Deer Skin Leather Sectional

[Question]

I have this deerskin leather sectional in the lobby of a high-end retro hotel.

I have included photos and extreme close-ups

Any suggestions for cleaning?

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[Question]

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[Roger Koh]

>>> I have this deerskin leather sectional in the lobby of a high-end retro hotel.

Here is a cut and copy from:
https://leatherdoctor.com/aniline-leather-care-kit/

Aniline leather when new is soft and natural and comes mainly from the hide of a cow, large enough for making upholstery. They are chemically converted into leather through tanning, dyeing, and fatliquoring sequences. The leather becomes an amphoteric protein material and is pH sensitive, thus cleaning and restoring with leather-safe products that have a pH value between 3 to 5 is highly recommended otherwise, leather denatures with the common side effects are manifested as tackiness, dye bleeding, and loss its suppleness, becomes stiff and crack.

[Roger Koh]

>>> I have included photos and extreme close-ups

We have identified the leather type to be pH-sensitive, now we have to identify the stain type and here is a copy and paste from:
https://leatherdoctor.com/faq/

*How to identify Leather Stains?

Leather Stains are identified by Appearance, Odor, Color, Feel-of-Hand, Location, and Buildup or Absorbed!

- Appearance

Stain identification by appearance will show whether it is characteristic of a spill, rub-on, penetrated or deposited.

It may also reveal dye or finish damage caused by the stain.

- Odor

Stain identification by smell can be very helpful in positive identification.

Some of the more common odors may be moldy, smoke, putrid, or ammonia from urine.

- Color

Stain identification by color will also give a clue about the staining material.

If the stain is red, it could be beverages, nail polish, lipstick, blood, or some other things.

Color identification may not necessarily be right; with time, a red bloodstain may turn to a stain that ranges from tan to black.

The color of the leather may mesmerize or alter the color of the stain.

- Feel of Hand

Stain identification by feel of hand may help determine the stain types.

For instance, if it is sticky and red it could be candy, beverages, or other things that have sugar in them.

If the stain is brittle and stiff, it may be nail polish, shellac, or paint.

If it smears, it may have a grease base to it, such as lipstick.

- Location

Stain identification by location may give a clue as to the makeup of the staining substance.

If it is dark at the headrest or the edge of the armrest, it is most likely stain by body oil, grease, and perspiration by hand or by the head.

- Buildup or Absorbed

A stain may take several appearances.

The stain may be lying on top of the leather (buildup) on most pigmented leather or absorbed into the leather on most unfinished, aniline, and nubuck leathers.

Naturally, it could also be a combination of absorbed and built up.

If it has been absorbed, this will be an indication that it was a liquid when it penetrates the leather.

It should also alert us that it may have chemically changed the dye of the leather.

An example of this would be a perspiration stain that has reacted with the leather dye and changed it in some way.

This would occur more likely on dyed absorbent leathers.

The perspiration could also have weakened the fibers of the leather.

In any event, this leather may show a marked color change in that area after spotting, and possibly after cleaning.

Examples of built-up stains are paint and some foodstuff, etc.

Examples of absorbed stains are beverages, wine, tea, coffee, etc.

A combination stain may be lipstick, ink, mustard, etc.

It will have part of its staining matter absorbed into the leather and part of it accumulated on the surface.

A stain may also be a substance that has wet solvent-soluble and dry solvent-soluble components combined.

An example of this would be gravy which contains grease, flour (from a plant), and milk (from an animal).

Paint-type stains are readily detected because of their stiff nature and generally bright colors and they seem to be sitting on top of the leather.

When identifying stains always try to determine whether they are of a protein, cellulose, oil-based, or colloidal makeup nature.

Three common types of soiling or stain are solvent-soluble, water-soluble, and insoluble.

Stains are of a combination nature, and in most instances, there will be no information regarding the stain especially if they are bought used.


See this copy and paste Full Aniline Leather Problem Solving Guide from:
https://leatherdoctor.com/aniline-leather-care-kit/

[Roger Koh]

>>> Any suggestions for cleaning?

A restoration cleaning is recommended with a copy and paste from


https://leatherdoctor.com/aniline-leather-care-kit-a3/

What is a Restorative Care System for Aniline Leather?

A restorative care system for aniline leather is the ultimate restorative or salvage care system that removes accumulated soiling including aged conditioners, and accumulated soiling that fills creases is often mistaken for cracks.

What is Prep 4.4, Clean 3.8, and Rinse 3.0 cleaning systems?

Prep 4.4, Clean 3.8, and Rinse 3.0 cleaning product is hand-picked into a restorative care system for aniline leather.

Leather Prep 4.4 is a pH 4.4 water-based heavy-duty restorative cleaner that safely removes accumulative soiling on pH-sensitive aniline leathers.
Clean 3.8 is a water-based all-purpose mild cleaner with a pH value of 3.8 for removing Prep 4.4 residues and general cleaning follows with Rinse 3.0 sync as a pH balancing rinse to stabilize the leather pH chemistry integrity, ready for hydrating and fatliquor conditioning.

What is Hydrator 3.3 and Fatliquor 5.0 hydrating and softening systems?

Hydrator 3.3 is a water-based pH 3.3 hydrating conditioner that relaxes and plump soft leather fibers for easy stretching back to dimension and for more effective fatliquoring.
Fatliquor 5.0 is a pH 5.0 ionic negative (-ve) charged micro-emulsion of fat, oil, and water for conditioning leather softness with strength when dry.
Fatliquor-5.0 on application, the water-encased ionic charged fat and oil molecule breaks free when attraction takes place between the fat and oil with the leather protein fiber. The excess free water wicks out leaving a breathing space behind for leather's natural transpiration.

What is the Protector B'plus protective conditioning system?

Protector B'plus is the leather scent version of Protector B with an extra classic leather scent besides imparting non-stick, rub-resistant protection with a buttery feel.

[Roger Koh]

The last picture #12 shows a tear. . . leather has become too dry of its original fatliquor (fat and oil) through evaporation.
For further reading . . .
https://leatherdoctor.com/fatliquor-5-0/


How to Repair Hair-on-Hide Leather Rip or Tear Repair with Bond 3D?

*Rip or tear is the result of diminished fatliquor (ionic charged fat and oil) from aging or alkaline overexposure.

1* The structure needs to be clean, pH balanced and fatliquor replenished up to 15% to supple it prior to repairing, otherwise the stiff hide may tend to tear again when flexed.

2* The repair may be performed with a bonding Patch 4S or with stitching and camouflaging donor suede fibers.

Repair is done with Bond 3D and Patch 4S found in this Leather Repair Kit A8.r
Attachment 11059