Chemical Guys Leather Cleaner & Conditioner Kit Review: Two Steps Done Properly
Our Verdict
Two 16 oz bottles: a pH-balanced, colorless, odorless cleaner that lifts oils from the grain, and a water-based Vitamin E conditioner cream that is spread on, worked in and buffed off. It takes longer than a one-step spray, needs your own brush and applicator, and the conditioner punishes a heavy hand. For regular care of finished leather it is a sound, widely available pairing.
One-step leather sprays are convenient, but they ask a single liquid to remove body oil and put conditioners back at the same time. The Chemical Guys Leather Cleaner & Conditioner Kit splits the job the traditional way, with one bottle to clean and one to condition, and it sells the pair together so the two are matched.
What you get
Two 16 oz bottles. The Leather Cleaner is pH-balanced, colorless and odorless. Chemical Guys describes it as non-caustic and free of petroleum products that could dry out or stain the hide, made to lift grease and dirt out of the grain. The Leather Conditioner is a water-based cream with Vitamin E and a mild leather scent, meant to restore suppleness and help protect against the drying and fading that sun and wear cause. Chemical Guys says both are gentle enough to preserve the feel of new leather, and the kit is pitched at jackets, furniture, shoes and bags as well as car seats.
How it's used
Test a hidden spot for colorfastness first. Spray the cleaner into the bristles of a soft brush, not onto the seat, scrub the area, and wipe away the loosened dirt with a microfiber towel. Once the leather is clean, put one to three lines of conditioner on a microfiber applicator pad, spread it evenly, massage it in like lotion and buff off the excess. Work one seat section at a time.
Where it falls short
Two steps take roughly twice as long, and the kit doesn't include the brush or applicator the directions call for. The conditioner is easy to overapply. Too much leaves a slick feel until it is buffed off, which matters on a steering wheel. Most modern car leather is also coated, so a conditioner is working on that top coat more than soaking into the hide, and the gains are modest on a newer car. Suede and Alcantara are outside its scope.
Who it's for
Owners who clean their leather a few times a year and want control over each step. A richer conditioner like Leather Honey suits old, dry hides better. Compare options in our leather care guide. Check price on Amazon
Pros
- Separate cleaner and conditioner, matched
- Colorless, odorless, pH-balanced cleaner
- Conditioner contains Vitamin E
- Works on seats, furniture and jackets
Cons
- Brush and applicator not included
- Conditioner feels slick if overapplied
- Slower than a one-step product
Chemical Guys Leather Cleaner & Conditioner Kit (2 x 16 oz)
$20–50 · Chemical Guys
Check Price on Amazon