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You don't want leather conditioner absorbed into the leather? I guess all the repeat business Lexol does is b/c their products don't work on car seats. How silly of me.
You don't want oil or liquids absorbed into the leather through the edges of the perforations, no. Even if it did you would only be "conditioning" the very small area around each perforation.
This is what results from the leather absorbing things through the perforations:
Just because people buy something doesn't mean that its beneficial. Lexol conditioner isn't doing anything for your leather seats, like it or not.
The leather in your car is not like the leather of a handbag or a jacket, or even shoes.
Since you wanted to listen to Toyota when you thought they agreed with you, here is an exerpt from the owners manual for your 2014 Lexus LS460:
Note whats missing? Discussion of any conditioner. You don't want to use an old school oily conditioner, use a modern protectant that has UV inhibiting properties. This is a good product:
Well, this opened a can of worms. As I stated in a previous post, the leather smell is still there and strong if I haven't opened the car for a few days. With all that said, I checked the Lexus owner's manual and it states to clean by vacuuming; then using a diluted solution of water and 5% wool detergent (I used 10:1 water to Woolite last time). It does not mention conditioning. I've been using the Chemical Guys leather cleaner and conditioner on the ES. Their cleaner works well for dirty leather (it's gray on that car, so very visible). I started using it on the LS; then went to the water/Woolite. I'm at a loss at this point and hope the Chemical Guys cleaner doesn't damage it, which it shouldn't, since the leather is coated. As for the conditioner, I don't know if it ever made a difference. I know it didn't on my old Taurus, (just made it feel greasy for awhile) but that car was so old I could see that even though it looked good when I bought it; with age it just began to fall apart anyway. Everyone swore by Lexol, and it just seemed to make it worse--and I rarely drove it. I might see how conditioner could help cracked or seam areas where it could get past the coating. Permeating the non-damaged spots, I'm not so sure. I see there are arguments on both sides. What I'd really be interested in knowing if it hurts the leather more than not conditioning it.....OR....if it doesn't hurt anything other than your wallet, causing no damage to the leather; but a being "safer than sorry" approach.
I do know this... if you are in a situation where you have wet/damp clothes (i.e. from swimming, going to the beach, just plain sweaty, etc.) and you sit on a towel or directly on the seat, that dampness seems to ruin leather. After a period of going to the beach quite often, I noticed that's when the seats in the ES started to wear immensely, even after sitting on a towel and cleaning/conditioning. Using a garbage bag as a barrier would help; got that idea from my dad. I always prefer to change out of wet clothes, if I am able, before driving. We live in a coastal area, and the LS won't be making any trips to the beach where I'd be driving it home in a damp swimsuit. I'm not always in an area where I can change, and no matter how careful you are, you bring sand into the car. Just don't have anything damp on the seats for a long period of time. I eventually had the front seats redone in the ES with matching vinyl due to age/miles, and cost. Anyway, this is coastal life first world problems. The Lexus isn't a beach car; this won't apply to most of you.
Below are shots directly from the owner's manual.
Last edited by JRA2000TL; May 22, 2024 at 12:39 PM.
No leather cleaners you can buy will damage the leather as long as you aren't being really aggressive and using pads and such that are really aggressive. Conditoners aren't going to hurt it either (like Lexol or Leather in a Bottle), they just aren't really protecting the leather or accomplishing anything.
Yes, I've seen the manual and linked a bunch of Toyota sites saying to condition it. They used to give away leather conditioner too. Toyota Corporate supplied the conditioners. They were basically Lexol.
I wonder how those seats got stains if the leather was sealed? So leather conditioners will damage the stained leather? Leather in your car is the same as leather on your shoes or jackets. That might be the silliest argument so far.
And to answer the Audi guy yes, I do have friends that run detailing shops. I texted a couple and they are laughing their butts off at you. Especially the one that replaces the leather seats that crack after the owner didn't condition the leather.
Yes, I've seen the manual and linked a bunch of Toyota sites saying to condition it. They used to give away leather conditioner too. Toyota Corporate supplied the conditioners. They were basically Lexol.
I wonder how those seats got stains if the leather was sealed? So leather conditioners will damage the stained leather? Leather in your car is the same as leather on your shoes or jackets. That might be the silliest argument so far.
And to answer the Audi guy yes, I do have friends that run detailing shops. I texted a couple and they are laughing their butts off at you. Especially the one that replaces the leather seats that crack after the owner didn't condition the leather.
It's not the same leather as coats or shoes at all.....dear god it's not even close lol!
Sure they are, sure they are. Leather cracks from UV damage and being flexed, leave uncoated leather or clothing type outside in a clear bag for a few weeks and you will see how much damage occurs from UV and the difference between that and car leather.
So I'll go ahead and explain the dye transfer effect, it's not transferring to the leather. It's transferring to and on top of the coating, that's why it can be removed and cleaned off and then resealed. If it was actually hitting the leather it's not able to be removed, and I've pulled dye out of a lot of light cars interiors including my LS460. Most "stains" and discoloration is just on top of the sealant, real leather without sealant DRAMATICALLY and nearly instantly permanently changes color.
All of my gun leather changes in about 3 days on the semi aniline but uncoated liners and backers, the sealed parts act just like the cars.....
Last edited by DaveGS4; May 22, 2024 at 04:17 PM.
Reason: Edited rude comment out. If you can’t post without insults do not hit reply
FWIW, I'll throw out there that I use one of those horse hair cleaning brushes. I think it came when one of the Chemical Guys kits. Sometimes you have to be aggressive on dirt, but that supposedly is what you need to use. Makes me a little nervous scrubbing the seat as if it were a bathtub.
