DFB5.0
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NV Leather Care System
The NV leather care system isn't new, the products have been available for quite a while now. However, I feel like these products are severely underrated and go unnoticed by most. The system consists of three products, a leather cleaner, a leather coating, and a leather conditioner. For this review, I’ll be focusing on the cleaner and conditioner as I’m not a fan of ceramic coating leather.
What?
NV created three leather care products specifically for automotive leather and vinyl.
Cleanse – This is a safe and effective water-based cleaner for leather and vinyl. Unlike most leather cleaners, interior cleaners and all-purpose cleaners, Cleanse actually hydrates the surface as it cleans. Harsher alkaline cleaners used on these materials risk drying out and causing longer term damage, they can even remove the p/u coating itself. Cleanse keeps the material “flexible and healthy”, which helps provide "enough moisture internally before a top coating is applied”. According to NV, this can still provide benefit to p/u (split-grain) leather and vinyl.
Guardian Leather Coating – This is a water-based ceramic coating developed specifically for leather and vinyl. As mentioned, I’m not a big fan of these products, but if you need a higher level of abrasion and dye transfer protection, then go for it.
Nourish – This is another water-based product, which NV calls a “leather quick detailer” suitable for “automotive & genuine leather”. As you would add a topper to a paint coating, Nourish functions in a similar way, think of it as using Boost on top of a Nova EVO Coating, or Reload on top of Cquartz. That doesn’t mean it's solely a coating topper, Nourish can also be used as a standalone, lightly cleaning, hydrating and protecting treated surfaces. Like Guardian, Nourish also contains UV inhibitors.
All three a suitable for pigmented and non-pigmented leather surfaces, p/u coated leather, and vinyl.
Why?
There are several reasons why I put these NV products at top of my leather care recommendations.
- Firstly, simplicity! For example, the ColourLock and Geist leather systems have several different cleaners, conditioners and protectants, which you use is dependent on the age and condition of the leather. The NV leather system is vastly simpler to understand, one cleaner, two protectants.
- Unlike many brands, NV have ensured their leather cleaner and conditioners are suitable for top-coated automotive “leather”, as in being able to protect and preserve the “topcoat”.
- Unlike many brands, these NV products leave a matte, OE finish. No gloss, no slickness, no greasy look and feel. This is probably what wins it for me.
- Cleanse can be sprayed or foamed, much like the ColourLock cleaners.
- Cleanse has the ability to hydrate as it cleans, meaning it won’t leave a dry look and feel like APC’s can.
- No ghastly fake leather scents or perfumes. I’m normally a scent guy, but not here.
Where?
NV products aren’t available everywhere, so you need to seek them out.
In Australia, the NV brand is sold via Waxit, who are the company behind the NV Car Care.
Nv Car Care
Shop NV Car Care Products Online | Waxit Car Care
In the US market, NV is sold through Parks Care Care, who also run the dedicated NV Car Care website.
NV Car Care – Nv Car Care USA
NV Car Care – Parks Car Care
In Canada, Carzilla is your friend.
nv car care - CARZILLA
How?
For the most part, both Cleanse and Nourish are used like any other leather cleaner and conditioner. However, there are some specifics..........................
Cleanse –
Cleanse is a dedicated cleaner and ideal for resetting leather or clearing heavier build up. How you use Cleanse will depend on the level of cleaning required –
Light Cleaning – Spray Cleanse into a towel or directly onto the surface. Wipe with the towel, flip and buff till dry.
Medium to Heavy Cleaning – Cleanse teams well with a leather brush, the product lathering beautifully under agitation. Apply directly to the surface or into a brush, agitate, then wipe clean with a towel. Cleanse is supplied with a pump-action foam head, which is handy for cleaning vertical surfaces as it keeps the cleaner in place.
(Note - My bottle predates the change from Concours Car Care to NV Car Care)
Nourish –
This is arguably the quickest and easiest leather treatment on the market. While Nourish has some mild cleaning ability, I primarily use it for the protective and conditioning factor.
