Close



Results 1 to 7 of 7
  1. #1
    FEP Supporter
    82GTforME's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Alberta, Canada
    Posts
    4,855

    Default Leather seat cleaning and refurbishing

    Hey all looking for some guidance.

    I have some blue leather seats that I would like to clean and maybe even refurbish for my project.

    The back seat is in mint shape, the passenger in pretty good and the driver with starting to show minor wear.

    There are many creams and other leather cleaners so need some advice on types and results. In the pictures you can hopefully see a little of the soil.




    The drivers seat is starting to show general wear of repetitive creasing and start of color loss on the folds.

    After cleaning do you feel there is a product or process I could do to diminish the color loss areas? Maybe it will be okay after cleaning and not be really noticeable.


    Quote Originally Posted by Travis T View Post
    I think this is my favorite car on the site right now.
    Quote Originally Posted by BLUECRAPI
    This is the best thread on the internet.
    Darran
    1982-1C (Black) GT T-Top:http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...he-Road-Thread
    1986-9L (Oxford White) SVO: http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...d-did-1986-SVO
    1979 (85:Tangerine) Coupe (my son's): http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...gerine-Machine
    1979 (3F:Light Medium Blue) Coupe (one day to be my other son's!) http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...um-Blue-Bomber!

  2. #2
    FEP Super Member gr79's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    SE Michigan
    Posts
    5,141

    Default

    Luv blue. Blue interiors were and are hard to find. Never would give me the 'blues'. Ford knows blue.
    Wear is wear. Leather does crease more than vinyl. Could try to clean and color spray?
    Simple Green, Fantastic, 409. Test of course.
    Clean first, see what ya got.

    Swapped the vinyl low backs in mine, pass to driver, to even out wear.
    Eventually, both seat bottom covers worn out, mainly torn. Backs are fine. Stored one of the seats.
    Slipped a vinyl seat cover over the other, picked up aftermarket seat for drivers side.
    Back seat like new. Usually leave it folded down. All black is easier to deal with than blue.
    Drivers seat had white paint dots. Sprayed seat with vinyl black. Color has not come off, cannot tell.
    Paint may fill in some of the flaws.

    SEM Blue:
    http://www.tcpglobal.com/SEM15213_2....0#.XCUoD9QwgzE
    http://www.tcpglobal.com/SEMM25033.h...E#.XCUoQ9QwgzE
    Other: http://www.detailsupplyplaza.com/ima...ColorChart.jpg

    Bought some Ford Leather and Vinyl Protectant years ago. Is a cream, nice smell, not shiny.
    Canadian Tire or similar prob have same thing. Ford don't make chemicals like that in house.
    http://www.fordservicecontent.com/Fo...ngEnabled=True
    https://www.sherwoodford.ca/blog/bes...king-like-new/
    Some info to help decide. Ford US dealer products: Canada should be same.
    https://www.fcsdchemicalsandlubrican...%20Products%5D
    Last edited by gr79; 12-27-2018 at 02:42 PM.

  3. #3

    Default

    Black 1985 GT: 408w, in the 6's in the 1/8 mile
    Bimini Blue 1988 LX 5.0 Coupe 5-speed, Hellion turbo, zero options
    Grabber Yellow 1973 Mustang Mach 1: 351c, toploader
    Black 2012 5.0 GT, 6-speed, Brembo brakes, 3.73's
    Wimbledon White 1966 F-100 Shortbed Styleside, 390, Tremec 3550, FiTech EFI

  4. #4
    FEP Supporter
    82GTforME's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Alberta, Canada
    Posts
    4,855

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by gr79 View Post
    Luv blue. Blue interiors were and are hard to find. Never would give me the 'blues'. Ford knows blue.
    Wear is wear. Leather does crease more than vinyl. Could try to clean and color spray?
    Simple Green, Fantastic, 409. Test of course.
    Clean first, see what ya got.

