Jack George Bag - belting aniline finishes leathers

The progressive approach would include the following until the stain is satisfactorily gone.

1st – Penetrating, Lubricating and Suspending with Prep-4.4 > Clean-3.8 > Rinse-3.0 system.
2nd – Dispersing and wicking suspended stains from below surface with Hydrator-3.3 > Fatliquor-5.0 system.
3rd – Remaining unmovable stains is removed by reduction-oxidation (redox) with CleanTarnish-1.3 and neutralized with Basifier-8.8.
4th – Refinishing with matching Micro-54 to block off stain and Aniline-76 to return aniline appearance with the beauty of depth.

I shall discuss option 1 and 2 that comes with this Kit-A3.

FOUNTAIN PEN INK REMOVAL FROM ANILINE BELTING LEATHER:
Belting leather is vegetable-tanned and is more pH sensitive than the common chrome tanning type with a lower pI or isoelectric point or leather pH neutral about 2 to 4. It is also more fatliquor (fat and oil) thirsty and becomes too dry stiff-up and easily cracks when flexed. Thus Prep-4.4 (pH 4.4) is used rather than the common Prep-7.7 (pH 7.7). Note all products suffix denotes their pH value accordingly.
Instruction:
1- Apply Prep-4.4 to the center of the stain and agitate with a cotton swab until the cotton swab or towel shows clean.
2- As stain shown are penetrated or absorbed by the leather a deeper product penetrated is vital to reach below the stain to further suspend it.
3- Cut the Towel-5 to size a bigger than the stain saturate with Prep-4.4 and place stretch tight without airspace and leave to dwell, topping up the moisture level or replace new towel once ink is ‘reverse transfer’ to the towel. Dwelling may take up to 72hrs until towel remains clean.
4- Remaining sticky residue is clean-off with Clean-3.8 follows with Rinse-3.0
5- Further suspension within the leather structure to cause water movement to resurface remaining ink residue is performed with Hydrator-3.3. Again using Towel-5 for ‘reverse transfer’ is practice until towel remains clean.
6- Fatliquor-5.0 replenishing follows before the leather becomes dry and again Towel-5 is used to trap any remaining wick up ink residue until towel shows clean.
7- We will see how the ink response up to this stage (show some pictures) before we decide the use of CleanTarnish-1.3 or an optional color refinishing to return the bag anew again.

Attachment 5763
Leather Doctor® Kit-A3, aniline leather, care kit is an innovative leather-safe (pH 3 - 5) system designed for keeping leathers at their highest level of appearance, maintaining its pH chemistry integrity, enhancing their suppleness and prevents premature ageing. Leathers that faced the sun, closed to fireplace and heaters dries out the fatliquor (fat and oil) that keeps it supple sooner than the non-heat exposed areas. The diminishing of the fatliquor through evaporation results in the leather fibers being stick closer together that results in stiffness and when flexed during used will lead to cracks. Periodic use of Hydrator-3.3 to plumps the stick together fibers prior to fatliquor replenishing with Fatliquor-5.0 will keep the leather supple and strong. Thus, reduce the premature ageing of the leather against stiffness and cracking. The surface wear of the leather is greatly reduced with friction noise reduction. This is preventable with a rub-resistant Protector-B+ that imparts a natural buttery-feel. Periodic cleaning and rinsing with Clean-3.8 follows by Rinse-3.0 to the bare body contact areas like headrest and armrest helps reduce greasy soiling build-up. Restorative cleaning and occasional dye stains removal from new blue jeans is accomplished with Prep-4.4. Note that the mentioned product suffix number denotes its pH value in this leather-safe holistic care system.

Instruction:

Preventive Care:
A non-stick, rub-resistant protection is recommended to be in place before putting the leather to daily use. Protector-B+ imparts a soft natural buttery-feel that enhances the leather luxuriously to the sense of touch. The non-stick surface shields the leather from sticky soiling thus prolonging the high level of appearance. Rub-resistant ability reduces friction noises that translate into less friction wear. This leather-scented protector diffuses a classic leather scent that boost the sensuous leather more appealing to the leather lover. This preventive care is kept in place at each level of routine, periodic or restorative cleaning cycle. A simply spray and wipe prolongs the need for cleaning heavy soiling.
1. Mist sprays Protector-B+ spread with lint free towel and is ready for use when dry. Scentless version is available as Protector-B.

Routine Care:
Routine care includes procedures such as general dust cleaning, attending to spots and stains as required especially the pH balancing of sweat stains from shifting alkaline. Thus prevents leather from tackiness. A routine non-stick rub resistant protection after neutralizing rinse helps keep leather in a more attractive and healthy state while preventing premature wears.

