The general description and instruction of the product range can be found in this link:
http://www.leathercleaningrestorationforum.com/forum/showthread.php?8215-Leather-Doctor-Product-Description-and-Instruction
How to apply:
Most of the product that comes in sprayer will be spray accordingly.
Those comes in squeeze bottle will either be applied by the lint-free paper rag or transfer for airbrushing.
How much to apply:
For cleaning apply accordingly and do the cleaning, a repeat may be necessary especially for the Acidifier-2.0 and Rinse-3.0
The Sequence:
The sequence is important as we move from one pH phase to another, example d’Protein-10 has to be followed with a low pH product to neutralize its high pH.
What to look when completing a step:
If we know why we do a certain step we should somehow predict its result, otherwise we may have to repeat due to its severity or insufficient working with the product.
How long in-between steps
Most of the waiting time is to see either for the chemical reaction or for waiting for the leather to dry.
For the hands-on, let us start with the console alone and putting all the rest aside.
1] This console may have more food related stain than the seat and stains may have been further compounded with unknown products that darken the leather in such an extreme, so follow this recommendation:
1.1] Dry Soiling Removal:
Use leather Eraser-4 and erase all over especially the heavily stain areas of any surface soiling particulate – take a picture of the progress.
1.2 ] pH Balancing:
Use Acidifier-2.0 and spray over it evenly wet, agitate with horsehair Brush-1, extract suspenjsding soiling until towel shows clean and cover it up wet with cling wrapper to control evaporation. If time allows leave it until the next day. The purpose is to neutralize and pH balance the possibility alkaline overexposure and charging the protein fiber ionic positive (+ve). Thereafter remove the plastic wrapping and allow to dry; will like to see if the color lightens up a bit when completely dry – take a picture of the progress. If there is an improvement, the process can be repeated to sufficiently pH balance deep into the leather structure. This product has to reach where other alkaline solution have penetrated to overcome the darkening effect. This is one phase of work by itself – pH balancing
1.3] Protein Stain Removal:
Protein stain such as milk from coffee has the tendency to coagulate with the leather protein fiber that will need a high pH product such as d’Protein-10 to swell the fiber to release the stain. Spray over the stain areas and agitate with Brush-1 and towel extract until towel shows clean. The tannin color from coffee may shows as darkening marks that will require a d’Tannin-3.5 to make the tannin color colorless (see the problem solving guide). This sequence has to be ended with d’Tannin-3.5 as an option. If d’Tannin-3.5 is used in the system then, wait till it dry to take a picture to see its progress.
1.4] Degreasing:
This process is to remove body contact oil, grease and perspiration stains. Shake-up the Degreaser-2.2 until it gels up. Apply, spread and agitate with Brush-1; you may see the emulsifying effect of the degreaser turning the soiling slight creamy – extract with towel until it shows clean. Repeat as necessary until towel shows clean. This step is follows with Rinse-3.0 with help of Brush-1 agitation and towel extract until towel shows clean.
1.5] Hydrating:
Hydrating with Hydrator-3.3 follows while the leather is still damp. The hydrator-3.3 is to wet the leather structure out and as it dries it will bring the soiling particulates to the surface. Advance technique place thin facial tissue paper as an extension of the leather surface to allow the soiling particulates to be caught instead of still remaining on the leather surface. Besides removing the soiling particulates, hydrator plays other roles as well as mention before. This hydrating is repeat in subsequent application until all soiling is flush out of the leather structure.
Note:
Hydrating is the end of the cleaning process; it is at this stage that we are able to see the result of the combine effort to remove compound soiling and contamination – let see some pictures before we move on to the next phase of “fatliquor-replenishsing”.
Roger Koh
[email protected]