[Q] Cleaning the leather stitching - G4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi all - what's the best way to clean the leather stitching at the back without damaging the leather skin and the stitching? I had placed this on top of a wet table earlier and now it's not looking to good. :cyclops:

mundixx said:
Hi all - what's the best way to clean the leather stitching at the back without damaging the leather skin and the stitching? I had placed this on top of a wet table earlier and now it's not looking to good. :cyclops:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What is it you're trying to clean off? I use alcohol swabs a couple times a day on my phone front and back and have for every phone in the past several years. I am a germaphobe though. It works really well. Never damaged anything before. I am sure it's not great for the leather, but I'll worry about that if I see any damage then.

I would not use alcohol, especially rubbing alcohol. (there are numerous different types of alcohol). Rubbing alcohol will dry out and crack the leather it may not happen right away but it will happen if used frequently. By the time you start to see any damage it will be too late. If you have a serious stain and are dead set in using alcohol buy some isopropyl alcohol and do a 50/50 mix of that and water.
I would use leather cleaner and moisturizer. My wife has been using Coach products on her leather Coach purses for years and her purses that are 20 years old still look like new:
http://www.coach.com/shop/women-accessories-product-care
I would also stay away from leather car seat cleaner as car seats are a bit more rugged than the leather used on the phones. (the only car seat product I would consider using is Leatherique, but it is insanely expensive).
Just my $.02 worth

Related

$hitty Paint Job

SO,
I could take the peeling paint no longer, so I "fixed" it. Or at least I thought I had.
I took apart the unit, very timidly; everything came off but the buttons and what not. I used an old drywall (worn down) sponge, and kept it wet, sanding carefully. Cleaned often as I went, and wasn't too worried about surface scratches, as I was about to paint it.
BTW, the gold finish under that non slip coating is actually quite imressive.
Anyway, only the most advanced techniques, tools, and paint were used. See for yourself...
and yes, that is a roll of toilet paper!!! :lol:
Two days later, the rubber started to peel off. I used "Plasti-Dip" spray paint. I thought a rubber grip might be nice, since I work construction, and black is just plain cool. I tested the tool grip paint on a nokia 3595 dummy, and now I just can't get that **** off of it. I thought it would stick to my wallaby. Apparently, not. I used my fingernail to peel off a wear hole caused by my Al case, and just peeled off the rubber in a few large pieces. Anyway, I'm going to check into good primers soon. I think that the noslip coating that flakes off our units isn't the problem, but the foil finnish that just won't let anything adhere. Anyway, If you have a suggestion or comment, fire away. And sorry, the only digicams i have are a Sony T610 and a V300....
Thanks!