Application is simple, spray directly onto the surface or into a microfiber applicator, then spread across the leather. Allow Nourish 60 - 90-seconds to absorb and flash, then follow shortly after with a towel to level any high spots. The first thing you will notice with Nourish is how smoothly and easily it spreads, coverage is excellent. You also do not need to worry about plugging up perforated leather sections, as will happen with thick balms and creams. Secondly, the finished result is supremely soft and smooth feeling, no slickness, no oily residue. It’s this lovely soft feel that surprised me the most the first few times I used Nourish.
Ideally, you’d apply Nourish every few months, although that would vary depending on vehicle usage, season, and age of the material.
Leather Cleaning & Conditioning Notes –
- Something I recently discovered, the “topcoat” on automotive leather is much like the clearcoat on the paint, except it’s even thinner! Over time, that coating will wear and expose the leather underneath.
- When polishing clearcoat, you don't want to be hammering down on it with heavy pad and compound combinations on a regular basis, you only get so much clearcoat. So, going in with heavy APC’s and general interior cleaners on leather will speed up the degradation of that "topcoat". And once that top coat is breached, you will be lifting colour from the material. Same applies with the frequent use of those scrub pads, ok for the occasional deep clean, but not something you want to be doing with frequency.
- For brushes, I like either the firmer ColourLock brush, or the slightly softer Maxshine Premium Upholstery & Leather Brush.
- For the application of leather conditioners, I really like those Carpro and Gyeon finger applicators. I’ve found them super ergonomic and produce a nicer finish than a foam sponge.
Final Thoughts –
I’m a big fan of the ColourLock leather system. From the safe and highly effective cleaners, or the protectors and conditioning products, all deliver exactly what I’m looking for………….a soft, smooth, gloss free finish and non-greasy feel. However, not everyone wants to go down that nitty-gritty path.
And so, this is where the NV duo come into their own. Without compromising the effectiveness or quality of the finished result, NV Cleanse and Nourish are simple, easy and satisfying to use on any leather or vinyl surface.
The NV leather care system isn't new, the products have been available for quite a while now. However, I feel like these products are severely underrated and go unnoticed by most. The system consists of three products, a leather cleaner, a leather coating, and a leather conditioner. For this review, I’ll be focusing on the cleaner and conditioner as I’m not a fan of ceramic coating leather.
What?
NV created three leather care products specifically for automotive leather and vinyl.
Cleanse – This is a safe and effective water-based cleaner for leather and vinyl. Unlike most leather cleaners, interior cleaners and all-purpose cleaners, Cleanse actually hydrates the surface as it cleans. Harsher alkaline cleaners used on these materials risk drying out and causing longer term damage, they can even remove the p/u coating itself. Cleanse keeps the material “flexible and healthy”, which helps provide "enough moisture internally before a top coating is applied”. According to NV, this can still provide benefit to p/u (split-grain) leather and vinyl.
Guardian Leather Coating – This is a water-based ceramic coating developed specifically for leather and vinyl. As mentioned, I’m not a big fan of these products, but if you need a higher level of abrasion and dye transfer protection, then go for it.
Nourish – This is another water-based product, which NV calls a “leather quick detailer” suitable for “automotive & genuine leather”. As you would add a topper to a paint coating, Nourish functions in a similar way, think of it as using Boost on top of a Nova EVO Coating, or Reload on top of Cquartz. That doesn’t mean it's solely a coating topper, Nourish can also be used as a standalone, lightly cleaning, hydrating and protecting treated surfaces. Like Guardian, Nourish also contains UV inhibitors.
All three a suitable for pigmented and non-pigmented leather surfaces, p/u coated leather, and vinyl.
Why?
There are several reasons why I put these NV products at top of my leather care recommendations.
- Firstly, simplicity! For example, the ColourLock and Geist leather systems have several different cleaners, conditioners and protectants, which you use is dependent on the age and condition of the leather. The NV leather system is vastly simpler to understand, one cleaner, two protectants.
