In reply to a message from war eagle sent Wed 8 Sep 2004:
Lace,
Here’s the (defunct) Connolly company’s recommendation:
Work up a lather on a face cloth with Ivory soap (i.e., simple soap
not detergent, no perfumes, etc.) Wring it out so it’s damp and
soapy. Use this to clean the leather, rubbing where necessary to
get stuff out.
Wipe the lather off with a damp, non-soapy cloth. Let dry a little.
Treat with Connoly’s Hide Food.
They say it’s the dampness that really softens the leather, and the
hide food’s purpose is to retain it in the hides, like moisturizer
on milady’s face.
All that said, I have used Ray’s Meguiars Gold Class Rich Leather
Aloe Cleaner with toothbrush, works very well to remove visible
dirt from light colored leather, and moisturizes to boot.
For conditioning, Hide Food or Lexol or Leatherique works well, but
you really have to try Gliptone conditioner. It’s unsurpassed. In
addition to doing a great job softening the leather – and keeping
it soft over the very long term, it restores the luxurious leather
smell that really enhances the ambiance of any leather interior.
It’s really the only thing I’ll use, and every time I get in the
Jaguar, the BMW, or the Volvo, that great aroma provides comfort
therapy. Some will tell you that other conditioners also restore
the smell, but I have cared for many leather interiors and I have
tried every serious leather conditioner several times… never had
anything like this Gliptone. You’re missing out on a great aspect
of your car if you have not tried it and the leather is more than a
few years old. Only available from SNG Barratt or by mail order
from them as far as I know. Ads in every Classic and Sports Car
issue, and elsewhere.
Jerry–
Jerry Mouton
Palo Alto, California, United States
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