Shiny Leather
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Rock Crawling
Joined: Jun 2024
Posts: 334
Likes: 202
From: Queensland
Shiny Leather
I've noticed that with some use the steering wheel and drivers seat in my car have become pretty shiny. I HATE the look of this, so how can I revert the seats to a factory, matte finish? I have found scrubbing the seat with a damp cloth kind of removes the shininess, but I don't think that is an ideal method. FYI my 110 comes equipped with the leather steering wheel and black leather seats. I think they are Windsor Leather, but I'm not sure. I do know they aren't the more plastic-y leather ones though.
Three Wheeling
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 50
Likes: 51
Sounds like it needs a good cleaning. Try this...
https://www.obsessedgarage.com/produ...source=youtube
https://www.obsessedgarage.com/produ...source=youtube
The oils on your skin is what causes the leather to become shiny. You can try to deep clean it, but it will only do so much. If you want your steering wheel to look like it was when it was new, you'd need a new steering wheel, and I doubt you'd be willing to pay ~$2500 for a new one.
TReK
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,768
Likes: 1,982
From: Whidbey Island, PNW
OK. Few things. And I hate to cause discord. If you want something that will work, this is what I would recommend.
Leather Masters Degreaser https://leathermasterproducts.com/le...easer-ar-200ml
Leather Masters Strong Leather Cleaner https://leathermasterproducts.com/le...g-cleaner#138=
Leather Masters Soft Cleaner https://leathermasterproducts.com/le...r-soft-cleaner
Leather Masters Protection Cream MATTE - https://leathermasterproducts.com/le...eam-matte#138=.
(PS - They also make a Gloss Protection Cream. Do *NOT* buy that unless that's your bag.. it looks like a cheap vinyl taxi dressing to me...)
Note: The Leather Masters Production Cream sold on Amazon is a rebranded Matte sold in the US, that is fine to buy. For some reason they stopped labelling certain sizes as Matte, but it's the same. It just doesn't say matte. There was a lot of debate about this around 2020. I know because I started the debate with the company and spoke to the owner.
For Dye Transfer -- this company also makes a dye transfer product that JLR used to rebrand and sell, it's perfectly amazing. It was the little square bottle that used to come in the LR4, RRS and Range Rover glove boxes in the mid 2010's. Remember that? To get the blue jean stuff off the Windsor tan interiors. It's on Amazon or their website, Google it.
For mildew / mold -- They also make a mildew/mold remover I used with great success on a Discovery 2 that had leaky sunroofs.
I cannot say enough about how good Leather Masters products are.
#1 Do not use a magic eraser. Dear God. Long term or repeated use will ruin your leather. It is abrasive and abrasive is not what you want. Do not use it. Full stop. It will work, yes. But it will also slowly degrade the surface. Fine if you flip cars every year or two but you are damaging the surface of anything soft you use a magic eraser on.
#2 For very shiny leather ---> Degreaser 1 or 2 times --- Strong Cleaner 1 or 2 times ---> Soft Cleaner a few more times. For the Degreaser, and Strong cleaner, you **can** overdo it. With the Soft cleaner, it's pretty mild. To apply, microfiber rag that is damp. Scrub very lightly. The key is applying product on the rag, not the leather (ie wheel, trim or seat). NEVER the seat. Scrubbing harder is not the answer. The key is doing it multiple times lightly, so...iif you do the steering wheel a few times, letting it dry each time in between, the shine *will* come off. I would perhaps try the strong cleaner first, once... let it dry, see what happens. Then the soft cleaner a few times.
#3 For slightly shiny leather -- Strong Cleaner --> Soft Cleaner.
My usual regimen is to not let the wheel get shiny by using the soft cleaner every few weeks. My steering wheels thus don't ever get shiny. If I buy a used car, I go with strong cleaner, 1 or 2 times, then the soft cleaner. This absolutely works. If it's really bad, well ... I honestly don't buy the car or I just buy a new steering wheel, but if I do end up in this situation, then I go with degreaser, then strong cleaner, then soft cleaner as in #2 above.
