Lariat interior care

[fordtruckman2003]

First time treating myself with a leather interior. Trying to search on here isn't helpful.

Seats and steering wheel I assume just any leather cleaner/conditioner will be fine?

The doors and dash I honestly can't tell if that is leather or leather color plastic. The texture looks like the plastic panels but it's that red/brown color. I like it, but not sure how to care for it.

I plan to keep the truck at least 10 years so it needs to be looking good for the long haul.

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[Tall Tail]

Does the owners manual have anything on the topic?

 

[TexasTruck]

Congratulations on your first leather interior. So a couple of things…

Virtually every car made with car leather upholstery is made using leather that has a clear protective coating on it. I was surprised to learn that myself. I would buy expensive leather cleaner and conditioners when all I need is a good cleaner.

You still have to worry about wear and cracks in the leather. Sliding out of your driver seat to hit the ground does a number on the bolster and leather too.

Honestly, I use Sprayway glass cleaner. I read that on a Vette forum. It’s amonina free, safe on window tint, and more. I don't spray it directly on the surface but instead spray a cotton Terry Cloth (not that micro fiber stuff) hand sized towel and wipe things down.

Any way… there are lots of opinions on this subject… you are in the right place for ideas ?

BTW my wife still buys and uses leather cleaner for the leather sectional ?

 

[fordtruckman2003]

Nothing specific to the door panels.

Just mild soap and mostly water which is how I've always cleaned my vehicle interior plastics.

I don't think the Lariat is real leather but vinyl, still seems it might need some care more than water. ?‍

 

[powerboatr]

i will add using leather CLEANER is most likely not ever needed unless you spill red Gatorade or something that can stain

mildest means should be used first, soft cloth damped with clean warm water to wipe away dirt or grime. i use diapers or micro fiber towels

i use a vinyl protection on the the plastic door panels to remove scuff marks and light dust after a good vacuuming

simple vinegar and warm water cleans glass very well.

conditioner is usually all that's needed on leather that is un-coated like the king ranch leather.
the coated leather is very resistant to stuff getting to the leather. so a warm cloth with mild soapy water works great , followed by a damp clean cloth to remove any soap residue. soap residue is what causes spots and or stains from the soap catching everything
if you wear out the coating, then conditioner is the choice.

steering wheel gets DIRTY as a public toilet real fast
so a damp cloth with some mild soap, followed by a good wipe down with a clean damp cloth and condition lightly and buff dry.

on ventilated seats (perforated leather or vinyl) use a soft tooth brush to gently remove stuff from the holes and vacuum the gunk. then wipe down to remove the daily grime

never ever use strong cleaners like zep, etc on interior plastic.
soap and water should remove most everything. dawn is good diluted

 

[fordtruckman2003]

Yeah I've always used hot water and maybe a little dawn on interior plastics/vinyl.

There is some sort of staining on the rear door panel leather/vinyl/whatever that I was hoping would wipe off. Looked fine when wiped off and still damp then came back. Almost like it's dried out.

 

[powerboatr]

Yeah I've always used hot water and maybe a little dawn on interior plastics/vinyl.

There is some sort of staining on the rear door panel leather/vinyl/whatever that I was hoping would wipe off. Looked fine when wiped off and still damp then came back. Almost like it's dried out.

that should be vinyl , might be a discoloring or yes a stain. its new truck .have service look at it and see if its out of spec if it bugs you. me? i expect the truck to be flaw free, let me break it . even vinyl has weird color splotches ....or a greasy thumb print. did try a dab of dawn on your finger and see if it lifts the stain? then wipe with clean water on a towel

 

[thebigdu]

i will add using leather CLEANER is most likely not ever needed unless you spill red Gatorade or something that can stain

mildest means should be used first, soft cloth damped with clean warm water to wipe away dirt or grime. i use diapers or micro fiber towels

i use a vinyl protection on the the plastic door panels to remove scuff marks and light dust after a good vacuuming

simple vinegar and warm water cleans glass very well.

