Keeping your ivory seats clean (or stain free)

[ihop4no1]

I just noticed on my driver side that the seat back of the leather is slightly discolored. It's a "blueish" color.

I've been reading up on this forum and others and a lot of people seem to like Lexol. However, I tried it yesterday and was not impressed. I believe the coloring is where a shirt may have bled, so it's more of an ink/dye stain. I read the directions on the Lexol and it expressly says it's not for stains.

I also tried an ink remover and hairspray. The hairspray seemed to tone down the blueish color somewhat, but it's still there.

So far I've tried the following;

1. Warm, soapy water
2. Lexol cleaner
3. Meguiar’s leather wipes
4. Armor All leather gel
5. Armor All leather cleaner
6. Mr. Clean Magic Eraser
7. Hairspray
8. Ink remover

I read on here that someone else had the same problem and I believe the Lexol worked for them, but it sure didn't for me. Does anyone have any recommendations?

Thanks,

Graham

[ihop4no1]

Buehler? Buehler? Anyone?

[honda761]

I have the ivory leather seats. I have blue stains from jeans and coats that I think are in there for good. This is on drivers seat only. I've given up the fight to remove it and just clean it once while a with Meguires leather cleaner.

I havent tried any of the methods you used and probably dont plan to. Since resale is not important to me who cares? Only I will look at it.

[native.texan]

I just noticed on my driver side that the seat back of the leather is slightly discolored. It's a "blueish" color.

I've been reading up on this forum and others and a lot of people seem to like Lexol. However, I tried it yesterday and was not impressed. I believe the coloring is where a shirt may have bled, so it's more of an ink/dye stain. I read the directions on the Lexol and it expressly says it's not for stains.

I also tried an ink remover and hairspray. The hairspray seemed to tone down the blueish color somewhat, but it's still there.

So far I've tried the following;

1. Warm, soapy water
2. Lexol cleaner
3. Meguiar’s leather wipes
4. Armor All leather gel
5. Armor All leather cleaner
6. Mr. Clean Magic Eraser
7. Hairspray
8. Ink remover

I read on here that someone else had the same problem and I believe the Lexol worked for them, but it sure didn't for me. Does anyone have any recommendations?

Thanks,

Graham

Hi Graham -

I just noticed your post. I, too, had the bluish kinda tint to certain parts of my drivers seat. What I did was to take a warm, slightly damp wash cloth and wipe the area - with a lot of elbow grease. It worked for me. Now, once a week, I try to give the seat a "wipe down" to prevent any impressions from setting in.

Mike.

[ihop4no1]

Hi Graham -

I just noticed your post. I, too, had the bluish kinda tint to certain parts of my drivers seat. What I did was to take a warm, slightly damp wash cloth and wipe the area - with a lot of elbow grease. It worked for me. Now, once a week, I try to give the seat a "wipe down" to prevent any impressions from setting in.

Mike.


Thanks Mike. I've put a lot of elbow grease in already, but I might give it one more shot. After that I'm thinking of buying a leather restoration kit. There's one place that I found online that quickly responded to my questions and they even have the shade of ivory for the 08 and the guy writing the e-mail said to order it and post it to his attention. They seem like a customer oriented company.

Graham

[native.texan]

Thanks Mike. I've put a lot of elbow grease in already, but I might give it one more shot. After that I'm thinking of buying a leather restoration kit. There's one place that I found online that quickly responded to my questions and they even have the shade of ivory for the 08 and the guy writing the e-mail said to order it and post it to his attention. They seem like a customer oriented company.

Graham

Graham - could you PM me a picture of what your seats look like? Is it really that bad? If so, you may want to try dealer intervention. I would be cautious about using a lot of different chemicals to treat it, in such a short span of time.

mike .

[ihop4no1]

Graham - could you PM me a picture of what your seats look like? Is it really that bad? If so, you may want to try dealer intervention. I would be cautious about using a lot of different chemicals to treat it, in such a short span of time.

mike .

Yeah, I'll snap some photos tonight and send them to you.

Thanks,

G

[mitchleary]

My salesman said to use saddle soap on the seats.

[ihop4no1]

Graham - could you PM me a picture of what your seats look like? Is it really that bad? If so, you may want to try dealer intervention. I would be cautious about using a lot of different chemicals to treat it, in such a short span of time.

mike .

Mike, I couldn't figure out how (if?) you can send photos via PM, so I posted them here. Forgive the blurriness - it was late and I'm tired.

But you can see the discoloration.

G

[native.texan]

Graham, thanks. I sent you a PM.

mike.

[ihop4no1]

I went to the dealer today and they didn't know what was causing the blueish coloring. They couldn't tell if it was dye from clothes or if the dye in the leather was losing it's color.

