Vegetable-Tanned (Finished) - Unknown Stains: How to Remove Stains and Restore the Color of this Vachetta (naked biscuit shade vegetable-tanned leathers) Chairs and Ottomans made by “Giorgetti”.

[chet]

Roger, I need to remove the stains and restore the original look to these 2 ottomans.

They have a number of stains and what looks like a splatter pattern of something must have been over-sprayed on them.

There are 2 matching chairs if i can make these look good.

The furniture is made by "Giorgetti".

The leather is stiff and thick, is this full grain leather?

It seems as though it is the natural color, as tough it were tanned without any dye?

#1] Ottoman 1
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f289/Chet50/IMG00115.jpg

#2] Ottoman 2
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f289/Chet50/IMG00117.jpg

#] Matching chair
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f289/Chet50/IMG00116.jpg

http://i876.photobucket.com/albums/ab324/jermaine_050/9-28-09019.jpg

http://i876.photobucket.com/albums/ab324/jermaine_050/9-28-09020.jpg

http://i876.photobucket.com/albums/ab324/jermaine_050/9-28-09021.jpg

http://i876.photobucket.com/albums/ab324/jermaine_050/9-28-09022.jpg

http://i876.photobucket.com/albums/ab324/jermaine_050/9-28-09023.jpg

http://i876.photobucket.com/albums/ab324/jermaine_050/9-28-09024.jpg

[Roger Koh]

These are vegetable-tanned full grain leathers averaging 2.5mm thickness that gives firm leather which retains the line and shape of the furniture better with a clean attractive cut edge.

Yes this naked leather derives its colors from the vegetable tanning agents itself without any dyestuff.

This same leather type can be found in Coach and Louis Vuitton bags trims known as "vachetta" and it can be easily stains.

It is both pH sensitive and light sensitive.

Fatliquoring enriches its shade from a pale biscuit color to a deeper tone and makes it less absorbent.

As to the splatter pattern stains, it is good to know the types of stains to treat it more specifically and effectively.

However, this is the general structure for leather-safe restoration cleaning:

A] Restoration Cleaning (leather-safe) - The average pH value for this leather is 4.
1] Use prepClean4.4 > clean3.8 > rinse3.0.

B] Leather Structure Restoration - (Fatliquoring system not only brings foreign contamination to the surface during the natural wicking process but also enrich the pale biscuit shade deeper - see the corner of the seat hidden from direct sunlight is deeper in color).
The objective is to bring to that natural color naturally without dyestuff - thus retain aesthetic originality.
2] Use hydrator3.3 > fatliquor5.0 > rinse3.0.

C] Specialty Spotting
3] Use acidifier2.0 to neutralize alkaline exposure that causes browning.
4] Use d’Tannin3.5 to reduce browning cause by coffee, tea, wine, beer and other cellulose (vegetable derive) brown stains.
5] Use d’Tarnish1.3 (need neutralizer basifier8.8) when d’Tannin3.5 does not produce satisfactorily result

D] Non-stick draggy feel conditioning with the unforgettable classic leather scent.
6] Use leatherScent’D

Note:
The emphasis for this job relies heavily on the leather-safe hydrator3.3 to remove as much penetrated stains as possible.
And to even out the color shade naturally.
The unknown factor is the possibility of staining from the wood frame that needs to be tested out first.
If the overnight testing on the wood frame is OK, I would suggest that the whole thickness (average 2.5mm) of this leather is completely soaked through.
1] Lay layers of toilet rolls (easier to control than facial tissue paper) over it and spray hydrator3.3 to get rid of bubbles so that the contact is skin tight (the idea is to make the paper becomes an extension of the leather surface).
2] Cover it with bath terry towel to hold the paper down tight.
3] Plastic wraps over to reduce evaporation.
4] Let it dwell over-night to allow water movement within the leather structure to disperse the concentrated stains moving it upwards to be caught by the toilet rolls or facial tissue paper.
5] Remove the plastic covering only the next day while the towel holds down the absorbent papers.
6] Allow fast drying either direct sunlight or controlled humidified chambers or room at 30% humidity minimum 4 hours or overnight.
7] Remove towel then remove the stained layers of absorbent papers.
8] Make sure it is crispy dry then use leatherEraser4 to erase off soil particulates that wicks to the leather surface.
9] Inspection - to see the need for specialty spotting (see above).
10] When the surface is free from stains - hydrate one more time and fatliquor it to soften and strengthen the leather.
11] Airbrush and brush in the fatliquor to have a very even shade when dry to reduce patchiness.
12] Soak the entire thickness with fatliquor and rinse the surface off with rinse3.0 to a squeaky clean.
13] Repeat the same process as hydrator3.3 (1] to 8]).

Once the leather is saturated with fatliquor5.0 it will be less absorbent with a deeper, richer shade.
leatherScent’B helps resist soiling yet retain leather transpiration characteristic with a classic leather scent.

Does this helps or need further clarification?

Roger Koh
Leather Doctor®