Soft rubberized feel back snap on case

I picked up some black Plasti Dip from Lowes. I sprayed it on to my spare purple back cover that came with the phone. It came out awesome. They have other colors also.
Sent from my SGH-T959
Follow me on Twitter @BobMcElroy15
I've been thinking about trying this since no 3rd party seems to want to supply any decent accessories for this phone.
How much did it cost? Pics?
Thanks for the tip.
Its been done already. Search for post
The spray is under 10 bucks. I also sprayed a usb flash drive
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Looks sweet. Any prep work involved? Or did u just sprayed it on as is??
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
I didn't sand it down or anything put you should apply 2-3 coats
I found a can of black (I wish they would have had other colors) at Lowes for $7. 4 coats later, it looks awesome! I love the feel and that it no longer slips out of my hand. No more fatty silicone cases for me. My work colleagues were amazed at how nice this looked and felt.
This was a great tip. Thanks to OP.
dam that looks legit, gonna have to try that!
That looks sweet...
I would like to know how this held up over time..
I am SO glad you posted this! I have been looking at an extended battery on Ebay with a black GLOSSY battery door (BLEH - fingerprint magnet!), but having seen this I'm going to get a can of this stuff and paint the back of that battery door - should be great!
The K-Zoo Kid said:
I would like to know how this held up over time..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately, no too well so far. It has started to peel back on one side from rubbing when it goes in/out of my pocket. I imagine it's because the original surface is so slick/smooth. I think if it gets bad, I'll try again but spray on some kind of primer or maybe just spray paint first so it has something to hang onto. Anyone have any thoughts/ideas? OP, how is yours holding up?
went to Menards and they didn't carry plasti-dip, so I used this Rustoleum Truck Bed Coating instead... gave the backplate a hard, scratchy black surface. It's kind of awesome. Suddenly my Vibrant felt like a rugged industrial device than a shiny, whimpy product-photo-ready gadget. I cracked up at the difference when I first held it in my hand.
process:
sanded down backplate with sandpaper --> applied and dried two coats --> truckbed.jpg (attached)
superglued dorky metal sticker (it wouldn't take to the rough surface otherwise) --> cleaned up superglue around edges --> applied liquid mask over sticker --> applied coat (and repeated last two steps again) --> texturedetail.jpg (attached)
caldjeff: you need to sand the backplate first w/ sandpaper in order to roughen it up, so that whatever you apply to it has something to grip. This is a general suggestion... I don't know about plasti-dip in particular.
seannyb said:
went to Menards and they didn't carry plasti-dip, so I used this Rustoleum Truck Bed Coating instead... gave the backplate a hard, scratchy black surface. It's kind of awesome. Suddenly my Vibrant felt like a rugged industrial device than a shiny, whimpy product-photo-ready gadget. I cracked up at the difference when I first held it in my hand.
process:
sanded down backplate with sandpaper --> applied and dried two coats --> truckbed.jpg (attached)
superglued dorky metal sticker (it wouldn't take to the rough surface otherwise) --> cleaned up superglue around edges --> applied liquid mask over sticker --> applied coat (and repeated last two steps again) --> texturedetail.jpg (attached)
caldjeff: you need to sand the backplate first w/ sandpaper in order to roughen it up, so that whatever you apply to it has something to grip. This is a general suggestion... I don't know about plasti-dip in particular.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well done! I'm loving this idea and i think im going to try it when i get my extended battery with a backplate.

Naked case (vinyl and/or rubber battery cover) ??

