Rain damage - Leather car seat

>>> Is there any way I can fix it?

To fix it, the thickness of the leather need first to relax with Hydrator-3.3 and the easier option is from the reverse suede side - see if you could get to the reverse side. I will then recommend how best to achieve the best result.

>>> And to what degree it can be fixed like 50% or 90%?

Working from the reverse suede side has a higher percentage to soften it even pass the 90%. The leather dry softness or rather suppleness depends very much on the fatliquor. The reason for the stiffness or hardness is that the fatliquor evaporates and the fiber becomes stick together. To reverse, the stick together fiber need to be separate with Hydrator-3.3, then the suppleness is rectified with Fatliquor-5.0.

For your further readings . . .

Attachment 8215
Leather Doctor® Kit At5.ws, auto leather rain and sun stiffness restoration kit is formulated to restore leather stiffness due to water pH value related issue in combination with excess heat from the sun. Rainwater may be slightly acidic but still higher than the pH neutral (iso-electric point or pI) of leather between 3 and 5, thus causes the leather constituents to leach out especially the fatliquor (ionic negative -ve charged fat and oil), besides the tanning agent, which result in stiffness. When heat is present during the accelerated drying process it causes the leather fibrils to become stick together due to the “Van der Waal or London Forces” phenomenon. A holistic leather stiffness restoration approach is first performing a restorative cleaning prior to leather rejuvenating it and applying a rub-resistant protector thereafter. Depending on the severity of shrinkage in question, where a new color refinishing is deemed inevitable, it will require a related refinishing kit to accomplish the finish restoration. Embossing damages becomes permanent and is not practical to recreate without pressure, heat and an embossing plate. Shriveled finishes may be too delicate to work during the stretching to relax it and may result in delamination. In such situation the entire damaged panel finishes may be shaved with Razor-60 for ease of relaxing the leather structure with Hydrator-3.3 is recommended. Leather stiffness is perform after CleanPro-1.5 > Acidifier-2.0 system with horsehair Brush-1 and cotton terry towel extraction until the towel shows clean. This restorative cleaning is formulated to remove most general soiling and pH balance the rain water to charge the amphoteric leather protein fiber ionic more positive (+ve) for increase attraction. It is thus logical that the Acidifier-2.0 reaches out to the thickness of the shrinkage. Hydrator-3.3 is the preconditioner for Fatliquor-5.0 as the shrunk leather will need to be relaxed and separate the stick together leather fibrils in order for the Fatliquor-5.0 to reach every inter connecting fibrils behaving like hinges to lubricate and plumps it when dry for the return of suppleness. Rainwater may seep into the damaged areas through the perforation, stitching rows and micro crazing. To follow the path of water damages Towel-5 acting as reservoir containing the Hydrator-3.3 is placed with evaporation control with a plastic sheet or cling wrapper. This technique ensures the Hydrator-3.3 penetrates into the leather structure instead of evaporating and wasted. The dwelling may take up to 72hours with periodic refill until the leather structure is plump with fullness for a re-stretching back to its original dimension. Stretching with a smooth spatula like the end of a spoon indirectly over a plastic sheet helps reduce friction delaminating to the finishes. When the stretching and relaxing is satisfactory Fatliquor-5.0 replenishing process begins. It is the ionic negative (-ve) charged 16.66% of fat and oil remains behind that will soften or supple up the leather when dry. The 83.33% and the water contents from the Hydrator-3.3 will eventually evaporate. The remaining fat and oil content is measurable with a leather moisture meter or other equivalent and averaging 15% would return to original suppleness. The leather is then flexed or massaged to impart suppleness without cracking it. Protector-B application will reduce friction rubs to prolong the useful life of the finishes. This kit comes with reduced weight option to save on shipping thus all the 250ml bottles have to be cut and filled with distilled water prior to use. DISCLAIMER! - The use of these products being subjected to conditions beyond seller’s control, hence it makes no warranty of any kind expressed or implied as to these products or their use. For first timer, please read, understand and clarify before attempting to rectify these leather problems. Otherwise Visit: www.LeatherCleaningRestorationForum.com for technical help and support or Email: [email protected] for other information.

Tips: Water/Heat stiffness working with Kit-At5.ws.

Finishes shriveled damages will require a refinishing kit with this Kit-Ap7.cl: http://www.leatherdoctor.com/kit-ap7...finishing-kit/

Note: It is unlikely to save the finishes while working to force stretch back the shrinkage. Refinishing is paramount to complete the project from this kit: (http://www.leatherdoctor.com/kit-ap7...finishing-kit/). Shaving with Razor-60 off the existing color finishing helps the leather structure to get back in dimension easier. Performing the mechanical task from the reverse suede side is simpler while the Hydrator-3.3 relaxes it and the Fatliquor-5.0 wedge and lubricates it in the going process until the desired result is accomplished.

