So just starting to really enjoy my 2011 CR VRS and doing my best to get it well sealed to see me through to winter. exterior doing nicely with a weekly ONR and squirt with a QD but not convinced I'm doing the right thing on the full leather seats...

Being a smoker (sorry) I tend to need a quick Hoover over the seats weekly and have noticed that despite cleaning and protecting the leather with zymol product they don't look right. LPols like the 2 different types of leather are absorbing the protectant differently and leaving me with smears and stains in places.

As you probably know edges and head rests are a hard textured material and the centre is a softer perforated material. First question is obviously are these both actually real leather? I notice my cleaning product states not for use on " laminated leather" or something like that.

So basically what have I got and do the two surfaces need differing treatment?

Thanks all.

Mike

I think part of the seat covering is Alacantra, a form of fake leather

I think part of the seat covering is Alacantra, a form of fake leather

Alacantara is nothing like leather. It's a kind of suede

I think part of the seat covering is Alacantra, a form of fake leather

Alcantara is not fake leather, but almost leather that is 'inside out' (it isn't though, just appears the same)

All Skoda (and probably all VAG) leather is part artificial, the rougher surfaces is the artificial leather.

So my expensive leather Interior is only part leather then? Hey ho.

Whats the best way to clean the fake bits then as leather cleaners seem not to soak in and leave a smeary residue.

Mike

hi i clean mine with a damp microfibre cloth , then use dashboard shine on them it works pretty good!

Use a water based leather cleaner (& protector if you want). Autoglym is cheap via ebay and doesn't leave the smearing. I tried the Zymol one in the orange spray bottle, doesn't go well with the matt finish on these seats and left them feeling a bit slippy.

I think the only bits that didn't come from a vinyl cow are the bolsters and the under thigh support bit :-( Possibly the headrests but i can't decide.

ive done my car today with megs ultimate protectant, the last time i did them was with megs gold class leather care and it did a poor job, ive used this stuff before (wifes mini cooper s leather seats) and it was brill. i came to the conclusion the skoda seats arent leather in any places at all.

Alcantara is not fake leather, but almost leather that is 'inside out' (it isn't though, just appears the same)

All Skoda (and probably all VAG) leather is part artificial, the rougher surfaces is the artificial leather.

Sorry guys that's not correct : suede is leather (it's just the flesh side of the hide or skin rather than the grain/outside)and Alcantara is a synthetic 'suede' so not leather at all. It used to be in fashion for coats (hideous yuk !) but I think it looks pretty good in the vRS (and I've been selling leather for the last 30 years so normally I hate synthetics!!)

So just starting to really enjoy my 2011 CR VRS and doing my best to get it well sealed to see me through to winter. exterior doing nicely with a weekly ONR and squirt with a QD but not convinced I'm doing the right thing on the full leather seats...

Being a smoker (sorry) I tend to need a quick Hoover over the seats weekly and have noticed that despite cleaning and protecting the leather with zymol product they don't look right. LPols like the 2 different types of leather are absorbing the protectant differently and leaving me with smears and stains in places.

As you probably know edges and head rests are a hard textured material and the centre is a softer perforated material. First question is obviously are these both actually real leather? I notice my cleaning product states not for use on " laminated leather" or something like that.

So basically what have I got and do the two surfaces need differing treatment?

Thanks all.

Mike

See my other reply re Alcantara (the perforated grey stuff). I haven't looked too closely at the leather in my vRS but from the harsh feel I think it's a kind of spray coated finish on a suede type base which is then printed to make it look like the 'real thing' which would be the full hide. Or, it could be a low grade hide (low in the sense of lots of scars/scratches) which is then heavily coated and printed to camouflage the surface marks. In either case you have to be careful not to scuff off the coating too much. Given the heavy coating I doubt any leather cleaner is really going to do much other than clean off surface dirt - it shouldn't grt through the coating so won't 'nourish' the leather.

Hope I haven't bored everyone too much !! :zzz:

Assuming you have the full leather seats. I contacted Skoda sometime back regarding the leather option in the FL Octavia. They sent the following information which should answer some questions about what its made of. I believe Feinnappa leather is Nappa leather.

"Please note, that leather is used for parts where upper and lower body of yours touches seat :

Seat bottom - centre, Feinnappa leather

Seat bottom - inner sides, Vachette leather

Seat bottom - outer sides,artificial leather

Backrest - centre, Feinnappa leather

Backrest - inner sides, Vachette leather

Backrest - outer sides and back,artificial leather

Headrest, artificial leather

Feinnappa leather in the Octavia RS and the Superb is the same."

Regarding cleaning I used Gliptone leather cleaner/protector on mine. Not sure about the smell of it (strong leather smell) but it did a good job.

That sounds like a pretty definitive answer then so many thanks for hasslig Skoda o my behalf! Dealer was clueless btw.

I have been using this on my car since new ( Oct 2010) >> CG Liquid Leather

The seats still look and smell like new

Had nothign but brilliant reviews from this.. http://ukcarcare.co.uk/product.php?id_product=456

Emma

Had nothign but brilliant reviews from this.. http://ukcarcare.co.uk/product.php?id_product=456

Emma

"Maxolen leather cream feeds the hide leaving a natural "new look" on leather. It leaves a beautiful matte finish with a non-sticky, non-greasy feel to the touch. (Can also be used on vinyl) use it to clean and feed."

The type of leather you have is 'coated' leather. This is essentially a 'painted' leather

with a clear coat finish over the top. The leather may or may not be dyed through with

aniline dyes prior to the finish coating.

Essentially it is this top coating that needs looking after.

Cleaning is vitally important as the top coat will wear away if allowed to become dirty.

Dirt on the surface will also become ground into the finish by constant abrassion.

'Conditioners', balms, feeds etc (traditionally oil and wax based) cannot penetrate this

finish so are not worth applying - they can also leave behind residues on the finish which will only attract more dirt if allowed to remain. 'Conditioners' will not do any

protecting on leather even if they say they do as there will not be enough active

ingredient in them to do anything.

A protector will make the finish easier to clean and also inhibit dye transfer etc

on pale coloured leathers.

Leather however finished has to remain breathable and it will allow the movement of

moisture back and forth (transpiration) so the use of water based cleaners and

protectors will keep the leather correctly hydrated which is essentail to keeping it in

good condition.

Leather needs a little regular care and attention and this can be done with a maintenance product rather than a deep clean which you would then only need to do once or twice a year depending on usage and colour.

I highly recommend this kit

http://furnitureclinic.co.uk/Leather_Care_Kit.php