I was wondering if anyone has had any success with using leather soap and mink oil to clean and protect the interior of the truck. I have a friend that claims that his grandfather has an old Cadillac that this is all that he has used and that it looked new.

 

There are different kinds of leather --

The leather in a Lariat (and probably that Cadillac) is COATED leather. The coating is a 'clear' coating of sorts that helps to protect the leather. It *is* a porus material.

Mink oil, while it may 'condition' to a certain extent, it's also an animal fat-derived product that will turn rancid. As such, it'll deterorate stitching in a more rapid fashion and is probably not the best choice in my opinion...

Saddle soap is not really a 'soap' but rather a product that was used years ago as a liquoring product for leather or as a transport vehicle for dye. In short, being that it also contains fats, it must first dissolve it's own fats (oils) before it can begin to clean the leather. Again, in short, it's probably not the best choice.

My suggestion -- stick with a good leather cleaning and leather conditioning product that is meant for automotive leathers (typically non-analine leather). Lexol makes a very good product that can be used on these coated leathers. While I don't recommend the pH Cleaner (orange bottle) on analine leather (non-coated), it is fine on coated leather and actually works quite well. Additionally, the conditioner (brown bottle) is a very good product that I personally use on most of my client's vehicles.

There are oodles of other products out there that are solid as well --

Connolley Hide Food, Wolfgang Leather Conditioner, Fiebings 4-way... oodles of others...

 

Man RockPick... you continue to amaze me with your knowledge. I PM'd you about some QD spray and I appreciate the response. While @ AutoZone I also picked up some Meguiars Leather cleaner/conditioner. I hope that was a good choice. BoB

 

I use the Lexol conditioner too.
My truck is 3 years old now and has 31,000 miles on it.
The leather still looks and smells like new.

 

I'm not much of a detail type of guy. The only leather on my truck is the steering wheel. The cleaners I've used worked ok, but the conditioners (eagle 1) left the wheel soft and sticky. I've been happiest using 303 Protectant to clean and detail the wheel. It leaves a nice finish that is just a little more slick than the natural leather. RP do you have any feelings on this?

 

I am with rockpick, and have personally used the lexol. It is a GREAT product, and works very well. The other one that I personally use on my vehicles is Leatherique, and I have nothing but great things to say about it. I applied it to my good friends 2005 RX330 and 2006 Altima, and the leather felt new. It smelt great, and was AMAZINGLY soft. It is probably one of THE best products other than connolly that I have ever come accross!

 

Thanks BoB... It's a hobby that got WAY out of control. Now it's an OCD.