1. Spray Rinse-3.0, horsehair Brush-1 agitates and towel extract until it shows clean.
2. Mist sprays Protector-B+ spread with lint free towel and is ready for use when dry.

Periodic Care:
Periodic care is recommended before soiling causes damages to the finishing. This keeps leather consistently clean and healthy at all times. Body contact areas would require more frequent attention than the unused areas. While the leather headrest and hand rest gets the most of body oil and sweat contacts.
1st phase – Periodic Care:
1. Spray Clean-3.8 and agitate with horsehair Brush-1; ensuring a uniform application over the entire surfaces a section at a time.
2. Towel extract until it shows clean.
3. Remaining residues are spray rinse with Rinse-3.0 and towel extract to a squeaky-clean.
4. Let dry and inspect for satisfaction, otherwise repeat cleaning process as necessary or proceed to hydrating.
2nd phase – Hydrating:
Hydrating is essential to relax and separate the stick together collapsing fibrous structure. Moreover, it is used to check for surface tension from blotchiness prior to fat and oil replenishing.
1. Spray Hydrator-3.3 to check for an even appearance.
3rd phase – Fatliquoring:
Fatliquor evaporates as VOC (volatile organic compound) when temperatures rises especially from exposed surfaces. Periodic fatliquor replenishing maintains the leather’s structure integrity and pliability thus strengthen these exposed leather from cracking.
1. Spray Fatliquor-5.0 in like manner as Hydrator-3.3 and let dry naturally.
2. Repeat application in between drying until saturated.
3. The leather is left for slow natural drying for extra softness.
4. Surface strays are wiped with Hydrator-3.3 to free of sticky residue.
4th phase – Preventive Care:
1. Mist sprays Protector-B+ spread with lint free towel and is ready for use when dry.

Restorative Care:
This is the ultimate restorative or salvage care system that removes accumulated soiling including aged conditioners. Accumulated soiling that fills creases is often mistaken for cracks. Using Prep-4.4 performs restorative cleaning. It works by chemical reaction to emulsify soiling through its penetrating, lubricating and suspending power. Horsehair detailing Brush-1 is recommended to worked into heavily soiled areas sufficiently to avoid excessive agitation that might damage already weaken finishes especially on heavily used areas.
1st phase - Restorative Cleaning:
1. Apply Prep-4.4 and agitate with horsehair Brush-1, ensuring a uniform application over the entire surfaces a section at a time.
2. Allow a dwell time of 10 to 30 minutes or before it dries prior to towel extraction until it shows clean.
3. Sticky residue is removed by Cleaner-3.8 with gentle brush agitation and towel extracts until it shows clean.
4. Remaining residues are spray rinse with Rinse-3.0 and towel extracts to a squeaky-clean.
5. Let dry and inspect for satisfaction, otherwise repeat cleaning process as necessary or proceed to hydrating.
2nd phase – Hydrating:
Hydrating is essential to relax and separate the stick together collapsing fibrous structure. Its surfactantcy helps check for surface tension of blotchiness prior to fat and oil replenishing.
1. Spray Hydrator-3.3 to saturate with an even appearance to soften up the leather.
2. Let dwell 10 to 30 minutes and towel extract wick up soiling until it shows clean.
3rd phase – Fatliquoring:
Fat and oil replenishing maintains the leather’s structure integrity and pliability thus strengthen these exposed leather from cracking.
1. Spray Fatliquor-5.0 in like manner as Hydrator-3.3 and let dry naturally.
2. Repeat application in between drying until saturated.
3. The leather is left for slow natural drying for extra softness.
4. Surface strays are wiped with Hydrator-3.3 to free of sticky residue.
4th phase – Preventive Care:
1. Mist sprays Protector-B+ spread with lint free towel and is ready for use when dry.

Kit Content and Product Description:

Leather Doctor® Prep-4.4 (60ml)

Prep-4.4 is the leather-safe milder version of Prep-7.7 with a pH value of 4.4 for pH sensitive leathers. This universal prep cleaner is for all leather types including the common vachetta, nubuck, suede, wet-white and all aniline leather types This prep cleaner works by allowing sufficient dwell-time to penetrate, lubricate and suspense prior to towel extraction. Proven technique include “reverse transferring” suspended stain during dwell time through a stretchable absorbent paper rather than being reabsorbed by the leather instead. It is design to remove stain such as: a) Blue Jean Dye, b) Leather Belt, c) Plastic Ink Print, d) Newsprint, e) Ballpoint Ink, f) Stamp Pad Ink, g) Sticky Label Residue, h) Crayon, i) Chewing Gum, j) Silicone Shine, k) Permanent Marker & l) Accumulated Soiling. It is highly recommended that the remaining sticky residue be thereafter remove in conjunction with Clean-3.8 and Rinse-3.0 as a holistic leather-safe system.

