Leather Cleaners Tested

She’s got the wow factor... but does your car? We rate 12 products that will keep your hide trim looking great.

Auto Express Car Reviews

February 2010

Cars with leather have an upmarket feel – but the trim isn’t too posh to wash! To maintain its classy feel, hide upholstery needs to be treated properly.

While regular cleaners are fine for most of the man-made finishes inside a vehicle, leather calls for the gentle touch of a dedicated product. And even when using the right cleaner, it’s better to apply in stages than attack stains in an all-out blitz.

To take care of your hide, you also need to preserve and replace its natural oils. We tested 12 products to see which does the job best.

The Test

Our leather seats had years of grime and were mouldy and damp. To really test our cleaners, we added patches of oil, chocolate and Biro.

We looked not only for progress on our stains, but also ease of use. On delicate surfaces, it’s vital the cleaner goes only where needed. The products with conditioners scored points, as that meant there was no need to apply it separately. Price was factored in, too.

Contacts
Astra Automotive, 01952 608600, www.astraautomotive.co.uk
Autoglym, 01462 677766, www.autoglym.co.uk
CarPlan, 0161 764 5981, www.carplan.co.uk
Gliptone, 01706 819365, www.liquidleather.com
Halfords, (Autoglym, Turtle Wax, Mer, Zymöl) 08450 579 000, www.Halfords.com
Meguiar’s, 0870 241 6696, www.meguiars.co.uk
Mer, 01992 512 698, www.merproducts.com
Nielsen Chemicals, 01283 222277, www.nielsenchemicals.com
Race Glaze, 01780 749449, www.raceglaze.co.uk
Ship Shape Norfolk (Collinite), 01353 676007, www.shipshapenorfolkltd.co.uk
Simoniz, 0161 491 7391, www.holtsauto.com
Turtle Wax, 01695 722161, www.turtlewaxuk.com
Zymöl, 0845 474 0167, www.zymol.co.uk

Verdict

The Zymöl and Collinite were impressive cleaners, but they are expensive. And while the Autoglym performed well, you would have to invest in a separate conditioner to protect your car’s trim. So our champ is the cost-effective Mer Leather Cleaner, which saw off the challenge from former test winners Simoniz and Turtle Wax.