The leather cleaning and conditioning products I've used over the years (Tropi-Care & Zaino) have always brought up the dominant leather smell quite well. I'm sure Adam's leather products will do the same. Are you sure it's just not your clothes that you're smelling the kitchen odors from?

 

Yes, it is from my clothes. Since I recognized the issue starting I have begun changing both my shirt and pants before heading home. But even the headrest has picked up a bit from my hair.

I have no problem with the prevention step now, as I will likely get a seat cover. I just need to clean it a few times with something that will help get rid of what is currently there.

@ Dylan: Any time you are planning of passing through Chicago, let me know ahead of time and Ill have some treats for ya to trade up for some car care products

 

You come cook and I'll clean the leather!!

 

That sounds like a good deal... I'd work trade out on Adam's Leather Cleaner / Conditioner if I were close enough to take advantage of some food

 

lexol cleaner and conditioner (2 different items) - the conditioner is one of the only products out there that basically works similar to body lotion you'd use on your skin, a good amount of it can literally absorb into the leather leaving it smelling "leathery" and like the lexol stuff itself, which I guess is a lanolin type smell which I would associate w/ leather anyhow

 

I used to love Tropi-care leather cleaner. I think they are showroomFx now.

however I have been using lexol for the last 4 years. if you have to, try on a spot some of Adams APC and see if it discolors. I don't think it will.

otherwise, try some plain dish soap. clean well, rinse with warm water. let dry. they use lexol leather cleaner and back up with protectant. There are other leather cleaners, and a good saddle soap would work too. but to get the oil out that you are talking about, dish soap would work. I think.

 

That would make sense if you had actual raw leather on the interior of your G8's, but its all urethane coated. With the exception of cars like Rolls Royce and Bentley the hides used in almost all modern cars are coated for longevity and to hide low grade leather imperfections.

(think of it like texture on the drywall in your house, it hides imperfections)

As such you're treating an impenetrable surface that won't allow conditioners to actually contact leather. Thats why our stuff isn't leather specific, and why stuff that contains lanolin and oils to "feed" the leather is more sales gimmick than reality. All that animal fat and oil is just sitting on top of the coating, never getting to the leather.

 

That would make sense if you had actual raw leather on the interior of your G8's, but its all urethane coated. With the exception of cars like Rolls Royce and Bentley the hides used in almost all modern cars are coated for longevity and to hide low grade leather imperfections.

(think of it like texture on the drywall in your house, it hides imperfections)

As such you're treating an impenetrable surface that won't allow conditioners to actually contact leather. Thats why our stuff isn't leather specific, and why stuff that contains lanolin and oils to "feed" the leather is more sales gimmick than reality. All that animal fat and oil is just sitting on top of the coating, never getting to the leather.

So the grade of leather most consumers have isn't as porous as they'd have us believe?
It's great to have you here to pick your brain on stuff like this.
I guess they call it pleather for a reason. (plastic/leather)
I've never gave it much thought or research but considered I was doing the right thing by dressing the leather every so often.

How much effect does UV or heat exposure have on that coating?
Is that more of a primary concern to address for longevity?

 

Its not a case of more or less porous... its has a clear urethane coating over it.

The hides in something like a rolls royce come from cows raised in fields with no trees, no thorn bushes, no barbed wire. Their skin is free of nicks, cuts, and scars when its removed from them so it really is perfect. It costs a lot to raise those cows and theres an added premium to have seats made of that kind of hide.

In a 'for the masses' type car which is 99.9% of what you see on the road the hides come from cows who have all manner of 'life' evidence on their skins. Tick and flea bites, thorn bush scratches, gouges from other cattle, etc. It would look terrible if your seats were made of it... to hide those imperfections the hides are coated with a clear urethane or a color impregnated urethane to mask the uneven coloring, texture, and quality of the leather.

Also this means the seats stand up better to a general lack of care. You have to understand that those of us who obsesses over our cars are in the minority... most people will rarely, if ever, clean and condition their seats. The coating allows the seats to be neglected and not show wear as easily... if they used raw leather in average consumer cars people would constantly be coming back for warranty repair as it simply doesn't wear well.

If you want to see what a raw leather can look like in an average vehicle check out a Ford King Range F350... some years featured a raw brown leather which looks great, but it wears and starts to look like an old pair of boots or a well worn motocycle jacket. Acceptable in that truck, but probably not in a G8 GT.

This being the case the need to 'nourish' your leather really isn't there b/c unless you find a way to strip the coating off the seats, or have your interior redone with premium uncoated leather hides the chemical never actually touches the leather. Its simply riding along on top of the urethane... in essence you need a product to clean and condition urethane!

 

Thanks for the leather info, very interesting!

Our seats are perforated, do they perforate and then coat? I have a feeling thats why im having trouble getting the smell out. Those perforations just collect any conditioner i put on and i need to blow in them to clear them out.

 

Honestly not sure of the coating happens before or after coating, but I'd assume before.

That is a tricky one, b/c anything can get into the foam below those perforations which would leave a scent.