Lariat Black Leather

[ShadyAcresFarm]

What do you use to clean and protect the lariat black leather?

Can you use the leather conditioner wipes from Auto Parts stores, I know the owners manual says the KR Leather needs care and conditioning but dosent really say anything for the Lariat black leather that I have besides clean soap and water..

[big hauss]

I use meguiars leather cleaner and conditioner on all our leather interior

[fosterelli]

Ditto...I wouldn't use soap and water...only leather cleaner and conditioner. This is my favorite: http://www.meguiars.com/en/automotiv...erconditioner/

[bcangelo]

I worked as a boot maker for M.L. Leddys for over ten years. The leather seats now have a coating over the leather and most of the leather is synthetic now anyway. You can use saddle soap and it will not hurt the seats. Some folks will say that it will hurt the leather but I am also a Chemistry teacher and I know all about pH levels as well. I personally use armor-all's leather cleaner and it works fine.

[fosterelli]

Saddle soap is fine - since one of the uses of saddle soap is to clean and condition leather...it has beeswax in it, among other things to protect and soften leather.

But I still wouldn't use soap and water, unless you're sure your soap is very mild and is not going to dry out the leather.

[Ken2012f350]

Originally Posted by bcangelo

I worked as a boot maker for M.L. Leddys for over ten years. The leather seats now have a coating over the leather and most of the leather is synthetic now anyway. You can use saddle soap and it will not hurt the seats. Some folks will say that it will hurt the leather but I am also a Chemistry teacher and I know all about pH levels as well. I personally use armor-all's leather cleaner and it works fine.

Awesome answer; helpful, backed up with certification as opposed to rampant speculation or opinion, well done!

[westcoaststrokin]

The only seats that aren't pleather are the ones in a KR. I quite using a leather conditioner and just use a cleaner.

[fosterelli]

I believe the Lariat interior is called "premium leather-trimmed", which suggests there are real leather seating surfaces in the front seats.

From my understanding they typically make the front seat bottoms and seat backs from actual leather, the bolsters, sides, backs, and other "trim", along with the entire rear seating area, are made from synthetic.

[bcangelo]

You can tell my 11 lariat has something on them because conditioner does not soak in the leather like it should. If I can find the article I will post it with the ford rep explaining the different leathers. The finish on traditional leather would wear off quickly if it was not treated with a coating. That is why the leather seats have changed in the KR from the 6.0 days.