#4 --> Then, after cleaning, for protection, there is essentially nothing better than the matte production cream. I apply it a few times in a row. Then monthly.
NOTE: these are not restorative products designed to fix STIFF, HARD, SUN DAMAGED ruined leather. Not for that. They do keep it soft. But, this shouldn't be an issue for an L663 anyways. Restoration is for your leather reconditioner products / leather oil rejuvenators, I'd recommend Leatherique. That's a whole other thing.
Once you have matte good leather. my recommended regimen as follows:
1) Damp rag to clean.
2) Soft Cleaner on rag to clean
3) Matte Protection Cream to condition / let dry
Once a month or when dirty. (like after a family trip or an offroading trip).
Leather in my defender (2020, 24K miles) looks brand new now. ***Brand new*** I have big dogs (slobber) and offroad the car so it's not a pavement princess. Same with all my other cars including a 911 with full natural leather that goes to the track and doesn't get treated as nicely as it probably should. I've dialed in this regimen after owning lots of cars, seeing how leather reacts over long term ownership. I am pretty convinced this is the best product suite for good leather in good cars. Leather masters for the win. Really, I can't say enough good things about it.
Leather Masters Degreaser https://leathermasterproducts.com/le...easer-ar-200ml
Leather Masters Strong Leather Cleaner https://leathermasterproducts.com/le...g-cleaner#138=
Leather Masters Soft Cleaner https://leathermasterproducts.com/le...r-soft-cleaner
Leather Masters Protection Cream MATTE - https://leathermasterproducts.com/le...eam-matte#138=.
(PS - They also make a Gloss Protection Cream. Do *NOT* buy that unless that's your bag.. it looks like a cheap vinyl taxi dressing to me...)
Note: The Leather Masters Production Cream sold on Amazon is a rebranded Matte sold in the US, that is fine to buy. For some reason they stopped labelling certain sizes as Matte, but it's the same. It just doesn't say matte. There was a lot of debate about this around 2020. I know because I started the debate with the company and spoke to the owner.
For Dye Transfer -- this company also makes a dye transfer product that JLR used to rebrand and sell, it's perfectly amazing. It was the little square bottle that used to come in the LR4, RRS and Range Rover glove boxes in the mid 2010's. Remember that? To get the blue jean stuff off the Windsor tan interiors. It's on Amazon or their website, Google it.
For mildew / mold -- They also make a mildew/mold remover I used with great success on a Discovery 2 that had leaky sunroofs.
I cannot say enough about how good Leather Masters products are.
#1 Do not use a magic eraser. Dear God. Long term or repeated use will ruin your leather. It is abrasive and abrasive is not what you want. Do not use it. Full stop. It will work, yes. But it will also slowly degrade the surface. Fine if you flip cars every year or two but you are damaging the surface of anything soft you use a magic eraser on.
#2 For very shiny leather ---> Degreaser 1 or 2 times --- Strong Cleaner 1 or 2 times ---> Soft Cleaner a few more times. For the Degreaser, and Strong cleaner, you **can** overdo it. With the Soft cleaner, it's pretty mild. To apply, microfiber rag that is damp. Scrub very lightly. The key is applying product on the rag, not the leather (ie wheel, trim or seat). NEVER the seat. Scrubbing harder is not the answer. The key is doing it multiple times lightly, so...iif you do the steering wheel a few times, letting it dry each time in between, the shine *will* come off. I would perhaps try the strong cleaner first, once... let it dry, see what happens. Then the soft cleaner a few times.
#3 For slightly shiny leather -- Strong Cleaner --> Soft Cleaner.