- Unlike many brands, NV have ensured their leather cleaner and conditioners are suitable for top-coated automotive “leather”, as in being able to protect and preserve the “topcoat”.
- Unlike many brands, these NV products leave a matte, OE finish. No gloss, no slickness, no greasy look and feel. This is probably what wins it for me.
- Cleanse can be sprayed or foamed, much like the ColourLock cleaners.
- Cleanse has the ability to hydrate as it cleans, meaning it won’t leave a dry look and feel like APC’s can.
- No ghastly fake leather scents or perfumes. I’m normally a scent guy, but not here.
Where?
NV products aren’t available everywhere, so you need to seek them out.
In Australia, the NV brand is sold via Waxit, who are the company behind the NV Car Care.
Nv Car Care
Shop NV Car Care Products Online | Waxit Car Care
In the US market, NV is sold through Parks Care Care, who also run the dedicated NV Car Care website.
NV Car Care – Nv Car Care USA
NV Car Care – Parks Car Care
In Canada, Carzilla is your friend.
nv car care - CARZILLA
How?
For the most part, both Cleanse and Nourish are used like any other leather cleaner and conditioner. However, there are some specifics..........................
Cleanse –
Cleanse is a dedicated cleaner and ideal for resetting leather or clearing heavier build up. How you use Cleanse will depend on the level of cleaning required –
Light Cleaning – Spray Cleanse into a towel or directly onto the surface. Wipe with the towel, flip and buff till dry.
Medium to Heavy Cleaning – Cleanse teams well with a leather brush, the product lathering beautifully under agitation. Apply directly to the surface or into a brush, agitate, then wipe clean with a towel. Cleanse is supplied with a pump-action foam head, which is handy for cleaning vertical surfaces as it keeps the cleaner in place.
(Note - My bottle predates the change from Concours Car Care to NV Car Care)
Nourish –
This is arguably the quickest and easiest leather treatment on the market. While Nourish has some mild cleaning ability, I primarily use it for the protective and conditioning factor.
Application is simple, spray directly onto the surface or into a microfiber applicator, then spread across the leather. Allow Nourish 60 - 90-seconds to absorb and flash, then follow shortly after with a towel to level any high spots. The first thing you will notice with Nourish is how smoothly and easily it spreads, coverage is excellent. You also do not need to worry about plugging up perforated leather sections, as will happen with thick balms and creams. Secondly, the finished result is supremely soft and smooth feeling, no slickness, no oily residue. It’s this lovely soft feel that surprised me the most the first few times I used Nourish.
Ideally, you’d apply Nourish every few months, although that would vary depending on vehicle usage, season, and age of the material.
Leather Cleaning & Conditioning Notes –
- Something I recently discovered, the “topcoat” on automotive leather is much like the clearcoat on the paint, except it’s even thinner! Over time, that coating will wear and expose the leather underneath.
- When polishing clearcoat, you don't want to be hammering down on it with heavy pad and compound combinations on a regular basis, you only get so much clearcoat. So, going in with heavy APC’s and general interior cleaners on leather will speed up the degradation of that "topcoat". And once that top coat is breached, you will be lifting colour from the material. Same applies with the frequent use of those scrub pads, ok for the occasional deep clean, but not something you want to be doing with frequency.
- For brushes, I like either the firmer ColourLock brush, or the slightly softer Maxshine Premium Upholstery & Leather Brush.
- For the application of leather conditioners, I really like those Carpro and Gyeon finger applicators. I’ve found them super ergonomic and produce a nicer finish than a foam sponge.
Final Thoughts –
I’m a big fan of the ColourLock leather system. From the safe and highly effective cleaners, or the protectors and conditioning products, all deliver exactly what I’m looking for………….a soft, smooth, gloss free finish and non-greasy feel. However, not everyone wants to go down that nitty-gritty path.
And so, this is where the NV duo come into their own. Without compromising the effectiveness or quality of the finished result, NV Cleanse and Nourish are simple, easy and satisfying to use on any leather or vinyl surface.
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