Clean/Protect Leather & Alcantra Upholstery

[Spoonie]

Hi All,

Prevalent in the MY08 STi Tuned version is the Leather & Alcantra Seats and trim. I am EXTREMELY nervous against taking to it with meguires gold class leather conditioner as cannot be used on 'suede'. Although from my understanding Alcantra isnt really suede I aint confident to test my limited research.

Does anyone have suggestions/experience on how to (a) attain premium fabric protection; and (b) maintain this.

As always, spoonie appreciates the poonie that depreciates.

Aww gawd...blame that stupidity on the 5th James Squire Golden Ale I am downing...



means I have 1 left!

[teK--]

As you rightly pointed out, Alcantara is fully synthetic. It is a mixture of two different polymers I think polyester and polyurethane. Accordingly it doesn't need any care at all. Just use leather conditioner on the leather parts but if u get it on the Alcantara don't worry just wipe it off or it'll just sit on top as residue.

[Spoonie]

Thanks for the advice Tek. I also worry about the red stitching on the trim and the black stitching of the STi logo on the seat, concerned that conditioner may discolour this as well.

[blacknwhite]

That megs stuff is very thick and a pain in the butt to apply to leather with pinholes, as has the normal spec b seats (dont own a sti)
I reccomend Zaino Z10 very thin and sparing to apply with a sponge and leave to sink in, no need to rub off
As for the Alcantra, I would apply scotchguard when clean (test on inconspicuos area first) and use a weak fabric cleaner if soiled

[senator]

That megs stuff is very thick and a pain in the butt to apply to leather with pinholes, as has the normal spec b seats (dont own a sti)
I reccomend Zaino Z10 very thin and sparing to apply with a sponge and leave to sink in, no need to rub off
As for the Alcantra, I would apply scotchguard when clean (test on inconspicuos area first) and use a weak fabric cleaner if soiled

+1 Blacknwhite saved my seats... ... btw DO NOT USE THE SUBARU BRANDED crap it will dry out your leather in no time

btw the alcantra is very good at repelling dirty, i have not treated mine, but i have removed chocolate stains thanks to my nephew very easily.

[steve_m]

The Alcantra on my 06STi has a few marks on it from teh previous owner, no idea what they are. Anyone got any tried and tested products that they could reccomend for cleaning the material?

[teK--]

Have you tried laundry detergent? dilute some then put it on a sponge. Most Alcantara 'fabric care' labels basically say if it gets soiled you can put it in the washing machine on cold but no fabric softener (same as washing microfibre fabrics)

[GTSPECB STI]

Autoglym Cleaner and Conditioner FTW

[drndrn]

Autoglym Cleaner and Conditioner FTW

+1 but haven't tried zaino products.

[steve_m]

cheers, i'll give it a go

[Spoonie]

appreciate the tips all! will check out this Zaino stuff, had heard some good stuff about it from detailers.

[senator]

Autoglym Cleaner and Conditioner FTW

a you sure Dave, Autoglym make the Subaru Branded cleaner and conditioner

[04GTLIB]

+1 for Zaino.
Brilliant stuff.

[smythie]

btw the alcantra is very good at repelling dirty, i have not treated mine, but i have removed chocolate stains thanks to my nephew very easily.

chocolate thanks to your nephew huh? is that what we're calling that incident these days?

[tangcla]

Jizz on it. It's good for the leather.