Leather Doctor® Clean-3.8 (250ml)

Clean-3.8 is categorized as Leather Cleaner, Aniline Cleaner, Semi-Aniline Cleaner, Nubuck Cleaner, Suede Cleaner, Vachetta Cleaner, Bridle Cleaner and Vegetable-Tanned Cleaner. Design with a pH value of 3.8 is an all-purpose mild leather-safe anionic universal cleaner for all leather types without the potential side effects like rings and browning on sensitive leather or suede. It is particularly effective in emulsifying oily soils and in suspending particulates. It works by penetrating, lubricating and suspending soiling safely and effectively through gentle chemical reaction working in perfect harmony with all leather constituents that include the tanning agent, preservative, dyestuff and especially the fatliquor for a leather-safe cleaning experience. In a holistic cleaning system it is highly recommended to follow through with Rinse-3.0 to a healthy squeak thus prevents or ceases potential remaining residue from overworking.

Leather Doctor® Rinse-3.0 (250ml)

Rinse-3.0 is a pH 3.0 water-based leather-safe universal rinse for all leather types that include pigmented, aniline, vachetta, unfinished, nubuck and suede. It is to removes suspended soiling by towel extraction while neutralizing harmful alkaline residues and protonating or charging the protein fiber ionic more positive (+ve) to increase the attraction or hydrogen bonding between the ionic negative (-ve) leather constituent like the tanning agent, dyestuff and fatliquor. It should produce a healthy squeak to the leather surface; otherwise proceed to Acidifier-2.0 to resolve any alkaline overexposure sticky or slimy issue. With topcoat deteriorating sticky issue especially Bicast leathers, BicastTop-76G with Crosslinker-25 are recommended.

Leather Doctor® Hydrator-3.3 (250ml)
Leather Doctor® Hydrator-3.3 is a water-based pH 3.3 leather-safe hydrator that relaxes the leather structure and acts as a fatliquor preconditioner with multi functional abilities. When leather structure becomes hydrated, relaxed and plumped, it can be fatliquored thereafter to as soft as you wish! Surface application is primary to check for even surface tension free of blotchiness prior to fatliquor replenishing it. Structural or below surface application will require saturating to an optimum level with moisture oozing out when gently pressed between thumb and fingers. Sufficient dwelling time up to 72hrs does the preconditioning. This universal Hydrator-3.3 is for all leather types including pigmented, aniline, vachetta, nubuck, suede, hair-on-hide and woolskin. The multi functional abilities include: A) Dent Repair:Application from the reverse suede side is recommended for non-absorbent leathers to relax dents. When dry thereafter heat treatment rectifies overstretching problems. B) Structural (below surface) Stain Removal: B1). Acts to facilitates colloidal water movement within the inter-fibrillary spaces for wicking foreign soiling particulates to resurface. B2). Acts to rectify alkaline overexposure areas by facilitating colloidal water movement to redistribute the leather constituents from surrounding areas. Advance technique utilizes stretchable paper towel for “reverse transferring” the soiling particulates instead of remaining on the leather surface. C) Activate Dormant Dyestuff: C1). Acts to activate dormant or excess dyestuff within the leather structure to resurface. D) Working out Creases and Wrinkles: D1). Acts to plumps relaxes and separates crushed, shrunk and stick together fibrils for manipulating-away unwanted creases and wrinkles. E) Acts as preconditioner prior to fatliquor replenishing process: E1). Acts to check for surface tension for an even appearance free from blotchiness, prior to fatliquor replenishing. E2). Acts to stabilize, pH balance and charge the protein fiber below its iso-electric point (pI) ionic positive to hydrogen bond with the ionic negative fatliquor more effectively.

Leather Doctor® Fatliquor-5.0 (250ml)