OK - I've been using the ATT store Body Glove case since I bought the Captivate, which is ok but I don't really like the stripes on the back, and it is a bit too slippery for me.
I just ordered the Seidio case because it has more of a matte finish and I liked the felt interior. So I don't know if I like it or not.
A few minutes ago I took the phone out of it's case to dust it and clean out the case when I got a call. I was surprised at how slim the phone felt without it's Body Glove case on. I liked it. But I also found it a bit slippery. ( A speaker phone call was put on the arm of the chair I was in - with the case it would hold - without it slid away)
Now I am wondering if I should just use some skateboard tape or something similar on key areas to allow me to set it down and hold it comfortably (where it won't slip) instead of using a case. I don't use a screen protector and I don't think this phone needs it.
Any comments or suggestions?
Now that I've thought about it for a few minutes - I think what I want is a rubberized battery cover. That would be the bomb.
I don't use a case on mine and I've yet to get a single scratch on the front or back - the glass is very tough. I cringe at having to use a case, losing accuracy, clarity, and brightness on the screen and having to touch through that...having it hard to slip in and out of my pocket...not looking as nice. It's like if your wife made you use a condom every time.
just "paint" it with some Elmer's Rubber Cement. Im really kidding but I'm with you I like the feel of the phone and I hate the rubber case I got it makes it a pain to get in and out of the pocket. Personally I plan on selling this phone in a couple of months so I want it in good condition.
vsboxerboy1 said:
I don't use a case on mine and I've yet to get a single scratch on the front or back - the glass is very tough. I cringe at having to use a case, losing accuracy, clarity, and brightness on the screen and having to touch through that...having it hard to slip in and out of my pocket...not looking as nice. It's like if your wife made you use a condom every time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed that the screen is fine on its own. But I still think the back needs some help.
Also, I do not like condoms. Neither do my wife and kids.
Ah, well I saw something a while back where someone basically took four little rubber/plastic stickers and put one on each corner of the back of the phone to lift the back up off whatever surface you set it on just a hair. I would imagine that you'd get good traction with that too - I can't seem to find the exact application of it though......
This thread is mostly me think out loud.
I believe that what I want is a rubberized battery cover.
The cover is slightly recessed - it is lower then the bottom locking section and the top section with the camera. It also wraps around the sides almost 1/2 of the way.
I think that if the battery cover were coated with a rubberized, non-slip material, it would be better. If the rubberization made the cover stick out slightly, rather than be recessed, it would allow the phone to be set on it's back and not slide away and keep the camera off the deck. Also, the wrap around side parts of the cover would help when holding the phone.
Now, can someone tell me of a place/process that might do this? (Not rubber cement but close) My pickup has a Rhino Lining coating that I love. There is a place nearby that does that work but the coating is like 1/8-1/4 inches and that is a bit to thick for the phone.
Any Ideas?
http://www.plastidip.com/home_solutions/Plasti_Dip
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=1150/Product/GUN_KOTE_trade__OVEN_CURE__GUN_FINISH
http://www.goboatingamerica.com/products/DM_article.asp?id=3645
Found these
Bought this stuff at Home Depot.
Then tested in on this beer can. I didn't clean or prep the can, just picked it up off of the floor.
This is 5 coats. It is still thin. Dries fast and feels just about how I'd like it to. Not tacky - sort of a hard rubber feel. It is flexible, the can bends and the stuff stays with it.
It can be scratched, you may be able to see a scratch I made with my nail. It didn't go all the way through to the can though - and I had to scratch hard. It looks like it would be easy to spray another coat over any scuffs.
I plan to do the back of the battery cover - thick enough to make it a bit taller than the top and bottom sections of the phone. The way it is going it seem like that may take 15+ coats. I'll keep testing.
Two things about that though, the battery cover is used not only as the speaker output but the battery cover itself also dissipates a good amount of the heat that the phone generates. You probably want to be a more careful than usual in designing something that is going to smother this part of the phone.
not sure how much you're looking to spend but I put the Zagg total protection on mine. You get full protection on your phone but you can't see it, so you still get the sleek look and it's still very thin as well. The clear plastic is also great for gripping, I can set it on the dash of my car and drive normally and it won't budge.
I've had good luck with bestskinsever.com
Used it on my Nexus One and the fit was good, buddy got one for his vibrant and the fit is good as well.