I just read that over time, that coating on the seats breaks down and as the seats wear, the conditioner can penetrate and help. If it's a brand new car, conditioner doesn't help.
Last edited by JRA2000TL; May 22, 2024 at 12:54 PM.
Yes, I've seen the manual and linked a bunch of Toyota sites saying to condition it. They used to give away leather conditioner too. Toyota Corporate supplied the conditioners. They were basically Lexol.
I wonder how those seats got stains if the leather was sealed? So leather conditioners will damage the stained leather? Leather in your car is the same as leather on your shoes or jackets. That might be the silliest argument so far.
And to answer the Audi guy yes, I do have friends that run detailing shops. I texted a couple and they are laughing their butts off at you. Especially the one that replaces the leather seats that crack after the owner didn't condition the leather.
Because it soaked into the cut edges of the leather and from underneath as moisture got down underneath through the perforations. You don't want to let things soak down into the perforations. I never said leather conditioner would damage the leather, I said it doesn't do anything.
A leather jacket is uncoated leather, well a high quality one. Leather in your car is coated leather. very different and it needs to be cared for in a very different way. You absolutely do not have detailers telling you automotive leather is uncoated lol. I do admire your self confidence when literally everybody is telling you that you're wrong...
You are correct. Automotive "finished" leather is coated with a vinyl like coating that nothing penetrates. Unlike "unfinished" leather like horse saddles, which must have the moisture replaced to prevent cracking. I have had leather seats in vehicles for years, and have several horses, and the leather that goes wit hthe hobby. All you really need for "finished" automotive leather is a good wash with water and a mild soap. (recommended by every car owners manual I have read) You can use glycerine (we use it for the saddles, etc, and that will give it a nice look also,) although it will not penetrate. Glycerine soap can be bought at any horse tack shop, and cheaper than dirt. You can use 303...nice stuff for some things, like tires, but really a waste of money on auto leather. It is rather greasy and doesn't smell like leather at all, if I recall. You can also buy the so called leather products for cars, which really do nothing but make the interior smell nice. Most newer cars have UV protection in the glass, and the leather coatings have built in UV protection, and what little UV protection these leather protectants have, well, it is pretty much wiped off. However, if you are out to impress your clients, then load the seats up with some nice smelling commercial leather stuff.
This is what uncoated leather looks like in a car:
FWIW, I'll throw out there that I use one of those horse hair cleaning brushes. I think it came when one of the Chemical Guys kits. Sometimes you have to be aggressive on dirt, but that supposedly is what you need to use. Makes me a little nervous scrubbing the seat as if it were a bathtub.
I just read that over time, that coating on the seats breaks down and as the seats wear, the conditioner can penetrate and help. If it's a brand new car, conditioner doesn't help.
When the coating breaks down' the leather is ruined and needs to be re-dyed and re-coated. The dye will come off if the coating is removed. This is what that looks like:
The chemical guys brush won't hurt the leather, but you should not use too much pressure. Just clean them regularly and use a good quality UV protectant. You should let the cleaner do most of the work for you.
lol, the fact that Lexus sells something doesn’t mean that it’s beneficial or necessary. If Lexus thought that was necessary why didn’t they put its use into the owners manual?
That is a seat where the coating has been worn through. That’s what it looks like. The leather is always dyed before the seat is coated. Regular seats the coating is sprayed on like paint, semi aniline seats are dyed through. All coated leather, like it or not.
lol, the fact that Lexus sells something doesn’t mean that it’s beneficial or necessary. If Lexus thought that was necessary why didn’t they put its use into the owners manual?
That is a seat where the coating has been worn through. That’s what it looks like. The leather is always dyed before the seat is coated. Regular seats the coating is sprayed on like paint, semi aniline seats are dyed through. All coated leather, like it or not.
As I showed you before, with many sources, semi aniline leather can be conditioned. The coating has tiny holes that allow the conditioner to penetrate. Hence why 9 out of 10 professionals say to condition it. Including TOYOTA/LEXUS. They used to GIVE away bottles of Lexol. They didn't sell it. Weird that semi aniline leather dries it out if it's sealed...
The coating does not have “tiny holes”. It’s a urethane top coat that is sprayed on like paint. Semi aniline or top dyed the coating is the same. The only difference is how the leather is dyed underneath the coating.
The leather won’t dry out if it’s properly cleaned and maintained. Preserve the coating and it will last forever.
This is my 2003 Lexus ES, 225,000 miles. The leather has never been conditioned. It’s been cleaned and maintained as per the manual, it’s sat outside for the last 14 years and hasn’t had any care of the leather at all in that time. These pictures are from last month, that leather is 21 years old.
So grab some nail polish and put it on. Let it dry and it'll just peel off right? B/c it can't get through your protective layer? Or a silver permanent marker. It'll totally come off.
Semi aniline leather is only partially sealed. It has a protective coat on top and none on the bottom. The protective layer on top is porous. If it was completely sealed it would be like sitting on rubber. Which of course it isn't. It breathes.
No, it will stain the coating. The urethane coating is not magic.
Semi aniline leather is not partially sealed. It has the same urethane spray top coat as all coated automotive leather. No leather is coated underneath, it’s a top coat, and there is no way to get to the backside of the leather without removing the leather from the seats.
Not going to keep arguing with you, continue to do what you want. To everybody else the coated leather does not benefit from old school
oily, greasy conditioners. Use a modern UV protectant that will preserve the urethane coating and your leather will stay as new forever
So leather conditioners will damage the stained leather? Leather in your car is the same as leather on your shoes or jackets. That might be the silliest argument so far. 
