Curtis2000

I need some opinions. When I purchased my two new Lexus vehicles, I promptly used Leather Honey available on Amazon. At the time, I didn't know what I know now and was doing it thinking it would be good for the leather, etc. Now I understand there is a clear top coat on all automotive leather and you don't need to do much besides keep it clean. Fast forward about 2 yrs, I'm trying to clean the seats. I cleaned them before using Meguiars leather cleaner and even used it after I put the leather honey on it since it made it sticky! Now when I try to clean them, my seat color is transferring to my towel. I have red seats, so it's not a question of if its dirt or not. I don't recall this happen before, but I'm guessing no. I tried Chemical Guys cleaner and conditioner, both transfer red to the towel.

My conclusion is the leather honey some how made the clear coat fail and that's why the color is rubbing onto my towel. What other explanation can you have?

Now I'm asking myself, how I can put a clear coat back onto it to prevent this issue going forward. The only product I found that seems like it might be close to what the mfg uses is this: http://www.leatherworldtech.com/Leat...7.htm?CartID=1

What does everyone else think and do you have any other suggetions?

Curtis

LeX2K

How do you use that product? What exactly is it designed for? There are no usage instructions that I could see. Are you getting colour transfer on all your seats or just the one.

Curtis2000

If you are talking about the top coat product, you just rub it on like any conditioner and let it cure for 24 hrs. I'm getting color transfer on all the seats where I applied the leather honey, from what I can remember.

UDel

The leather honey did not cause your protective coating to fail or eat it away. I have leather honey, used it on my older Lexus as well as a leather jacket and it did not harm either. The leather honey would have to have some kind of strong acid or other really harsh chemical they would never put in a leather product to eat away at a top coat or you rubbed the seats really hard with a rough object which I doubt you did. I don't know why the color is coming off, sounds like you need to contact Lexus or see if others are having the same problem as it sounds like a factory issue where the coating was not applied properly or prematurely failed or maybe dye was on top of the coating for some reason.

Is the red leather semi analine? Is the stitching red too, could it possibly be the stitching dye that is coming off on the towel? If you wear light colored pants or light blue jeans is red dye coming off on them?

LeX2K

Yes was talking about the top coat. That's a product I'm interested in if it does what it claims. For your problem I doubt all the surfaces were damaged (if at all) by the leather honey so maybe your seats don't have a clear coat layer.

jfelbab

I suspect that may be Nuluxe or faux leather. Correct me if I'm wrong. Regardless, what model and year? Have you ever used an abrasive product on it like a Magic Eraser? If you use a microfiber towel for cleaning, which it looks lIke you do, be aware that excessive pressure can compromise the topcoat. That topcoat is VERY thin and is soft and flexible making it easily damaged by abrasives.. Some microfibers can be very abrasive.

Do you or anyone else in the vehicle occasionally wear red garments that may have left a dye stain? Dye transfer issues don't just come from blue jeans. It may be possible that this is a stain on the seats left by garments or purses, etc. Determine if this is occurring on all the seating areas or just the driver seat.

I'd suggest always using a foam pad to apply the detergent foam and to briskly but gently agitate the area to be cleaned without overly wetting the leather and then wipe up the foamy residue with a white,100% cotton towel. Examine the towel for soil and or dye. Try cleaning the leather as suggested with a gentle cleaner like Leather Masters Soft Leather Cleaner and a foam applicator pad and see if the red dye is still coming up on the white towel. This will remove the possibility that other cleaner and abrasive microfiber is causing the problem. If you are still seeing red dye coming up, I'd take it to Lexus and see if they will address the issue under warranty. If they do not, take it to a leather specialist to have the seat(s) resprayed with a new topcoat. I'd not attempt a DIY unless you are prepared for the worst case occurring and you don't want to live with the result.

The cleaning method preferred by most leather professionals Is the CHAT method.
C=Cleaner or detergent
H= Heat
A=Agitation
T=TIme as in dwell time

The cleaner should be a detergent specifically made for cleaning leather.
Heat is easily controlled by mixing the detergent with mildly hot water (50/50)
Agitation is accomplished with brisk but gentle, lower pressure strokes over a small area (approx. 1-2 sq. ft.) at a time.
The use of a thick foam cleaning mixture allows the foam to dwell for a few minutes to clean without overly wetting the leather. This allows the detergent to do the work and not too much abrasion. Cleaners that don't generate a lot of foam are not as effective.