journeyman82 said:
not sure how much you're looking to spend but I put the Zagg total protection on mine. You get full protection on your phone but you can't see it, so you still get the sleek look and it's still very thin as well. The clear plastic is also great for gripping, I can set it on the dash of my car and drive normally and it won't budge.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looks interesting. I wish they had the leather skin for the captivate. I would be all over that. In fact I may need to take a trip to the fabric store to see what they have.
Thanks.
Ok to finish up my saga...
I liked the faux leather on the cover mentioned in the post above so I went to the fabric store and ended up with some black, I believe they call it marbled vinyl. It looked and felt similar to the back of a blackberry I once held.
I tested it on my trusty Busch Light can with some 3M spray adhesive and it seemed to hold fairly well.
So I went for it. I taped off the inside and the prongs of the battery cover. Sprayed glue on the cover and the back of a piece of vinyl cut too big. Stuck it on and smoothed it out. I sat the cover on a bag of rice and and put a bag of brown sugar on top (to push around the curves) and topped it off with a gallon jug of tile grout.
Waited an hour, probably longer than needed, and used a pointy x-acto knife to trim off the excess. I had also put a piece of tape over the speaker holes so I cut that back open to. The underside of the vinyl has a white background so once it was trimmed to fit I went around the edges with a fine tipped sharpie, which blended well.
Overall I like it. It is just a bit thinker that the top and bottom bands, so if you lay her on her back those parts don't touch a flat table. It has a leathery, grippy feel without being tacky, which is what I was going for. I do already miss the front edge lip that the Body Golve provided but it is also almost it;s original thickness.
Pics below. (Sorry about the crappy last pic. I had the phone with new back all set up on a white surface, ready for it's glamor shot, when I realized that the phone is my camera)
Staplebox: great job!
Wow that is a nice, careful job.....
staplebox said:
Ok to finish up my saga...
I liked the faux leather on the cover mentioned in the post above so I went to the fabric store and ended up with some black, I believe they call it marbled vinyl. It looked and felt similar to the back of a blackberry I once held.
I tested it on my trusty Busch Light can with some 3M spray adhesive and it seemed to hold fairly well.
So I went for it. I taped off the inside and the prongs of the battery cover. Sprayed glue on the cover and the back of a piece of vinyl cut too big. Stuck it on and smoothed it out. I sat the cover on a bag of rice and and put a bag of brown sugar on top (to push around the curves) and topped it off with a gallon jug of tile grout.
Waited an hour, probably longer than needed, and used a pointy x-acto knife to trim off the excess. I had also put a piece of tape over the speaker holes so I cut that back open to. The underside of the vinyl has a white background so once it was trimmed to fit I went around the edges with a fine tipped sharpie, which blended well.
Overall I like it. It is just a bit thinker that the top and bottom bands, so if you lay her on her back those parts don't touch a flat table. It has a leathery, grippy feel without being tacky, which is what I was going for. I do already miss the front edge lip that the Body Golve provided but it is also almost it;s original thickness.
Pics below. (Sorry about the crappy last pic. I had the phone with new back all set up on a white surface, ready for it's glamor shot, when I realized that the phone is my camera)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
love it, im stealing that!
Go for it. Usually I prefer to buy a second of whatever I am defacing before I deface it but I didn't find any battery covers online. I also didn't look to hard.
It is still on and I still like it. The only thing I don't like too much are the sides. I completely covered the back, right up to the side edges. It is a perfect thickness on the back but feels too thick on the sides. I wish I could have found a thinner material that I could have built up on the back and tapered to one layer on the sides. I really wanted grippyness on the sides so, oh well, it's good enough.
I'm still on the look out for a better spray on rubber. I'll update if I find anything good.
Hopefully someone will start making aftermarket battery covers with some options.
Thanks and good luck,.
Second the stealing. Awesome idea and writeup. Thanks for sharing.
From a phone on an app
I scrapped the vinyl. The edges were just bugging me to much. I still think a thinner material would work well though.
I cleaned up the cover - looked fine again with all the glue off of it.
I went back to the rubber spray. I've got about 8 coats on in the attached pic. Need to wait about 30 min in between coats. I'll keep going until I go to sleep, let it dry overnight - and test it out tomorrow.
ETA - put it on the phone the today. Love it. Doesn't add any bulk and provides a grippyness to the back and sides. I'll find out how durable it is.