    Swapped the vinyl low backs in mine, pass to driver, to even out wear.
    Eventually, both seat bottom covers worn out, mainly torn. Backs are fine. Stored one of the seats.
    Slipped a vinyl seat cover over the other, picked up aftermarket seat for drivers side.
    Back seat like new. Usually leave it folded down. All black is easier to deal with than blue.
    Drivers seat had white paint dots. Sprayed seat with vinyl black. Color has not come off, cannot tell.
    Paint may fill in some of the flaws.

    SEM Blue:
    http://www.tcpglobal.com/SEM15213_2....0#.XCUoD9QwgzE
    http://www.tcpglobal.com/SEMM25033.h...E#.XCUoQ9QwgzE
    Other: http://www.detailsupplyplaza.com/ima...ColorChart.jpg

    Bought some Ford Leather and Vinyl Protectant years ago. Is a cream, nice smell, not shiny.
    Canadian Tire or similar prob have same thing. Ford don't make chemicals like that in house.
    http://www.fordservicecontent.com/Fo...ngEnabled=True
    https://www.sherwoodford.ca/blog/bes...king-like-new/
    Some info to help decide. Ford US dealer products: Canada should be same.
    https://www.fcsdchemicalsandlubrican...%20Products%5D
    gr79, thanks for the insights and resources. This has given me a plan to get some ZC56 Motorcraft leather cleaner to work on the more soiled areas. I anticipate the seats coming out rather nice once done. The missing color? We'll see.

    With the links to the aerosol blues, you have also given me ideas for when I get to the package shelf

  5. #5
    FEP Supporter
    82GTforME's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Alberta, Canada
    Posts
    4,855

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Zap's 85 GT View Post
    Interesting - 5:1 water to Woolite .

    I am going to give this a try on the seats in general also.

    Thanks Zap!

  6. #6
    FEP Super Member gr79's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    SE Michigan
    Posts
    5,141

    Default

    Have also used 3M p/n 03543 Refresh™, cream colored lotion which i understand is not made anymore.
    Glad i bought extra. Stuff is still fresh. Says unscented. Smells like tent canvas.
    1-methoxy-2-propanol, Isopropyl Alcohol, Solvent Naptha (Petroleum), 2-ethylhexyl 2-cyano-3, 3-diphenylacrylate (2001)
    Read this took its place:
    https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-...3241098&rt=rud
    Water, Poly(Dimethylsiloxane) Poly(Oxy-1,2-Ethanediyl), .Alpha.-(2-Propylheptyl)-.Omega.-Hydroxy, Crotonaldehyde, Vinyl Acetate (2017).
    https://www.amazon.com/3M-39040-Leat...ews/B0002NUNM0

  7. #7
    FEP Supporter
    82GTforME's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Alberta, Canada
    Posts
    4,855

    Default

    Thanks again for the advice guys! To update my progress:

    Motorcraft ZC56 $15 at the dealer ship. I did buy some Woolite also but now my wife can use that


    http://s1337.photobucket.com/user/82...sjhyn.jpg.html

    The back seats did not need a lot of muscle to clean. They were more dusty than actual worn-in dirt.


    http://s1337.photobucket.com/user/82...dbdum.jpg.html

    Here was the passenger seat before I started.


    http://s1337.photobucket.com/user/82...f0uvc.jpg.html

    After doing a hidden test application, I started on the first section. I used the scrub brush lightly on the surface and also in the seams. I wiped and then reapplied and used the cloth to scrub and get into creases easier.


    http://s1337.photobucket.com/user/82...pkfoa.jpg.html

    The passenger seat done. The lighting in my basement isn't the best even with one of my LED floods in use.



    http://s1337.photobucket.com/user/82...iizst.jpg.html
    http://s1337.photobucket.com/user/82...frmly.jpg.html

    The drivers seat before and after. Pretty happy with the results. Even the "worn" creases look better.



    http://s1337.photobucket.com/user/82...ydj4i.jpg.html
    http://s1337.photobucket.com/user/82...xg8da.jpg.html

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •