Cleaning leather without ruining stitching

Tacoma2TRX · Jun 26, 2022

Ok, so question to all you detailing guys or folks who like to keep their trucks/cars very clean as do I. The stitching on the TRX interior leather in some applications is white. How does one go about cleaning/conditioning it on a regular basis without discoloring the white stitching or making it look dirty? So many times I watch these leather detailing videos and the stitching looks like it gets dirty/discolored from the products, including the chemical guys how to video.

Any tricks you guys are using? Or is this a lost cause/comes with the territory?

Phillytrx · Jun 26, 2022

I think when cleaning the stitching gets wet changing the color. It will return to normal color once dried.

Tacoma2TRX · Jun 26, 2022

Phillytrx said:
I think when cleaning the stitching gets wet changing the color. It will return to normal color once dried.

Agree regarding the wetness from cleaning/conditioning, but my concern is more so around the fact the leather is going to get dirty (skin oils, dirt, grime, usage etc.), and when cleaning it, that dirt grime can get transferred to the stitching. Or, are people saying the stitching won't pick those up during cleaning?

particlefield · Jun 26, 2022

Tacoma2TRX said:
Ok, so question to all you detailing guys or folks who like to keep their trucks/cars very clean as do I. The stitching on the TRX interior leather in some applications is white. How does one go about cleaning/conditioning it on a regular basis without discoloring the white stitching or making it look dirty? So many times I watch these leather detailing videos and the stitching looks like it gets dirty/discolored from the products, including the chemical guys how to video.

Any tricks you guys are using? Or is this a lost cause/comes with the territory?

Wait, what? I thought it was grey? My other car has an ivory color microfiber interior in most areas. Microfiber stains supper bad supper easy btw. It's not so much from dirt it just gets what I call a wear stain. That doesn't come out. For the greese monkeys that have fouled it up in the past atrociously I used the honest company hydrogen peroxide spray cleaner which is just hydrogen peroxide and water which is the same thing as what you can get at any store in the brown bottle but with a squirt nozzle. It's just a little bit more watered down. It cleans white stuff amazingly. I never used it on leather, but that would be what I would try first. I usually just use the wet towel from washing my truck to wipe my interior down with and call it good. When I do the hydrogen peroxide cleaning I will use a wet rag and spray the dirty area and wipe. Sometimes it needs it more than once depending on how bad.

Tacoma2TRX · Jun 26, 2022

particlefield said:
Wait, what? I thought it was grey? My other car has an ivory color microfiber interior in most areas. Microfiber stains supper bad supper easy btw. It's not so much from dirt it just gets what I call a wear stain. That doesn't come out. For the greese monkeys that have fouled it up in the past atrociously I used the honest company hydrogen peroxide spray cleaner which is just hydrogen peroxide and water which is the same thing as what you can get at any store in the brown bottle but with a squirt nozzle. It's just a little bit more watered down. It cleans white stuff amazingly. I never used it on leather, but that would be what I would try first. I usually just use the wet towel from washing my truck to wipe my interior down with and call it good. When I do the hydrogen peroxide cleaning I will use a wet rag and spray the dirty area and wipe. Sometimes it needs it more than once depending on how bad.

Well, I don't have one, so I'm going off pictures, which perhaps are distorted and it actually is gray? Below is an example, which looks white or possible white-ish/gray? lol

Regardless, it looks like a color that could absorb things that discolor it.

particlefield · Jun 26, 2022

Tacoma2TRX said:
Well, I don't have one, so I'm going off pictures, which perhaps are distorted and it actually is gray? Below is an example, which looks white or possible white-ish/gray? lol

Regardless, it looks like a color that could absorb things that discolor it.

I got reed which is something you could do if you are really worried about color. They make an orange one and now a tan one. I don't recall what the base truck looks like, but it's also red inside. I take it you want at least a level 1. I don't know what your plans are for use but if this is your first new vehicle you might pull your hair out. It's gonna take rocks in the road and the tires are gonna fling stuff all over the truck and chip the fender flares and when you aren't in it you are gonna wonder why you wanna spend $20 in gas to go to the store, and then when you go you are gonna remember why you got it and take the long way home. It wide as hell. Don't expect trials to be trimmed for anything bigger than a Tacoma and watch out for low clearance signs as it sits up there.

ascott · Jun 26, 2022

When I got my truck one of the first things I did was an initial deep clean and pre-treatment of the interior surfaces. I used a mixture of products because there is the mixture of the Alcantara and the Leather and Vinyl/Plastics...

GTechniq I2 Tri-clean as a general wipe down first and then their L1 Leather Guard and C6 Matte Dash. I used Colourlock's Alcantara & Fabric Care Kit for the Alcantara stuff.... I feel having an initial cleaning and protectant would help prevent a lot of the grime (even stuff you can't see since the leather is dark) from setting in. Aside from that, just a damp rag for regular maintenance and I haven't had any issues...I have the red interior accents on my Level 2 though, so I don't have the light stitching....

Tacoma2TRX · Jun 26, 2022

particlefield said:
I got reed which is something you could do if you are really worried about color. They make an orange one and now a tan one. I don't recall what the base truck looks like, but it's also red inside. I take it you want at least a level 1. I don't know what your plans are for use but if this is your first new vehicle you might pull your hair out. It's gonna take rocks in the road and the tires are gonna fling stuff all over the truck and chip the fender flares and when you aren't in it you are gonna wonder why you wanna spend $20 in gas to go to the store, and then when you go you are gonna remember why you got it and take the long way home. It wide as hell. Don't expect trials to be trimmed for anything bigger than a Tacoma and watch out for low clearance signs as it sits up there.

Already ordered the level 2, but don’t like the red accents so just looking for tips on the stitching. Def not my first new vehicle, have had several, and have driven the TRX, but thx for the advice. I’m well aware of the pain from the first scratch/dent.

OnTheReel · Jun 26, 2022

I wouldn’t sweat it. Coming up on a year and my stitching still looks good and clean. Even on the steering wheel, arm rest, etc.

Don’t do anything special, I use Sonax on the alcantara and Chemical Guys leather products on the rest. Just did a light cleaning today, in fact.

particlefield · Jun 26, 2022

Tacoma2TRX said:
Already ordered the level 2, but don’t like the red accents so just looking for tips on the stitching. Def not my first new vehicle, have had several, and have driven the TRX, but thx for the advice. I’m well aware of the pain from the first scratch/dent.

I'm feeling that. Took my truck to the dealer for some work and a chip in the plastic in the center console that wasn't there before strared right at me. The black cover on my mirror on the front side that hides some sensor was missing and someone scratched the the black on my two tone on the jam then painted over it with a color match brush. I know shit happens but fml why me

. Need to roll a "raptor" and smoke it to chill out

muneco · Jun 27, 2022

Now that we're here, what is the best way to maintain alcantara? Or does it just inevitably get nasty and crusty over time?

particlefield · Jun 27, 2022

muneco said:
Now that we're here, what is the best way to maintain alcantara? Or does it just inevitably get nasty and crusty over time?

I use the wet towel from when I dry it to give it a little wipe. That’s it. You can buy product to clean it if something happens to it but it’s low maintenance. Just let it dry and don’t soak it. I do the same for the leather and plastic areas and even the floor mats after I vacuum them.