Rubberized battery cover?

Is there a rubberized battery cover? I just tried to install a full coverage Zagg but it wont stick to the textured back. I need to add some grip to this thing as i almost launch it every time i want to open the keyboard. This phone is slick! Especially coming from HTC phones.
Yeah I iknow where you're coming from, I'd appreciate a new cover too. It'd make the phone easier to open too.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I927 using XDA App
I got the zagg to adhere to the back. It takes some time and patience to get it on there.
-Use minimal spray.
-Use extra bits of the zagg material as tape to hold the corners down.
-Let it sit over night on top of a radiator or some where warm.
-CAREFULLY remove the bits of zagg.
-Use your thumb to gently, but firmly rub the zagg into the texture.
-Avoid sitting the phone down on glass and other smooth surfaces it can stick to.
I can now open it with out sliding out of my hands
For most of the time there was a fog that developed in the air gaps under the zagg, they eventually went away.
I know the feeling, especially here in the cdn winter, where my hands are cold and dry. This phone becomes slippery.
I'm almost thinking we could do a back cover, MacGyver style.
Maybe order a spare back cover if possible or take the current one and coat the back of it with rubberized spray. There's the infomercial for Flex Spray [seems dodgy] or hit your local auto parts store for bed liner such as this one.
http://www.amazon.com/Dupli-Color-BAA2010-Bed-Armor-Aerosol/dp/B004SJ16QG
I would guess to take off the back, tape around the small flat edge that goes around the back cover and spray!
That's how I would tackle it.
clockwork58 said:
I know the feeling, especially here in the cdn winter, where my hands are cold and dry. This phone becomes slippery.
I'm almost thinking we could do a back cover, MacGyver style.
Maybe order a spare back cover if possible or take the current one and coat the back of it with rubberized spray. There's the infomercial for Flex Spray [seems dodgy] or hit your local auto parts store for bed liner such as this one.
http://www.amazon.com/Dupli-Color-BAA2010-Bed-Armor-Aerosol/dp/B004SJ16QG
I would guess to take off the back, tape around the small flat edge that goes around the back cover and spray!
That's how I would tackle it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have thought of that, but at the time i could not find a new battery cover, and did not want to try this on the only one i had.
The stuff on the TV is the same stuff as natural spray rubber, only twice the price for a half-size bottle. With some practice, you can get it to spread thinly and evenly, but something like undercoating or bed liner will apply thick and lumpy usually...

[Q] Cleaning the Leather Back?

