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View Full Version : Sweat stains on light colored saddle seat...any way to remove?



happytrails
03-02-2015, 05:49 PM
46724673

Will saddle soap remove sweat stains from a saddle seat? This saddle has been stored for a few years. I haven't tried to clean or condition it with anything yet, just wiped over with a damp rag. I don't care if a product turns the seat a darker color, I would just like for the stains to be less noticeable or gone altogether. Any help is appreciated. Thank you all in advance. :o

Also is there a good, rub in cleaner and conditioner besides saddle soap that will leave a shine?

Roger Koh
03-04-2015, 01:51 PM
>>> Will saddle soap remove sweat stains from a saddle seat?

No! Saddle soap with its very high pH will create more browning problem.
Saddle soap has been misunderstood and misused through the years it was originally used in the tannery for fatliquoring purposes and was discarded totally.
Besides all soap will leave a scrum found in our basin and bath and will attract soiling like a magnet.
Vachetta-28 with a low pH value of 2.8 is highly recommended works by "redox" chemical reaction.


>>> This saddle has been stored for a few years. I haven't tried to clean or condition it with anything yet, just wiped over with a damp rag. I don't care if a product turns the seat a darker color, I would just like for the stains to be less noticeable or gone altogether. Any help is appreciated. Thank you all in advance.

Before doing any wet cleaning take a fatliquor moisture content reading with a leather moisture meter or an equivalent wood moisture meter. Optimum percentage of fatliquor content to keep the leather supple is up to 14%. Any percentage below 7% will have the tendency to stiff up upon drying and stress or flex will lead to cracks. It is too late when the leather cracks just like broken strands of a rope will reduce its overall strength and appearance.
A holistic sequence of process I practice is as follows:


Restorative Cleaning:
Degreaser-2.2 > Acidifier-2.0 system removes greasy soiling that also contributes to the darkening effect and protonates the leather protein fiber for better hydrogen bonding with the tanning agent and the fatliquor. The product suffix denotes its pH value thus 2.2 is pH 2.2 and 2.0 is pH 2.0. Besides degreasing it charges the amphoteric protein fiber ionic more positive (+ve) to have a stronger ionic attraction for the tanning agents and fatliquor from denaturing or returning to rawhide. Any sign of tackiness or sliminess is a sign of such denaturing or returning to rawhide and Acidifier-2.0 treatment will return back to a healthy squeaky feel.


Hydrating:
Hydrator-3.3 pH 3.3 continues when the leather is still damp or not lower than 25% moisture level (inclusive of temporary water content from the above cleaning system). Hydrating helps to relax and separates those stick together interlocking acting like hinges fiber. Hydrating is just like knowing rusted hinges loose so the swing again easily. Hydrating can be under a plastic cover for evaporation control and leave to dwell up to 72hours.


Fatliquoring:
Fatliquor-5.0 replenishes diminished fatliquor through evaporation or leaching.
Fatliquor-5.0 is an ionic negative (-ve) charged emulsion of fat and oil. When applied it hydrogen bond with the ionic positive (+ve) protein fiber giving the leather its suppleness and tensile strength when dry. Optimum percentage thereafter should be up to 14%.


Browning Treatment:
Vachetta-2.8 pH value 2.8 works by a chemical reaction commonly know as “redox” or reduction and oxidation reaction. When dries the browning disappear. When the leather has been fatliquor to satisfactory percentage of fatliquor moisture level the surface residue is wipe away with Hydrator-3.3.


>>> Also is there a good, rub in cleaner and conditioner besides saddle soap that will leave a shine?

To leave a shine to the unfinished naked vegetable-tanned leather is by using AnilineTop-76G (gloss). Existing finishes may be inspected with a light sanding of 1500/2000grit sandpaper and check for residue. If it turns out to be a white powdery the original finish is urethane same as AnilineTop-76G.


Products mentioned are found in this Kit-V4 and to shine it with add-on AnilineTop-76G.
4690
http://www.leatherdoctor.com/leather-doctor-kit-v4-vachetta-leather-body-oil-grease-and-sweat-browning-removal-kit/
Leather Doctor® Kit V4 specialty problem solving kit include Vachetta-2.8 for browning removal and Degreaser-2.2 for body contact decontamination systems in a holistic approach. Kit V4 is a combination kit from Kit V3 and Kit V5.dr without duplicating of products for these common related problems.
Darkening appearance from body contact and browning from liquid stain are two main inevitable common problems associated with naked unfinished vachetta leathers. Leather being absorbent absorb and accumulates body moisture from contact and when neglected resulted in a darkening appearance. Besides appearance the sweat with traces of urea may cause the protein fiber from shifting ionic negative (-ve) manifesting as tackiness and reverting to rawhide.
Degreaser-2.2 solves the darkening effect by penetrating, lubricating and suspending the soiling particulates and simultaneously protonate the protein fiber ionic positive (+ve). The amphoteric protein fiber is further rinse and ionic positive (+ve) charge with Acidifier-2.0 to strengthen the ionic attraction between its other non-amphoteric ionic negative (-ve) leather constituents like the tanning agent and the fatliquor. This dual duty removes the unwanted soiling particulates and pH balance the pH chemistry integrity of the leather at the same time.
Browning of vachetta leathers is associated with alkaline over-exposure, vachetta being a lower pH value than most other tanned leathers averages pH 4 is more sensitive to alkaline cleaning or stains and even water at pH 7 will cause discoloration and browning.
Vachetta-2.8 with its low pH works by oxidation-reduction reaction to reduce the discoloration or browning effect to a more even appearance when the leather is left to dry naturally.
Leather rejuvenating is mandatory and comes next when appearance become satisfactorily. This is accomplished with Hydrator-3.3 > Fatliquor-5.0 system. Hydrator-3.3 plays a significant role in absorbent leathers like vachetta where stains are usually penetrated. The hydrator’s surfactancy helps internal leather structure colloidal movement by moving suspended soiling particulates to the surface at each wicking process until exhausted and is often used as part of the rinsing process. Besides hydrator is used to check for surface tension and relax the leather fiber prior to ionic negative (-ve) charged Fatliquor-5.0 replenishing. Natural slow drying in between application until saturation produces a softer leather.
Protecting the leather with Protector-D impart a natural draggy-feel and reduces wear to the grain of the leather, conceal scuff with its healing properties that also allows transpiration to take place or breaths naturally. Note that the mentioned products suffix numbers denotes its pH value in this holistic approach to removing the common problems associated with vachetta, saddlery and veg-tan leathers.


4691
http://www.leatherdoctor.com/anilinetop-76/
AnilineTop-76 is a heavy-duty topcoat design for upholstery, bag, saddlery and auto aniline leathers. It is a waterbased fine particular size urethane-resin emulsion to protect natural tanning coloring and aniline dyestuff with excellent toughness and flexibility. Luster is available in gloss or satin.

Roger Koh
[email protected]