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Recommended leather conditioner for 4 Runner.

Discussion in '5th Gen 4Runners (2010-2024)' started by Timgabe, Aug 15, 2022.

  1. Aug 15, 2022 at 6:01 AM
    #1
    Timgabe

    Timgabe [OP] New Member

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    What conditioner is recommended for 2018 4 runner?
     
  2. Aug 15, 2022 at 7:27 AM
    #2
    kmeeg

    kmeeg LionRunner

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    This is what I use for both my real leather and fake leather-
    upload_2022-8-15_8-25-30.jpg

    upload_2022-8-15_8-27-21.jpg
     
  3. Aug 15, 2022 at 7:30 AM
    #3
    SCMountaineer

    SCMountaineer New Member

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    The Connolly hide cleaner and food shown in this video is what I have used for years on our cars with leather seats. The "lotion" takes some time to work in and buff off, but it's kept our leather seats looking new.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZI8yU1MTug
     
  4. Aug 15, 2022 at 4:25 PM
    #4
    AGS92

    AGS92 New Member

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    +1 for Meguiar's Gold Class leather cleaner/conditioner/protectant. I've used this 2x per year for past 4 years on my wife's Limited and her seats still look like new. [​IMG]
     
  5. Aug 15, 2022 at 6:35 PM
    #5
    Joekader

    Joekader New Member

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    The interior on the 4Runner is not real leather
     
  6. Aug 16, 2022 at 1:46 AM
    #6
    aroyalsfan

    aroyalsfan The Owner

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    Unless you've got a limited you're 100% waisting your money on leather conditioner. Conditioners are designed to penetrate so they can soften and preserve. Leather is skin with pores which soak up the leather conditioners. Softex is essentially plastic, which means all you need is soap and water, that's it, soap and water, anybody telling you otherwise......well no need to be snarky.
     
  7. Aug 16, 2022 at 7:17 AM
    #7
    kmeeg

    kmeeg LionRunner

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    Screenshot_20220816-065515_Chrome.jpg
     
    NoSoupForYou likes this.
  8. Nov 10, 2023 at 10:04 AM
    #8
    ricopenthouse

    ricopenthouse New Member

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    I stumbled onto VonBaer because I was tired of trying a bunch of different stuff that promised the world but didn't deliver. The leather in the 4Runner can take a beating, especially with daily use. And their tips seem to get that - no over-the-top claims, just good, honest care.
     
  9. Nov 10, 2023 at 1:32 PM
    #9
    mrh477

    mrh477 New Member

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    That article posted above, presumably from Toyota, is a bit surprising to me. I was told by the folks at an auto detailer that there's no need to spend the extra money on leather-specific products unless they are being used on genuine leather. They said just a basic interior cleaner was all you really need. If you want to go above and beyond maybe some sort of UV protectant would be helpful in the long term.
     
  10. Nov 10, 2023 at 1:57 PM
    #10
    backpacker

    backpacker New Member

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    Here's what the 2023 Owner's Manual says (as noted earlier, Softex is synthetic):
    interior_care.jpg
     
  11. Nov 10, 2023 at 3:32 PM
    #11
    BillyE

    BillyE New Member

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    Damp rag
     
    Mass4runner and gomiami like this.
  12. Nov 10, 2023 at 9:18 PM
    #12
    gomiami

    gomiami I Bought a Luxury Station Wagon

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    Distilled water is the best leather cleaner. Make sure you do two things - 1. clean cloth should be dampened (not soaked) with warm water as it helps remove dirt and 2. any excess moisture should be removed with a clean dry cloth afterwards...you don't want your leather to remain damp.

    Be mindful that water can remove some of the dye in the leather, so test a small area that's out of the way first.
     
  13. Nov 10, 2023 at 10:52 PM
    #13
    Mass4runner

    Mass4runner New Member

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    Yep, this is what I’ve been doing and it works a treat. So far they’re the easiest care seats I’ve had.
     
  14. Nov 11, 2023 at 6:31 AM
    #14
    RingSteel

    RingSteel CH-47C - http://www.geronimos.org

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    Coconut based shampoo.
    Damp cloth leave on a few minutes after good wipe down, buff out.
    Top off with 303. Let it soak, wipe down.
    Ours still looks show room ready.
     
    Last edited: Nov 11, 2023
  15. Nov 11, 2023 at 10:11 AM
    #15
    TRDSD

    TRDSD New Member

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    I've had good luck on my Softex seats with Mother's VLR (vinyl, leather, rubber).
     
  16. Nov 11, 2023 at 10:45 AM
    #16
    MooreKen

    MooreKen 2023 TRD PRO “Solar Octane”

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    I still have lots of this stuff.. is it my imagination or does it smell like “Drakkar Noir”….lol
     
  17. Nov 14, 2023 at 4:24 AM
    #17
    Greg D

    Greg D New Member

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    Treat with Scotchguard on fabric. I use Lexal cleaner and conditioner myself because that was what we used to use at shop.
     
  18. Nov 20, 2023 at 6:56 AM
    #18
    ricopenthouse

    ricopenthouse New Member

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    I stumbled onto Von Baer because I was tired of trying a bunch of different stuff that promised the world but didn't deliver. The leather in the 4Runner can take a beating, especially with daily use. And their tips seem to get that - no over-the-top claims, just good, honest care.
     

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