This is a three-part system that works on the water/heat stiffness.
1- CleanPro-1.5 > Acidifier-2.0 system,
2- Hydrator-3.3 > Fatliquor-5.0 > Hydrator-3.3 system and
3- Protection-B system.

1- CleanPro-1.5 > Acidifier-2.0 system: Surface soiling is first removed with CleanPro-1.5 > Acidiffier-2.0 system. Clean-3.8 is the mildest among the cleaner and appropriate higher power cleaning system may be used to match severity of soiling. Example CleanPro-1.5 > Acidifier-2.0 system would increase the cleaning power and also lower the pH value to protonate or pH balance alkaline over exposure. Example, both sea water and saddle soap are alkaline pH value above 8 that may have affect the pH chemistry integrity of the leather structure and a lower pH value cleaner helps to balance the pH value to the original pH value of the leather between 3 and 5. It is recommended that surface soiling is first removed or neutralized prior to proceeding to the next step of leather rejuvenating it.

2- Hydrator-3.3 > Fatliquor-5.0 > Hydrator-3.3 system: Hydrator-3.3 is used to relax the stick together leather structure fibers opening it up so that the Fatliquor-5.0 can easily penetrated into the inter-fibrillary spaces, plumps and lubricates it. Easier to access the thickness of the leather through the perforated and stitching holes or follow the water path. Preferably is to apply direct from the suede side. It is also safer when working on the suede side without direct contact with the finishes. Dwelling up to 72hours with control evaporation is recommended to relax the fiber for easier manipulation with force staking action using a metal spatula or spoon. The mechanical action force to stretch back the shrinkage may likely damage the surface finishes and safer when work from the reverse suede side if possible, unless coloring or refinishing options is already under consideration. Otherwise to minimize finishes damages force stretching is recommended to be done on the reverse suede side. The shrinkage finishes add burden to the structure stretching as it holds back with stiffness and Hydrator-3.3 has no effect on it. When refinishes is an option (http://www.leatherdoctor.com/kit-ap7...finishing-kit/) then shaving off the color finishes help the leather structure to force stretch back easier. This process of undoing the shrinkage is done in combination with Fatliquor-5.0. Fatliquor helps wedges and lubricates the fiber while it is being separates. Otherwise, when the hydrator dries out before the fatliquor can takes its place the fiber may become stick together again. Leather fibers interlock one another like hinges for flexibility and like metal hinges when it gets rusted and jams tight, a rust remover with mechanical forces works in similar fashion with hydrator before a lubricant like fatliquor is applied to loosen it. Before the leather is completely dry after fatliquor replenishing, it is recommended that it is flexed and massaged until it dries to the desired suppleness. Tips: 2.1- The thickness of the leather is saturated to an optimum level with moisture oozing out when gently pressed between thumb and fingers with Hydrator-3.3. Recommend that folding Towel-5 be used as a reservoir to contain the Hydrator-3.3 to slowly penetrate the leather structure, easier through the stitching rows for quick access. 2.2- The leather is cover up with plastic wrapping to control evaporation and let it dwell up to 72hrs for complete hydration or saturation, otherwise too it up. Recommend that the moisture level is kept consistently high at daily interval inspection during the hydrating process. 2.3- When fully hydrated and relaxed it is then manipulate by staking, stretching, massaging or cross flexing the shrinkage to satisfaction. Flat surfaces may be rolled with a glass bottle to eliminate ridges. 2.4- With satisfaction and allowing up to 25% combine moisture content or when a cotton dry towel remains dry from wiping and the leather is still damp with Hydrator-3.3, fatliquoring with Fatliquor-5.0 begins before the leather is completely dry. 2.5- The fatliquored leather is left to slow dry and any surface shining residue is driven into the leather structure by brushing in conjunction with Hydrator-3.3 until milky residue if any turns crystal clear. 2.6- The surface clear moisture is extract with a cotton towel until towel shows dry. 2.7- Begin staking, stretching, massaging or cross flexing one more time before the leather is completely dried for the desired suppleness.

3- Protection-B system: The protection helps in this instance is to impart a rub-resistant wear to the finishes with a buttery-feel and a classic leather scent. Protector-B+ is the leather-scented version.

Rain damage - Leather car seat - Sonata 2006 LX