Leather Care

[Rocinante]

Any recommendations for caring for the leather seats on my 2011 V60.

Generally looks quite scuffed, worn and tired, though no cracks or anything like that.
Child car seats used in the back so they have had an effect, as well as a dog running round the car and general wear and tear. I haven't really done anything with the leather up to this point as well.

Cheap, simple, easy and effective, would be what I was looking for. Although I appreciate that, all 4 of those requirements may not be compatible.

[Ulrikas PA]

Every year (if I keep a car that long) I :-

Vac dust and bits off
Wipe with hot water cloth with a bit of mild soap in
Dry
Use a car leather cleaner
Use a car leather creme/ nourisher

Auto Express test all sorts if you want to know which cleaner etc

[S60D5-185]

Personally I wouldn't go past Gliptone.

Nice to use and it smells of leather which is a big bonus.

[zoidberg]

Originally Posted by S60D5-185

Personally I wouldn't go past Gliptone.

Nice to use and it smells of leather which is a big bonus.

I agree ,smells strongly of leather. After all, the horsey brigade can't all be wrong with their choice.

[glynh]

I recently cleaned mine (the light leather colour), autoglym leather cleaner, work it in with a shoe brush then wipe off with a damp cloth (i got a sprayer with a few sprays so its not sodden). the instructions dont mention a brush but thats what made it work properly IMO (previously followed instructions with it being pants)

they came up quite well to be fair after probably at least 5 years of notbeing cleaned (apart from a hoover).

I did need to do them a couple of times to catch where i missed but does make a big difference with not much effort.

[Sotosound]

Thought I'd hitch a ride on this thread.

My 2014 V70 is said to have leather facings on the seats, but exactly what is a facing, as I can't tell what's leather and what's not?

Also, would leather cleaner and conditioner harm the non-leather parts?

[ITSv40]

The facings are the bits you sit on and take the wear. Conditioner will not harm the vinyl, but will not do any good either as it will not be absorbed. Modern car leather has the surface treated and sealed and will only absorb conditioner when the surface has broken down and exposed the fibres of the actual leather.

[Sotosound]

Originally Posted by ITSv40

The facings are the bits you sit on and take the wear. Conditioner will not harm the vinyl, but will not do any good either as it will not be absorbed. Modern car leather has the surface treated and sealed and will only absorb conditioner when the surface has broken down and exposed the fibres of the actual leather.

So... the bits down the side are synthetic and the rest is leather?

Many thanks.

Does the surface treatment also mean that I possibly just need to clean the leather facings with a damp cloth?

[DaveNP]

Originally Posted by Sotosound

...My 2014 V70 is said to have leather facings on the seats, but exactly what is a facing, as I can't tell what's leather and what's not?...

I sent an 850 with 'leather' seats for scrap some years ago, before it went I thought those big panels of leather in the back of the seats would be handy for a little project I had in mind, deeply disappointed to find they were only vinyl

[Pidgeonpost]

I've used Autoglym and Gliptone in the past, though not on the Volvo as we've only had it since February. Not much to choose between them IMO. The seats on our car are the ones with lots of perforations which I guess is for the seat ventilation/cooling to work? Haven't tried that function yet.