline Immersion Dyed, Aniline Micro Pigmented, (Urethane) Finished, Artificial leather such as MB-Tex and unfinished materials like Synthetics and Alcantara, and sometimes combinations of products (Alcantara seat inserts on leather seating) as well as various grades of leather hide, full-grain, top-grain and split –grain (which is protected with urethane) all of which require different products and applications methods

TOGWT® Autopia Detailing Wiki – “Leather Upholstery Type Surface Identification” - http://www.autopia.org/forum/autopia-detailing-wiki/136895-leather-upholstery;-surface-identification.html#

TOGWT® Autopia Detailing Wiki – “Leather Articles Hyperlinks” http://www.autopia.org/forum/autopia-detailing-wiki/141973-leather-articles-hyperlinks.html
If you have any questions about automotive leather, its care or renovation techniques, please let me know or feel free to send me an email

[Kirath]

I've detailed a lot of cars going back to 2000, Audis, Porsche, Mercedes and most of the time I've used Lexol. Not all cars are the same, not all leather reacts the same. But for Audi's lexol hands down every time.

[CraigAudiS4]

Any leather cleaners that have that "new Leather smell ". My 2015 S4 still smells nice but that is fading fast............and I would like to rejuvenate that leather smell.
I was in a friends Porsche and wow the leather smelled great.

Any suggestions ? I have provably tried most and several sprays that were terrible smelling.

[CLEANA3]

It's just for the smell but CG has a leather smell spray that smells so good. A couple sprays once a week is what I do in all my cars

[justcallmeblade]

Any leather cleaners that have that "new Leather smell ". My 2015 S4 still smells nice but that is fading fast............and I would like to rejuvenate that leather smell.
I was in a friends Porsche and wow the leather smelled great.

Any suggestions ? I have provably tried most and several sprays that were terrible smelling.

Zaino is the best I've ever experienced for duration of smell, but it's a conditioner not just a masking spray.

[Diamond Dog]

All my driving life I was told that you can not use leather products on plastic and vinyl and vice versa. So I always bought products to "feed the leather" as leather is a "needs to breathe and is a living product"

I did this for years and bought into all of that. Buying expensive leather products.

Then I read stuff like this:

http://303products.com/index.php/pro...motive-leather

and learned that car leather is usually plastic coated.

This is another reason I love PERL as I can not only use it with great results on my vinyl and plastic, but it is great on my tires and leather

Use a product that can do more than one thing:

Here is something unexpected and affordable as you dilute it due to the application.

Leather is plastic coated in most cars so there is a misconception about how to treat leather in many cases.

Vinyl, leather, tires. - Car Pro PERL. Dilute it 2 to one for tires. 3 to 1 for leather and vinyl. See my posts in this forum about how leather is plastic coated. Only need to apply to exterior every 3 months, interior every 6 months tires every month. In between I just use detailing spray

Here is a review

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/...rpro-perl.html

[TD_05]

Lexol cleaner is my go to maintenance leather cleaner, it's a gentle cleaner no smell, easy to use. I don't like their conditioner. Then once / twice a year leatherique pristine clean. If taking delivery of a new to me used care start with leatherique rejuvenator.