In general, there are three main types of leather used in automobiles today: aniline, coated, and synthetic leather.
Aniline is the rarest leather used in vehicles because it is less processed, untreated, and very prone to stains and scratching.
Coated or “pigmented” leather is the popular choice of luxury vehicles because it has a soft feel and is typically only applied to certain touch points of a vehicle like seat bolsters, steering wheels, and sometimes dashboards.
Vinyl or “synthetic” leather is in the vast majority of vehicles today. However, car manufacturers have been able to make coated and synthetic leather very similar these days and it’s fairly difficult to distinguish between the two.
In order to take care of these different leathers properly, it is necessary to know and understand which type of leather your vehicle has.
Aniline leather does not have any coating and is very porous making it absorb liquids easily, quickly causing staining. This is why most aniline leathers are produced for clothing with the rare exception for certain vehicles. A specific aniline cleaner must be used and waterproofing protection applied and maintained to keep the leather in the best condition.
Coated leather is called “coated” because it does in fact have a synthetic, durable coating applied over the colored or “pigmented” layer to help prevent staining and provide ease of cleaning. This coating naturally makes the leather liquid resistant and any basic leather or vinyl cleaner will clean well. In the first 3 years of a new vehicle, the new leather is not porous because of the coating and will only benefit from added protection to help prevent staining from liquids and jean-dye transfer. After 3 years, the pores of the leather will begin to become more open and it can begin to benefit from a conditioner.
Vinyl/synthetic leather is most commonly used because it is much cheaper to manufacture while still providing a similar leather feel. Vinyl is often used on more consistent wear and tear areas of a vehicle, even if it says it comes with real leather. These areas typically include the middle of seats, armrests, and parts of the doors. Conditioning synthetic leather is unnecessary because there are no natural oils to begin with and therefore no need to replenish. Both coated and synthetic leathers though can still benefit from added protection.
Some companies, like Tesla for example, refer to their synthetic leather as “vegan” leather. This is just a new term for vinyl/synthetic leather!
When cleaning any interior materials in your vehicle, it’s always a good rule of thumb to use Ph-neutral cleaners, but especially with leather. Using a high-alkaline cleaner often will accelerate the deterioration process of the leather by drying out the oils. With new leather, it is more important to focus on the cleaning rather the conditioning aspect. If you only condition the leather, the conditioner will not only just sit on the surface, but you could be locking in dirt. After cleaning with a soft-bristled, synthetic brush and microfiber cloth your leather should easily be refreshed and ready for protection. Some leather products come as a 2 in 1, or you can buy separate protection.
For the most part, leather is not difficult to maintain. The key though IS maintenance! Once leather has gone many years without cleaning and protection, it is very hard to bring it back to a glorious state. Yes, leather will age and crease naturally over time, but maintaining it will help prevent drying and cracking.
cody boss
boss auto detailing
nashville, tn