Product Overview
Perforated Leather Auto Seat Degreaser - Kit-A5.dr by Leather Doctor is formulated for general routine degreasing from preventing topcoat and dyestuff finishes damages especially to the headrest and armrest of upholstery, collar, and cuffs of the garment; and auto seat from bare body contacts. Topcoat and dyestuff damages refinishing products are found in Kit-A6.tc, Kit-A7.cl and Kit-K7.tc or Kit-K8.cl for King Ranch leathers respectively. Individual products for dyestuff and topcoat are matched accordingly. Preventive regular surface degreasing is preferred over corrective penetrated degreasing as most often, the topcoat is damaged with dullness and in severe cases, the dyestuff break bonds with the protein fiber. Preventive degreasing is done before a penetrating darkening effect manifests. LeatherDegreaser-2.2 is a waterbased (pH 2.2) multifunctional degreaser that besides emulsifying the greasy contamination, it controls dye bleeding and charging the protein fiber ionic positive for strengthening the attraction between the ionic negative tanning agent, dyestuff and fatliquor. Deflocculated and suspended soiling is a towel extracted and then follows with LeatherAcidifier-2.0 to a healthy squeak. A lower strength cleaning is by LeathertCleaner-3.8 follows with LeatherRinse-3.0 and should be first tested prior to resorting to the LeatherDegreaser-2.2 > LeatherAcidifier-2.0 > LeatherHydrator-3.3 system. LeatherHydrator-3.3 has its many functions and used after LeatherAcidifier-2.0 is for removing penetrated soiling to the leather surface. LeatherHydrator-3.3 prior to LeathertFatliquor-5.0 acts as a pre-conditioner to relax stiff leathers and removes surface tension free from surface blotchiness prior to fatliquor (ionic negative -ve charged emulsion of fat and oil). LeatherHydrator-3.3 after LeatherFatliquor-5.0 is to reactivate surface fat and oil remnants using a horsehair Brush-1 to remove unwanted surface milky solution until it turns clear. (otherwise dries sticky from becoming a soil attraction nuisance). LeatherFatliquor-5.0 has a pH value of 5.0, is a polar emulsion just like fresh milk that comprises of 16.66% solid ionic negative -ve charged fat and oil, The 83.33% water encasing contents will break free when the ionic attraction between the ionic positive +ve charged leather protein fiber take place. A subsequent application is only possible when partial water content evaporates until the required percentage of fat and oil is accomplished. Slow natural drying and massaging or staking before completely dry will produce a softer leather. The original commercial staking process is done by leather slightly wetting back and machine-like teeth staking them. Traditionally, native North Americans soften their leathers by both oiling them and working further by teeth with jaw power, practicing the same principle. Protector-B application when the leather is dry imparts non-stick rub-resistant protection with a buttery feel that shield against sticky soiling and reduces friction noises. Leather-scented version is with Protector-B+, which will diffuse a classic leather scent to charm. Note that the mentioned product suffix number denotes its pH value in this holistic leather-safe leather and suede degreasing system. Shipping comes with a reduced weight of 0.8kg to save on shipping thus all the 250ml spray bottle concentrates ratio except LeatherDegreaser-2.2 have to be cut/mix and fills up with distilled water prior to use.
Instruction:
1- Identify leather types and dry soil removal prior to application by terry towel, horsehair Brush-1 or Eraser-4. 2- Shake separation until gel, apply and agitate with horsehair Brush-1 or Eraser-4 for better traction on heavy cleaning. 3- Ensure to drive the product into the leather structure (suede) that matches the depth of oil, grease and sweat penetration. 4- Allow dwelling 5 to 30 minutes or before it dries for complete soiling emulsification and suspension to occur. 5- Extract suspended soiling with dry terry cotton towel and change folding until the towel shows clean. 6- Remaining sticky residues are removed with Rinse-3.0 to a squeaky-clean and for reducing bleeding and increases the leather ionic positive (-ve) charge use Acidifier-2.0 instead. 7- Suspended soiling particulates beneath surface will need the use of Hydrator-3.3 to disperse and float up to the surface. This may be done with plastic cling wrapping it for evaporation control and leave to dwell with consistent high moisture content up to 72hrs. Besides dispersing the soiling particulates to resurface it acts to reactivate the dormant dyestuff and redistribute them for a saturation enriched appearance. 8- Plastic wrapping is removed and a leather towel extracted to almost 25% remaining moisture content or until dry towel extraction shows dry. 9- Fatliquor-5.0 application follows with help from leather Brush-1 agitation for even penetration. At each almost drying cycle more is applied and work into the leather until the desired calculated amount is fully replenished. Remember that 83.33% of the water content has to evaporates before additional batches of application can be absorbed until the desired average of 15% total fat and oil content when dry, read from a leather moisture meter or equivalent. The last batch of application drying residue has to be clean off or drive-into the leather to prevent any surface stickiness when dry. Slow natural drying and when manipulated, massaged or staked before complete dry will produce a softer leather. 10- Fatliquoring may continue with the leather slightly wetting back with Hydrator-3.3 prior to the application until satisfaction. 11- Topcoat damages may be repaired after dry preparation with Eraser-4 and fine 2000grit sanding and re-finished with AnilineTop-76/83G as an option. A test is performed to see appearance satisfaction as it amplifies and magnifies the existing appearance. Otherwise, Aniline-76/83G dyestuff is applied followed with AnilineTop-76/83G. 12- Protector-B or B+ is the last application that ends this holistic approach to degreasing and refinishing.
Tips:
Optimum fatliquor (fat and oil) moisture content in dry healthy leathers is up to 15% when reading with a leather moisture meter or an equivalent. Existing cracks magnifies when fatliquor moisture content falls below 7% level when dry for most leather and especially for the naked vegetable-tanned leathers popularly known as King Ranch leathers.
Leather by nature is both hydrophilic and oleophilic and easily absorb body contact oil, grease, and sweat. Penetrated and prolong soiling contamination that has high sweat content tends to denature the leather that manifests as stickiness, with a dye-bleeding problem. Leather-safe degreasing with charging the protein fiber ionic positive (+ve) is the science and logic approach to effective degreasing. In addition to a deep non-hazardous and non-toxic degreasing, the leather is reverted from denaturing into rawhide. Degreasing at a low pH of 2.2 below the average pH neutral (iso-electric or pI) of leather revitalizes the ionic attraction. The amphoteric protein fiber returns to its ionic positive (+ve) attraction towards the negative (-ve) leather constituents that include the tanning agent, dyestuff and fatliquor. When such contamination is thereafter rinsed with Acidifier-2.0, the leather returns to a healthy squeak with reducing dye bleeding in a leather-safe waterbased system. Moreover, the leather is softer when dry without leaching out of its original fat and oil as associated with a dry solvent system
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