I spent about three hours cleaning out the interior of my wife's car, since we're getting ready to sell it and get her a new one. Unbelievable how messy my two girls have gotten the back the seat of that car.

Anyhow, I realized that we had really not taken good enough care of the leather in her car - early on, we did clean and condition it now and then, but for the past few years, we have both been so busy that it fell lower and lower on the priority list. So today I cleaned it and conditioned all - it looks better, but it really is a case of too little, too late. I've definitely seen much worse, but the leather could look better, for sure.

Anyhow, that inspired me to do the leather in my KR - I definitely don't ever want that leather to start looking like I've seen in some other older KRs.

I first did it a few weeks after I go the truck last July, and then again about a month or so later, but I haven't done it since then. I knew I was due though, and I've been thinking that I really need to get around to it. Well I just finally went ahead and did it.

Thanks to whoever it was here that said to just use your hands - it definitely works better that way - it's easier to cover the whole area, and it seemed to me that it uses less of the conditioner, since if you use a towel or rag, the stuff soaks into the towel. My 8-year-old daughter helped out - she thought it was great fun.

Best of all - that great smell! I love the smell of that stuff - the leather looks great, feels great, and smells even better. I think they should come out with a cologne with that smell. I wonder if I could just use the KR leather conditioner as skin lotion on my chapped hands?

I can still smell it on my hands now as I'm typing. Very nice indeed.

Oh yeah - thanks to the detailing forum, I went out yesterday and bought $100 worth of stuff to do my truck and my wife's car with. Haven't used it yet, but I've got high hopes. Wife was a bit shocked...

I got the interior on her car looking reasonably good for a 10-year old with 90,000 miles on it. Next weekend I plan on doing a real thorough job on the exterior - then onto my KR!!

 

I do it with my hands, also.

The conditioning, you pervs..........

 

Hey,
Everyone who gets into my KR says the same thing. The love the look and feel, but especially the aroma of the freshly treated leather. The comment that the truck smells like a baseball mitt has been used many times. I just smile, 'cause I get to cruise around in it all day!
Hands are the best. I get exactly two conditionings per bottle of KR that way, so it is also economical.
On my Porsche, I have been using Zymol products. They make a cleaner and a conditioner. They are a bit expensive, but they handle that leather very well. The car is a 2000, so it may have similar stress on the material as yours. I've had good luck. There are a bunch of folks here who have used other stuff that they like. Their posts are all over the forum, so check them out too.
Enjoy the truck.

 

Yankee Candle has a room freshener that is the smell of "Leather". It is also awesome. It may be a little strong for some people, but everytime I get in my truck, it takes me back to the way it used to smell when it was new! I would highly recommend it.

 

ROTFLMAO
never in my wildest dreams would I haver everthought to read a post about Yankee candles on this site. Ya bunch of chicks.

 

Interesting....
One can only assume this candle isn't actually lit whilst you are driving around.

Otherwise........Leather + Petrol + Naked Flame......

Hmmm !

 

It's not a candle, it's one of those hanging air freshener like the little evergreen trees. It's just in the shape of a candle.

You didn't actually think I light a candle in my truck before I go anywhere, did you?

 

Of course not....
It just makes a wonderful mental image...KR cruising along at dusk with an assortment of candles illiuminating the interior.

If you really thought I was serious you just haven't been around long enough to grasp my odd (English) sense of humor !

 

PERFECT!
This is why I come back to this forum every day. I am dying laughing!
I think we've ALL been sniffing a few too many little evergreen trees!

 

can't you smell that smell?

 

ya know I hate those darn ugly green trees. You guys are forcing me to go shopping now. I just have to have one of those Yankee candle air thingamajigs for my office.

 

I was in the local mall last night and damn if I wasn't thinking about going in the candle store just to satisfy my curiosity. Did manage to resist the urge though. When the shore lunch and beer scent comes out, I'll buy a case.

 

http://www.yankeecandle.com/cgi-bin/...p?prod=1024908

 

TWO???? Only TWO?? Holy crap. How much are you putting on? I've done three on my first bottle so far and still have some left for the next time. I haven't been soaking it because I don't want the stuff to build up and get caked on there.

 

Not sure how to answer this one exactly. I apply the conditioner and rub it until it sinks into the material. There is no pooling or puddling, and the surface is not visibly wet with fluid. It seems to absorb the stuff nicely. When I get all the way around applying, I go back with a clean white towel and rub the leather surfaces. This does not usually bring up any conditioner on the cloth. I guess I do it just to stick with a convention. The leather in this truck just seems to absorb about that much stuff.
Maybe in yours, the leather is a slightly different consistency and takes less. That is a hallmark of leather. That variability makes it such a nice thing to work with. I guess I wish I had yours instead of mine. Sounds like you are the lucky one. Enjoy it.
Your friend in KRs....