My usual regimen is to not let the wheel get shiny by using the soft cleaner every few weeks. My steering wheels thus don't ever get shiny. If I buy a used car, I go with strong cleaner, 1 or 2 times, then the soft cleaner. This absolutely works. If it's really bad, well ... I honestly don't buy the car or I just buy a new steering wheel, but if I do end up in this situation, then I go with degreaser, then strong cleaner, then soft cleaner as in #2 above.
#4 --> Then, after cleaning, for protection, there is essentially nothing better than the matte production cream. I apply it a few times in a row. Then monthly.
NOTE: these are not restorative products designed to fix STIFF, HARD, SUN DAMAGED ruined leather. Not for that. They do keep it soft. But, this shouldn't be an issue for an L663 anyways. Restoration is for your leather reconditioner products / leather oil rejuvenators, I'd recommend Leatherique. That's a whole other thing.
Once you have matte good leather. my recommended regimen as follows:
1) Damp rag to clean.
2) Soft Cleaner on rag to clean
3) Matte Protection Cream to condition / let dry
Once a month or when dirty. (like after a family trip or an offroading trip).
Leather in my defender (2020, 24K miles) looks brand new now. ***Brand new*** I have big dogs (slobber) and offroad the car so it's not a pavement princess. Same with all my other cars including a 911 with full natural leather that goes to the track and doesn't get treated as nicely as it probably should. I've dialed in this regimen after owning lots of cars, seeing how leather reacts over long term ownership. I am pretty convinced this is the best product suite for good leather in good cars. Leather masters for the win. Really, I can't say enough good things about it.
Last edited by nashvegas; Nov 1, 2024 at 03:08 PM.
@nashvegas
Appreciate the product recommendations and clarification on the Magic Eraser...definitely done with it. I only used it once on the steering wheel (around 30K miles...wife was driving it a lot prior...uses lotion on her hands like crazy, especially in the winter months) and have been using Griots Garage 3-in-1 Leather Spray since to clean/protect and it has stayed matte. I'm currently at 72,000 miles on my 2022 Defender and luckily no wear issues on the steering wheel and looks perfect. Thanks for the through post!
Appreciate the product recommendations and clarification on the Magic Eraser...definitely done with it. I only used it once on the steering wheel (around 30K miles...wife was driving it a lot prior...uses lotion on her hands like crazy, especially in the winter months) and have been using Griots Garage 3-in-1 Leather Spray since to clean/protect and it has stayed matte. I'm currently at 72,000 miles on my 2022 Defender and luckily no wear issues on the steering wheel and looks perfect. Thanks for the through post!
Dye Transfer -- this company also makes a dye transfer product that JLR used to rebrand and sell, it's perfectly amazing. It was the little square bottle that used to come in the LR4, RRS and Range Rover glove boxes in the mid 2010's. Remember that? To get the blue jean stuff off the Windsor tan interiors. It's on Amazon or their website, Google it.
TReK
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,768
Likes: 1,982
From: Whidbey Island, PNW
@nashvegas are you talking about this stuff? If so, I think I might still have this in the cabinet above my microwave from when we took delivery of the LR4 way back in 2010. If its still there, it probably wouldn't be the wisest decision to use a 14-year old bottle. Will definitely invest in a new bottle, though!
Rebranded Leather Masters !
TReK
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,768
Likes: 1,982
From: Whidbey Island, PNW
@nashvegas are you talking about this stuff? If so, I think I might still have this in the cabinet above my microwave from when we took delivery of the LR4 way back in 2010. If its still there, it probably wouldn't be the wisest decision to use a 14-year old bottle. Will definitely invest in a new bottle, though!
Rebranded Leather Masters ! And it's how I found it.. I noticed it worked really well ... better than any other product I'd tried. Figured out what it was, etc...
@nashvegas could you provide some pictures of your how your steering wheel looks when you get a chance? Just got a new steering wheel and I want to keep it looking new for as long as possible. Definitely interested to see just how well this stuff works! Also, do you use this on the shifter as well?