conditioner is usually all that's needed on leather that is un-coated like the king ranch leather.
the coated leather is very resistant to stuff getting to the leather. so a warm cloth with mild soapy water works great , followed by a damp clean cloth to remove any soap residue. soap residue is what causes spots and or stains from the soap catching everything
if you wear out the coating, then conditioner is the choice.

steering wheel gets DIRTY as a public toilet real fast
so a damp cloth with some mild soap, followed by a good wipe down with a clean damp cloth and condition lightly and buff dry.

on ventilated seats (perforated leather or vinyl) use a soft tooth brush to gently remove stuff from the holes and vacuum the gunk. then wipe down to remove the daily grime

never ever use strong cleaners like zep, etc on interior plastic.
soap and water should remove most everything. dawn is good diluted

Sounds good. Want to come to Jersey and detail my truck for a beer?

 

[Big Dog Daddy]

Sounds good. Want to come to Jersey and detail my truck for a beer?

If @powerboatr ever gets up to our neck of the woods, I'll bring mine for the party! ?
Got the cooler full of beer and waiting!

 

[powerboatr]

Sounds good. Want to come to Jersey and detail my truck for a beer?

hmmmmm let me think....................................................
nope not even for a roll of taylors ham
i love me some with scrambled eggs
wife is from jersey and she got me hooked on it.
yummmmm
https://jerseyporkroll.com/?gclid=C...GTaJVCnz7FKAJDF_d6_g8hV1Y_enTos4aAqnSEALw_wcB

 

[fordtruckman2003]

that should be vinyl , might be a discoloring or yes a stain. its new truck .have service look at it and see if its out of spec if it bugs you. me? i expect the truck to be flaw free, let me break it . even vinyl has weird color splotches ....or a greasy thumb print. did try a dab of dawn on your finger and see if it lifts the stain? then wipe with clean water on a towel

Used truck. I thought it was just sweat from people putting arms up with window open. Goes away when wet then comes back as it dries out. Oh well. I'll try dawn soap and maybe some vinyl cleaner after that. It's not something I can't live with or I wouldn't have bought the truck. Just fixing what I can fix.

 

[thebigdu]

hmmmmm let me think....................................................
nope not even for a roll of taylors ham
i love me some with scrambled eggs
wife is from jersey and she got me hooked on it.
yummmmm
https://jerseyporkroll.com/?gclid=C...GTaJVCnz7FKAJDF_d6_g8hV1Y_enTos4aAqnSEALw_wcB

Haha... Fair enough. One thing we do have is good food!

 

[powerboatr]

Used truck. I thought it was just sweat from people putting arms up with window open. Goes away when wet then comes back as it dries out. Oh well. I'll try dawn soap and maybe some vinyl cleaner after that. It's not something I can't live with or I wouldn't have bought the truck. Just fixing what I can fix.

salt ..sweat stain you can remove it. salty arms play heck on stuff

 

[Buyer2021]

I've learned that using a Swiffer wand to pick up loose dust on any surface before using any liquid or damp wipe really makes things much easier and reduces streaks from just moving dust around.

IME it's more effective than a vacuum cleaner for that task.

 

[fordtruckman2003]

I've learned that using a Swiffer wand to pick up loose dust on any surface before using any liquid or damp wipe really makes things much easier and reduces streaks from just moving dust around.

IME it's more effective than a vacuum cleaner for that task.

I thought I was the only one bringing out the Swiffer. ?

I do a good spring cleaning and in the fall for the interior. Truck is really just a rainy day thing I ride my bike as often as I can during the summer. I always bring out the Swiffer, then it's a bucket of plain hot water to wipe down everything, move on to stronger things if necessary but it usually isn't. Never used fancy cleaning supplies but I just was not sure on the leather/vinyl material with the doors.

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