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Thread: Sheepskin Rug - How to Shine and Soften the wool Coarseness to the Touch?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Posts
    564

    Default Sheepskin Rug - How to Shine and Soften the wool Coarseness to the Touch?

    I have successfully cleaned and renewed skin and wool sides of my sheepskin rugs with your sheepskin kit. The products are excellent. The results are lovely. I will be purchasing more hydrating and fatliquoring for the skin side to reinforce the work I completed. After finishing with several repetitions of applying protector to the wool side and natural drying I feel like the wool might need more "hydration". What steps and products should I consider?

    Thank you for working with me on this. The wool may well be in as good a condition as expected. I felt like the products made the skins and wool so much better that maybe there is even more I can do. When I suggest the wool might need more hydration I am thinking about the shine to the look and coarseness to the touch. It seemed with more protector added that the wool could get more shiny and soft. Is that true? If so do I need to continue to add more interactions of protector? Examples photos attached to this message.

    To your question of the steps I took. I very much followed the instructions from Leather Doctor. I followed the skin side cleaning step by step. Then I followed the wool side cleaning step by step.

    Wool Side Cleaning and Conditioning:

    Sequence-5:
    E) Dry Soil Removal:
    E1) Vacuum off foreign soiling with help of suede Brush-3.

    Sequence-6:
    F) Wet Soil Removal:
    F1) Apply CleanWool-5.5, brush along the lay of hair in one direction and towel extract until it shows clean.
    F2) Spray RinseWool-4.0 and towel extract to a squeaky clean.
    F3) Let natural drying and dry towel wipe of wick-up soiling.

    Sequence-7:
    G) Non-Stick, Rub-Resistant Protection:
    G1) Shake well, mist spray Protector-S evenly and brush-in with towel to pick up soiling at the same time.
    G2) When dry thereafter groom with suede Brush-3 or a slick comb for best appearance and it is ready for use.

    #1
    Shiny and softer
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    'Drier' and coarser
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    Dear Laura,

    Please to have pictures of the entire rug.

    How old is the sheepskin rug?

    Was it clean before and if so, what method?


    Hello Roger,

    Photos of entire rugs attached to this message.

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    The rugs are more than 20 years old.

    They have been sent to a furrier for cleaning yearly for about five years in the past, not in the last three years.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Greater Vancouver, Canada.
    Posts
    5,102

    Default

    Wool when put under a microscope may reveal as scale like strand of hair.
    Coarseness is due to blooming or opening up of the scales that will need a pH adjustment.
    Wool has a pH value of 5.5, any product higher then the pH value of 5.5 will cause the wool to open up its scale, thus increase its coarseness. To reduce coarseness RinseWool-4.0 with a pH value of 4 is used. In extreme cases Acidifier-2.0 with a pH value of 2.0 is used as well.

    This simple pH control will reduce coarseness to the touch.

    Protector-S imparts a silky-feel to the touch and lubricates the tips from breakage and strands from physical wears.

    Note:
    Leather Doctor’s product name suffix denotes its pH value for leather and wool safe cleaning. The science and logic behind this leather and wool safe system.

    For your further readings:
    Leather Doctor® Kit-Sr3
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    http://www.leatherdoctor.com/kit-sr3...-rug-care-kit/
    Leather Doctor® Kit-Sr3 is an innovative leather-safe (pH 3 - 5) system formulated for keeping both the sheepskin wool at their highest level of appearance, and enhancing their suede skin structure suppleness thus prevents premature ageing that leads to stiffness, curls, rips and tears. Rejuvenating the suede skin side is accomplished by Hydrator-3.3 first to relax and separate the stick together fiber prior to fatliquor replenishing. Fatliquor-5.0 with its fat plumps the skin structure and the oil lubricate for softness without darkening effect. Cleaning to the suede side is performed with CleanSuede-3.8 follows with RinseSuede-3.0 using a suede Brush-3 / Eraser-5 and towel extract. The wool side is clean with CleanWool-5.5 with a pH value that matches the pH value of the wool thus wool-safe and sanitizes at the same time reducing the common odors diffusing while the wool dries. Rinsing is done with RinseWool-4.0 towel extracts and grooms with suede Brush-3 that further closing up the scales of the wool reducing the splitting at the tips. Protector-S imparts is silky-feel rub-resistant protection lubricating the wool from abrasion wear when the wool is rubbed and a non-stick properties to shield the hair from sticky soiling as preventive care. Note that the mentioned product suffix number denotes its pH value in this leather/wool-safe holistic care system for sheepskin rug.

    Instruction:

    Suede Side Cleaning and Rejuvenating:

    Sequence-S1: Dry Soil Removal: Instruction: S1-1) Vacuum off foreign soiling with help of suede Brush-3. S1-2) Exfoliate to renew fresh nap with help of suede Eraser-5 follows with vacuum cleaner. Proceed to Sequence-S2.