Alright so I'm sure everyone who has the leather back and has not put a cover on it yet can see that the leather back is getting dirty.
It might be just me but i have the brown leather back. The stitches have gotten blackish and not white like they were in the beginning and the back just keeps getting a darker shade!
Any of you guys try to clean it? If so how'd you do it?
Is it okay to take the back off and clean it under water?
Or should i use windex.
I don't wanna ruin the leather attempting to clean it!
Areebkhan said:
Alright so I'm sure everyone who has the leather back and has not put a cover on it yet can see that the leather back is getting dirty.
It might be just me but i have the brown leather back. The stitches have gotten blackish and not white like they were in the beginning and the back just keeps getting a darker shade!
Any of you guys try to clean it? If so how'd you do it?
Is it okay to take the back off and clean it under water?
Or should i use windex.
I don't wanna ruin the leather attempting to clean it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
DO NOT USE WINDEX OR RUN WATER. That will ABSOLUTELY ruin your leather.
I bought a cheap bottle of leather treatment from CVS for about $6. You spray two coats on it, and you're good to go. It actually gave the leather a nice, grippy-er, feel. And it helps protect from wetness. After that, you should be able to use any type of leather cleaner to keep it looking fresh.
chadbot3k said:
DO NOT USE WINDEX OR RUN WATER. That will ABSOLUTELY ruin your leather.
I bought a cheap bottle of leather treatment from CVS for about $6. You spray two coats on it, and you're good to go. It actually gave the leather a nice, grippy-er, feel. And it helps protect from wetness. After that, you should be able to use any type of leather cleaner to keep it looking fresh.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
HAHAHA!!
THANK YOUU!
I knew it was good to ask before doing something!
So cleaning it with that leather treatment gives it the shine back aswell?
chadbot3k said:
DO NOT USE WINDEX OR RUN WATER. That will ABSOLUTELY ruin your leather.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
chadbot3k said:
DO NOT USE WINDEX OR RUN WATER. That will ABSOLUTELY ruin your leather.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
chadbot3k said:
DO NOT USE WINDEX OR RUN WATER. That will ABSOLUTELY ruin your leather.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Quoted for emphasis. Definitely a very good thing that the OP asked.
I use Meguiar's Gold Class Rich Leather Aloe Cleaner followed by Meguiar's Gold Class Rich Leather Aloe Conditioner. Yes, I do my own auto detailing, and yes, I hate it when people use cleaners inappropriately and screw up whatever they were trying to clean. My parents are seriously guilty of that and it left me with cleaning-related faux-PTSD flashbacks decades later.
The G4's back wasn't shiny from the factory, but certain cleaners will produce a slight matte sheen on the leather.
Areebkhan said:
HAHAHA!!
THANK YOUU!
I knew it was good to ask before doing something!
So cleaning it with that leather treatment gives it the shine back aswell?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it will keep your leather back looking mostly new. Most importantly it will protect against getting wet, which will stain your leather.
Any kind of leather treatment that adds a "shine" is no good in my eyes. I have had a few european luxury cars and i can tell you this...best thing i have ever used to clean my seats and other areas has been...BABYWIPES!!
Seriously it does not take away from the natural state or satin look of the leather and actually clean it very well. If it good enough for your babys ass.....its good enough for the skin on your phone!
You dont have to take my word for it though.
BTW got it wet today. there was a slight dark spot for a fe minutes but went away fully
Snakecharmed said:
I use Meguiar's Gold Class Rich Leather Aloe Cleaner followed by Meguiar's Gold Class Rich Leather Aloe Conditioner. Yes, I do my own auto detailing, and yes, I hate it when people use cleaners inappropriately and screw up whatever they were trying to clean. My parents are seriously guilty of that and it left me with cleaning-related faux-PTSD flashbacks decades later.
The G4's back wasn't shiny from the factory, but certain cleaners will produce a slight matte sheen on the leather.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
These kinds of products are unavailable outside the US so we need alternatives.
What do you make of the advice given in this video ?
House hold items available in any country.
white vinegar to clean
shaving foam to remove ink stains
corn starch to remove grease
From the user manual
This product is made of cattle hide and may have different creases and patterns due to the properties of natural leather. If the product gets wet with any liquid (water, soda, seawater, rain, sweat, sunscreen, cosmetics, moisture, etc.), it may lose colour, change colour, or deform in shape.
When this product gets wet or contaminated, get rid of the water by pressing it gently with a dry towel, or wipe it with leather cream and leave it to dry in shade. When the product is exposed to a wet environment for a long time, it may cause creases or mould. The shape of the leather may not be restored to its original state after cleaning because of the properties of leather, and any contamination or deformity may get worse when using regular detergent or an organic solvent.
When the leather is wet with rain or sweat, use caution and avoid contact with clothes. It can cause any dye to become a stain.
Due to the nature of leather, friction for long periods of time or excessive force may damage the surface of the leather.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is an important thread or there's going to be a few unhappy people later on.
I used new baseball glove condtioner.
Sent from my VS986 using XDA Free mobile app
what i got is you need a cleaner and then a conditioner.
the cleaner to remove stains and a conditioner to maintain the material.