Last suggestion is to begin using a water-based fluorocarbon leather protectant. This works somewhat like a mini-topcoat in that it leaves a thin polymer layer of protection that prevents dye transfer. This needs to be reapplied every few months depending on your usage and wear conditions or after every detergent cleaning process. I use Leather Masters Leather Protection Cream but there are several others available.

Curtis2000

There is no dye on the seats from clothing. I've checked places like under the headrest and still the same result. It's red leather, how it is listed on the lexus brochure for this 2016 RX 450H Fsport. Black is listed as nuluxe, but this said red leather, so I assume that means it isn't nuluxe. I have only used microfiber towels, Meguiars brand. The thing is I can take a towel, wet it and wipe the seats with moderate pressure and get some transfer. It isn't as much but some. Now I tried to put a conditioner on it, hoping maybe it would help before I put some kind of clear coat on it. I tried Meguiars and Chemical Guy's conditioner. I don't have to put any pressure at all and just gentle wipe to spread it all over and dye gets onto my towel very easily. It seems like it transfers easier with conditioners than cleaners.

I think it is safe to say the top coat is gone. I'm going to guess Lexus will tell me good luck. So question is how to get a top coat put pack onto the seats, one that will be just as good as what Lexus put on there. Odd thing is I've tried to search online about this topic for hrs and can't find much info out there at all! It's almost like it is a myth. There are hardly any products advertised for this problem, etc.

I'm not sure if Honey leather caused any damage. Lets assume not. That was a huge mistake. The tackiness it leaves behind, I remember going over it with Meguiars cleaner/conditioner trying to get it off. Maybe I rubbed too hard back then trying to get the crap off. Interesting enough, I looked at the back seats and the bottom leather goes down the front and about an inch up underneath. you really have to feel for it to know the leather continues up under the front lip. I decided to test that area as I'm going to guess I never used the honey or ever cleaned that area for how hidden it is. Well, dye transferred! I'm a little at lost. Part of me wants to just try that top coat product I found and see where that goes.

I don't know if you would call this a dry feeling or not, but the seats feel dry and not supple. I used the Honey on my RC-F as well, but I'm sure I left the back seats alone. Well, the soft and suppleness of the back seats (they are practically brand new) compared to the front is night & day. Does it feel this way because there is no top coat on it and using that product would change it drastically. Is that a realistic thought....

Curtis

Curtis2000

Looks like the Dr that founded Leather Masters, was part of Uniters. The guy passed away earlier this yr, but sounds like he was the leather expert. Check out this page of theirs, they have a list at the end of what not to use on leather. Honey is listed...

http://www.uniters.com/unt_us_en/leather-care/

UDel

I would contact Lexus, take it to a dealer, tell them everything and show the pics. Leave out that you conditioned it with any products unless it was a Lexus specific conditioner because they will just try to find any way to blame you/the products and not them. Either they did not seal in the dye with some kind of top coat or dye is also on top of the top coat and you are rubbing that excess dye off. Since you tested a area where you applied no Leather Honey and the red still came off that is proof it was not the leather honey, if it was that destructive to leather Leather Honey would have been taken off the market by now, it has been out for decades and is one of the more respected brands though it leaves a mess that needs to be cleaned.

Find out if your leather is semi aniline as that leather does not have as much/different type of protection/dye process and it does responds to conditioners because the conditioners do penetrate to it in most cases, if it is semi aniline and it was night and day between what you conditioned and did not condition that may be more of a characteristic with that leather then regular leather and you may have to research more how to take care of it.

Curtis2000

Thanks everyone. I'm not sure what to do. I really don't remember where all I used the leather honey at. Could I have done the back seats and found that area and went there as well? Maybe, won't bet my life on it though. I emailed a dealership, we'll see what happens. I'm going to say its my problem. I'm just under 50,000 miles...

I will say the seat area feels a lot different than the leather under the headrest. It doesn't feel as soft and flexible. I'm not sure if that's expected or not. I don't know what dry leather feels like but I want to say that's it. I also want to say it almost has a little bit of a tacky feel to it, no matter what I use on it. I'm guessing that's from leather honey.

I went ahead and ordered that top coat product. Just $35, figured worth a try. I'll do an inconspicuous place and see what happens. Fingers crossed.

UDel

I would contact Lexus corporate, I don't think a dealership will do anything for you.