    Sequence-S2: Wet Soil Removal: Instruction: S2-1) Apply CleanSuede-3.8 and agitate with Brush-3/Eraser-5 and towel extract until it shows clean. S2-2) Spray RinseSuede-3.0 and towel extract to a squeaky clean. S2-3) Let natural drying and wick-up soiling is erased with Eraser-5 prior to hydrating. Proceed to Sequence-S3.

    Sequence-S3: Hydrating: Hydrating is to relax the skin of stiffness from diminishing original fatliquor. Fatliquor diminishes as the skin ages, accelerated when expose to direct heat and evaporate as VOC (volatile organic compound). Stiffness is common from an immersion cleaning method or a water damage situation too, when fatliquor leaches out, and when it becomes dry again the fibrils structure becomes stick together. Hydrating is to precondition the skin prior to fatliquoring; it helps to relax and separate the stick together fibrils and opens up the inter-fibrillary spaces for effective colloidal water movement within the skin structure. It facilitates to wick-up foreign contamination to be towel extracted when damp and erased when crispy dry. It plumps the skin to ease away the unnatural creases and wrinkles. It stabilizes the pH integrity of the skin and charges the protein fiber ionic positive below its iso-electric point (pI) to hydrogen bond with the ionic negative fatliquor more effectively. It is recommended therefore to hydrate the skin to an optimum level, with moistures oozing out when gently pressed between thumb and fingers. Prolong dwell time will maximize the effects with the help of covering with clear plastic to prevent evaporation.

    Instruction:
    S3-1) Spray Hydrator-3.3 with foam brush control to hydrate the entire thickness of the skin; extract with dry absorbent white terry towel to inspect for an even appearance without blotchiness and it is ready for immediate fatliquor replenishing. S3-2) Severe dryness or stiffness will require a longer dwell time of up to 72hours with evaporation control, covering with a clear plastic sheet. When the skin is plump, limp and lay flat, extract until towel shows dry or about 25% reading from a moisture meter and immediately proceed to Sequence-S4.
    Sequence-S4: Fatliquoring: Fatliquor-5.0 an emulsion of fat and oil originally introduces to the skin to impart its desirous suppleness continues to diminish through evaporation as it ages, accelerated when exposed to heat. It diminishes through leaching as well in a non leather-safe solution and immersion cleaning, manifest as stiffness when the skin becomes dry again. Replenishing is done with “fatliquor-in-a-bottle” as a spray-on instead of the original immersion method. Fatliquor, the lifeblood of leathers derived from fats, oils and water. Looks like fresh milk, when applies penetrates the skin and hydrogen bond with its protein fiber. The fat plumps the skin with fullness, the oil lubricates the individual fibrils and the encasing water breaks free leaving the inter-fibrillary spaces void for natural transpiration. Effective fatliquoring will leave a non-greasy or non-oily surface when dry. Besides softening the skin with flatness, fatliquor enhances its rip tensile strength greatly. It relaxes coarse breaks, creases and wrinkles and prevents cracking. It helps to keep the skin at its optimum physical performance and prevent premature ageing.

    Instruction:
    S4-1) Spray Fatliquor-5.0 with foam brush control for an even appearance. S4-2) Repeat application in between drying as the water contents evaporates until it’s saturated. S4-3) The fully saturated skin is left for slow natural drying for extra softness. S4-4) Use Eraser-4 to remove wicks up residue and inspect for visual satisfaction.
    Hide/Skin Approximate Quantity or Percentage of Fatliquor:The quantities of fatliquor (fat and oil) contents retained in the skin after an universal modern tannery fatliquoring process may varies up to 14% depending on the leather types and it usage. 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 skin 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 skin 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 skin 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 to have a sticky-free surface. In practice with severe dryness the ratio for Hydrator-3.3 are 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.

    Wool Side Cleaning and Conditioning:
    Sequence-W1: Dry Soil Removal: Instruction: W1-1) Vacuum off foreign soiling with help of suede Brush-3.
    Sequence-W2: Wet Soil Removal: Instruction: W2-1) Apply CleanWool-5.5, brush along the lay of hair in one direction and towel extract until it shows clean. W2-2) Spray RinseWool-4.0 and towel extract to a squeaky clean. W2-3) Let natural drying and dry towel wipe of wick-up soiling.
    Sequence-W3: Non-Stick, Rub-Resistant Protection: Instruction: W3-1) Shake well, mist spray Protector-S evenly and brush-in with towel to pick up soiling at the same time. W3-2) When dry thereafter groom with suede Brush-3 or a slick comb for best appearance and it is ready for use.