Mr clean magic eraser to clean it. That's what we use in the automotive detailing world
Sent from my LG-LS980 using Tapatalk
I don't know how I feel about the advice in the video. Those suggestions are very common, but I haven't tried them personally. People have conflicting things to say about the extreme acidity of vinegar against the mild acidity of leather, which is why you need to dilute the vinegar in the first place. One alternate suggestion I've read is to use Woolite 10:1 to 6:1 (water:Woolite). Another I've read is Dove soap. Don't use saddle soap, which has a pH level way too basic for leather cleaning.
What I can say is that you should use a soft terry or microfiber cloth to apply the cleaning solution, then wipe it off with a dry cloth. Don't apply a solution directly to the leather and don't apply too much at once. Even the moisture from a water-dampened cloth isn't the worst thing in the world if you're just quickly wiping on and off. Just don't soak the leather in anything, like running it under a stream of water. It's too porous to not absorb it. Once it's clean, condition it so you have some kind of protection from future stains.
As clichéd as this sounds, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. I'm not a super clean freak, but I try to keep my hands clean when I handle the G4. I don't touch the back of it while eating and I try to keep it away from beverages. However, I'm planning to get a plastic back for the G4 as my regular back cover and only use the leather occasionally.
Snakecharmed said:
I don't know how I feel about the advice in the video. Those suggestions are very common, but I haven't tried them personally. People have conflicting things to say about the extreme acidity of vinegar against the mild acidity of leather, which is why you need to dilute the vinegar in the first place. One alternate suggestion I've read is to use Woolite 10:1 to 6:1 (water:Woolite). Another I've read is Dove soap. Don't use saddle soap, which has a pH level way too basic for leather cleaning.
What I can say is that you should use a soft terry or microfiber cloth to apply the cleaning solution, then wipe it off with a dry cloth. Don't apply a solution directly to the leather and don't apply too much at once. Even the moisture from a water-dampened cloth isn't the worst thing in the world if you're just quickly wiping on and off. Just don't soak the leather in anything, like running it under a stream of water. It's too porous to not absorb it. Once it's clean, condition it so you have some kind of protection from future stains.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. Even with various leather cleaners around its a tricky affair to do it properly for the layperson. Not impossible. As long as one is aware.
As clichéd as this sounds, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. I'm not a super clean freak, but I try to keep my hands clean when I handle the G4. I don't touch the back of it while eating and I try to keep it away from beverages.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hehe, this advice will fall on deaf ears as its impossible to follow. Force of habit. it no secret that keyboards and touch screens contain more bacteria than toilet seats
However, I'm planning to get a plastic back for the G4 as my regular back cover and only use the leather occasionally.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bingo! thats is the conclusion i'm reaching too. The idea of leather is fantastic but if you want to look good then be prepared to put in the work.
Leather is just not that practical for day to day in a phone usage scenario..
But it looks so good <sigh>
One of the things I've learned in both buffing/polishing and interior detailing is to not work too large of a surface area at once. You don't want to let a product set or dry before you can work on it. The product ends up being harder to remove and/or stains your surface.
When it comes to patina, the issue for me is that the leather surface is small, so any marks will be more visible. I look at my travel wallet, which I haven't used much, and I'm annoyed that there is wear on one of its corners and the color has rubbed off. I'm far less concerned about a scuff on the seat in my car. Still, I don't own any leather furniture because of the upkeep required.
There are photos one of the Android Central staff posted of a used brown leather Moto X. I don't think it looks bad, and if it came that way out of the box, I don't think anyone would have thought it was dirty. If you're like me though, you like keeping things looking like new. I'm getting better about conditioning or protecting new leather products before wearing them or breaking them in.
The black leather G4 cover would be much more forgiving with stains, but aside from lack of carrier availability, I only would have preferred that version if it had contrasting stitching.
Can someone point me in the right direction? I'm a complete noob at this and have no idea where to start. I was thinking of getting the leather honey conditioner from Amazon, but still wasn't sure if that would be appropriate. No clue where to begin on cleaners. I have the black leather back btw
xbayyx said:
Can someone point me in the right direction? I'm a complete noob at this and have no idea where to start. I was thinking of getting the leather honey conditioner from Amazon, but still wasn't sure if that would be appropriate. No clue where to begin on cleaners. I have the black leather back btw
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've had a bottle of Leather Honey since about 2000 (before they changed the name), and that's what I used on my leather back. It didn't darken the tan leather (unfortunately), though it did make it a bit sticky for a bit. If you go this route, apply it sparingly before going to bed.
Since this is a thread about cleaning, I feel obligated to mention that product is for protecting leather only, although I believe the same company makes a cleaning product as well.

Categories

Resources