The guy said they needed to get the area rep from Honda involved. They e-mailed her and possibly next week they'll get in touch with me to arrange for her to look at it.

In closing, he said, "Whatever it is, we'll resolve it." I asked if that meant new seats or how would they handle it. It said they might recover the seats.

I'll keep ya'll posted.

Thanks,

Graham

[drvalu]

I had some similar stains on my ivory interior and used Griot's interior cleaner (www.griots.com). Took them out completely. The product is a clear liquid spray and you can wipe on with a clean cloth or sponge. Have used it may times on other leathers and it just works. I follow-up with their Leather dressing. Much better than Lexol - doesn't darken light colored leathers.

[native.texan]

I went to the dealer today and they didn't know what was causing the blueish coloring. They couldn't tell if it was dye from clothes or if the dye in the leather was losing it's color.

The guy said they needed to get the area rep from Honda involved. They e-mailed her and possibly next week they'll get in touch with me to arrange for her to look at it.

In closing, he said, "Whatever it is, we'll resolve it." I asked if that meant new seats or how would they handle it. It said they might recover the seats.

I'll keep ya'll posted.

Thanks,

Graham

Well, at least there appears to be some "solution" in the works, Graham.

FWIW, this weekend, I decided to wipe down my seats again. I used a warm, white washrag. Nothing else. When I was done, and held the washrag up to the light, could certainly see the dirt, etc. that transferred to the seat. Seats looked cleaner as well. I know you noted trying a similar method (warm, soapy water), but I just think it may be something peculiar, or maybe particular with your leather -though I don't know how it could be - that prevents you from removing these stains. Leather should be easy to clean, not the other way around. Keep us posted.

mike.

[ihop4no1]

Well, I spoke with the dealer today and the area rep is scheduled to come in next Tuesday, May 20th.

So, we'll see....

[honda761]

I have the exact blueish stains on my leather seats as well.

[justblink778]

The early 04 TSXs had this same problem!!

The leather manufacturer used a dark blue ink to mark the cut lines, and gradually through the years (it wasn't nearly this FAST) it would bleed through and appear on the tan leather.

Search Acurazine, there are plenty of posts about this issue.

[edit]: reading material: http://tsx.acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?p=655550

[native.texan]

Well, I spoke with the dealer today and the area rep is scheduled to come in next Tuesday, May 20th.

So, we'll see....

Graham - what happened? What did the dealer [representative] say?

mike.

[ihop4no1]

The early 04 TSXs had this same problem!!

The leather manufacturer used a dark blue ink to mark the cut lines, and gradually through the years (it wasn't nearly this FAST) it would bleed through and appear on the tan leather.

Search Acurazine, there are plenty of posts about this issue.

[edit]: reading material: http://tsx.acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?p=655550

VERY interesting Justblink. Thanks for sharing that.

[ihop4no1]

Graham - what happened? What did the dealer [representative] say?

mike.

Hey Mike,

Well, I saw the rep today, May 29. So I didn't have any news to report until now.

She looked at it and was baffled. She could offer no explanation, but did say they would fix it free of charge. The manager was with her and he completed the ticket and is ordering a new seatback for the driver's side.

Hopefully it will come in within a week or so and I'll have this behind me. I'll keep you posted.

Graham

[native.texan]

She could offer no explanation, but did say they would fix it free of charge. The manager was with her and he completed the ticket and is ordering a new seatback for the driver's side.

Graham

Graham - Glad to see this matter will be addressed; hopefully, to your satisfaction, too. Good Luck!

mike.

[ihop4no1]

The service center for Honda Carland (Alpharetta location) replaced my driver's side seat back today. Took them about two hours and the results are fantastic! Here are some photos;

Also, I checked and everything still works, i.e. recline, lumbar support, etc.

Thanks for everyone's input on this!

[native.texan]

Glad it is fixed, Graham. Let's hope no further issues appear.

mike.

[ihop4no1]

Glad it is fixed, Graham. Let's hope no further issues appear.

mike.

Me too Mike.

Thanks and have a great weekend!

Graham

[MrBigE]

WHOA. Just found this thread - I'm having the exact same problem with my drivers' seat back. Only mine are much more blue... :-(

I've used a few different products over the past weeks - figured it was coming off of my jeans... had almost given up and chalked it up to "oh well".

I'll run it by my own dealer and see what they say...

LOVE this forum!!!

[native.texan]

First try wiping down the seats with a damp microfiber towel. I know it sounds simple, but it will pick up the dirt, etc. and has made my seats look new. Still, if yours is a problem with the dye - whatever, it may not help. Worth a try. Good luck.

mike.