Fatliquor-5.0, is a micro emulsion formulation of fat, oil and water. Design with an anionic charged pH value of 5.0 for rejuvenating or replenishing by hydrogen bonding to the cationic leather protein fiber for all leather types including pigmented, aniline, vachetta, nubuck, suede, hair-on-hide and woolskin. Dried, stiff, hard and shrunk leathers are first preconditioned with Hydrator-3.3 to relax, plump, opens up the inter-fibrillary spaces prior to Fatliquor-5.0 application. The water-encased fat and oil molecule breaks free when hydrogen bond attraction takes place between the anionic fat and oil with the cationic protein fiber. The excess free water content wicks out leaving a breathing space behind for leather natural transpiration. The fat plumps the leather with fullness from easily collapsing into creases and wrinkles during stress or flex, while the oil lubricates the fibers so that they slide over one another smoothly like millions of inter-connecting hinges. It softens the leather with stretchability, compressibility and flexibility, while enhancing its rip tensile strength greatly. It is for replenishing the original fat and oil that diminishes thru sun bleaching, ageing, heat and alkaline overexposure or cleaning. Thus helps to keep leather at its optimum physical performance and prevent premature ageing. The quantities of fatliquor (fat and oil) contents retained in the leather after an universal tannery fatliquoring process may varies up to 14% depending on the leather type, usage and appearance. This percentage drops as the fat and oil content diminishes or leaches through ageing, water, heat or chemical overexposure. Leather rejuvenating or fatliquor replenishing is base on weight of the leather in relation to the percentage of remaining fatliquor. A simple calculation of percentage of fatliquor topping up requirement would be as follows: If the weight of the leather in question is 100gm and fatliquor (fat and oil) content meter reading is less than 1%. By applying 80gm of Fatliquor-5.0 to it will deliver an end result incremental of 13.3% fatliquor when dry as the 66.6% water contents evaporates. In the leather rejuvenating Hydrator-3.3 > Fatliquor-5.0 > Hydrator-3.3 system, Hydrator-3.3 plays an important role by relaxing, opening up the inter-fibrillary spaces, facilitating and redistributing colloidal water movement, protonating and doing all the pre-conditioning work prior to fatliquoring including cleaning up any excess surface remnants thereafter to a sticky-free surface. In practice the ratio for Hydrator-3.3 is 2 to 1 of Fatliquor-5.0.It works out to be approximately 160gm of Hydrator-3.3 plus 80gm of Fatliquor-5.0 to replenish a 100gm dry leather from less than 1% back to the original tannery up to 14% fatliquor content.

Leather Doctor® Protector-B+ (120ml)
Protector-B+ is a non-film forming, non-stick; rub-resistant protector that diffuses a classic leather scent design for all pigmented, aniline and nubuck oil pull-up leather types. Its scentless version is available as Protector-B. Its non-film forming characteristic allows the leather to retain its breathability for leather natural transpiration. It impart a soft natural buttery-feel that essentially shield the detrimental effects if sticky soiling, while also prevents the common pesky ballpoint from ever ready rolling out its nasty ink on contact. Moreover it helps reduce friction rubs from dye transfer and releases them much easily when cleaned. Its rub-resistant protection increases the leather from wet and dry rubs. With reduced friction squeaks means translating into less stretch, scuff and abrasion to the leather.

Horsehair Brush-1 (1pc)
Horsehair Brush-1 detailing brush is design ergonomically to be an extension of our hand with a sturdy grooved grip. It is design to produce effective result easily and efficiently. It is recommend for all smooth leather for a soft and scratch-free cleaning. Its length is 7 inches with a three-row bristle 1½ inches cleaning head. Instruction: Use alike the wiping action of our auto or car windscreen wiper for large surfaces a section at a time and detailing work along lineal length of stitching rows, seams, creases and wrinkles. This brush is also used for working Adhesor-73 into leather surface damages to repair smooth it and towel extract surface excess prior to color coating.

Foam Brush-3” (1 pc)
Foam Brush-3” is dense foam that resists tearing and shredding and carries more material. It has a solid wood handle that allows greater control for quality results. It is for controlling and spreading general solution for a more even distribution.

Lint-Free Towel (5 pc)

Stretchable lint-free paper towel works like cloth, highly absorbent and washable. General application is for:

a) Extracting suspended soiling during the wet cleaning process.

b) “Reverse Transfer” technique with its unique stretchability during wet application and shrinking with tightening up during the drying process, this phenomenon allows the suspending or migrating soiling particulates to wick through and easily peeling off the stain when crispy dry, instead of still remaining on the leather surface. The strength of this single ply allows the wet paper to further work with a combination of spraying-on and horsehair Brush-1 without separating, creasing or tearing, thus ensuring an efficient airtight seal with an even essential surface contact.

c) “Reservoir” to hold hydrator and fatliquor slow processes of dwelling or penetrating through semi-absorbent leathers, micro crazing, stitching rows and perforated leathers; or on vertical panels for flow control.d) Folding up to use as products applicator both for spreading, padding and blotting of excess. Sold in a pack of 5 pieces (size 11” x 10.4”).

Roger Koh
Leather Care System Formulator / Practitioner / Consultant / Instructor / Coach

Jack George Bag - belting aniline finishes leathers - fountain pen ink stain!