    Option to rejuvenate stitch-up Wool/Skin side from the Hair Side:
    Sequence-O1: Dry Soil Removal: Instruction: O1-1) Vacuum off foreign soiling with help of suede Brush-3.
    Sequence-O2: Wet Soil Removal: Instruction: O2-1) Apply CleanWool-5.5, brush along the lay of wool in one direction and towel extract until it shows clean. O2-2) Spray RinseWool4.0 and towel extract to a squeaky clean. O2-3) Let natural drying and dry towel wipe of wick-up soiling.
    Sequence-O3: Hydrating: Hydrating from the wool side becomes inevitable when the wool/skin side is stitched-up without a direct access. Hydrating is the preconditioner for effective fatliquoring and working together rejuvenate the leather for suppleness with softness and strength. The strength of the wool depends on the health of the skin and when it becomes too dry the wool easily falls out with friction rubs. Hydrating is to relax the skin of stiffness from diminishing fatliquor. Fatliquor diminishes as the skin ages, accelerated when expose to direct heat and evaporates as VOC (volatile organic compound). Stiffness is common from a water damage situation or immersion machine cleaning too, when fatliquor leaches out, and when it becomes dry again the fibrils structures becomes stick together. Hydrating is to precondition the skin for an effective fatliquor replenishing; it helps to relax and separate the stick together structure fibrils and opens up the inter-fibrillary spaces for effective colloidal water movement within the skin structure. It facilitates to wick-up foreign contamination to be towel extracted when damp and erased when crispy dry. It plumps the leather to ease away the unnatural creases and wrinkles. It stabilizes the pH integrity of the skin and charges the skin protein fiber ionic positive below its iso-electric point (pI) to hydrogen bond with the ionic negative fatliquor more effectively. It is recommended therefore to hydrate the skin to an optimum level, with moistures oozing out when gently pressed between thumb and fingers. Prolong dwell time will maximize the effects with the help of covering with clear plastic to prevent evaporation. Instruction: O3-1)The wool is comb back to reveal the skin or grain and Hydrator-3.3 is spray direct into it to wet out and saturate the skin. O3-2) Effective dwell time to relax the skin may take up to 72hrs with plastic covering for evaporation control depending on severity of dryness. O3-3) When skin is hydrated limp and relaxed, excess moisture is terry cotton towel extracted through the lining until towel shows dry.
    Sequence-O4: Fatliquoring: Fatliquor-5.0 an emulsion of fat and oil originally introduces to the skin to impart its desirous suppleness but continues to diminish through evaporation as the skin ages, accelerated when exposed to heat. It diminishes through leaching as well through a non leather-safe solution or immersion machine cleaning, manifest as stiffness when the skin becomes dry again. Replenishing is done with “fatliquor-in-a-bottle” as a spray-on. Fatliquor, the lifeblood of skin derived from fats, oils and water. Looks like fresh milk, when applies penetrates the leather and hydrogen bond with the hide/skin protein fiber. The fat plumps the skin with fullness, the oil lubricates the individual fibrils and the encasing water breaks free leaving the inter-fibrillary spaces void for transpiration. Effective fatliquoring will leave a non-greasy or non-oily surface when dry. Besides softening the skin with flatness, fatliquor enhances its rip tensile strength greatly. It relaxes coarse breaks, creases and wrinkles and curls and prevents cracking. It helps to keep the skin at its optimum physical performance and prevent premature ageing. The attachment of wool on the skin depends much on the health and strength to hold it. Instruction: O4-1) The wool is comb back to reveal the skin or grain and Fatliquor-5.0 is sprayed direct into it to wet out and saturate the skin. O4-2) More is applied when the water contents evaporates leaving behind the fat and oil, it is repeated until the pre-calculated desired amount is replenished. O4-3) The wool is clean with Hydrator-3.3 by spraying and wiping it off with a terry towel.

    Sequence-O5: Mothproofing (optional): MothProof-5.4 works by being absorbed into the skin and will slowly release vapors repelling insects causing damages. O5-1) Shake well, groom and spray deep into the skin with help of a comb. O5-2) Let natural dry, groom with a comb or slick brush for a bloom.

    Sequence-O6: Non-Stick, Rub-Resistant Protection: Instruction: O6-1) Shake well, mist spray Protector-S evenly and brush-in with towel to pick up soiling at the same time. O6-2) When dry thereafter groom with suede Brush-3 or a slick comb for best appearance and it is ready for use.

    Roger Koh
    Leather Care System Formulator
    Consultant / Practitioner / Instructor
    web: www.leatherdoctor.com
    forum: www.leathercleaningrestorationforum.com
    email: [email protected]
    Last edited by Roger Koh; 01-09-2017 at 02:44 PM.

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