I have a suggestion for people with Utopia ear-pads that have become 'oiled-up' so to speak. (I think I was the word 'gammy' or 'gunky' was used.)
Anyway when my trainng shoes become filthy or smelly, I put them in the washing machine with regular bio-detergent. Persil, Ariel, or whatever. .... They come out of the washing machine fine, and with new life. Washing would normally wash natural oils from leather, however my training shoes never appear to suffer.
While I am not suggesting out Utopia ear-pads in the washine machine, cleaning ear-pads could be an option. ... In this case I would suggest non-bio washing powder. It's the gentle stuff that we can wash wool with. I guess it doesn't strip the oils from wool.
I think if Utopia pads were washed in this soap powder, I bet it would work 100%. I think it would even be possible to use even regular hand soap. I know another gentle powder for washing stuff like Gore-Tex, is natural soap flakes. That way it doesn't biologically strip away the treatments of the Gore-Tex.
I think a good dunk and squish and thouroughly washing the ear-pads would clean the oils and gunk away. I think a good soapy water would clean even the memory foam brilliantly. Using soft powders would probably maintian the black colour too. (Although I would be suprised if the black colouring washed out at all - never know though.)
If after washing, anyone thought the suppleness of the leather was missing, there are options. Saddle soap maybe, or leather cream. In fact some folk on the Stellia thread, I think cleaned thery leather with leather cleaner cream.
Either way, if you are replacing Utopis pads and throwing the old pads away, why not try. What is there to lose by trying other than maybe the cost of some soap flakes. (You could try regular hand soap.) If it cleans the pads, then it's worth buying some leather rejuvinator or cream if it's needed.
