Zebra Hide - smells like an old dirty dog, dry and dull appearance.

Hello,
I've recently bought an old zebra hide that hung on a wall and was probably a rug at some point. The problem is that the hide size is nicely covered in fabric and I'm not going to be able to clean and moisturize it. Biggest issue, it smells like an old dirty dog even after airing it for days and gently cleaning it with a biotin shampoo and gentle rinsing. No stains are visible, but got a couple of hairless large patches that are very crackly dry. Overall condition is smelly, dry, and dull appearance, but no tears.
What do you suggest as treatment and deodorizer for the hair side only?
Thank you,
Daniella

#1
Attachment 6306

>>> The problem is that the hide size is nicely covered in fabric and I'm not going to be able to clean and moisturize it.

It is better without the fabric lining I would remove it completely.


>>> Biggest issue, it smells like an old dirty dog even after airing it for days and gently cleaning it with a biotin shampoo and gentle rinsing.

Need to determine which sides the smells are diffusing from before deodorizing it – body odor is deodorized by CleanOdor-4.5, pungent smell with KillBacteria-3.7, etc.


>>> got a couple of hairless large patches that are very crackly dry.

Rejuvenate the hide with Hydrator-3.3 > Fatliquor-5.0 > Hydrator-3.3 for extra suppleness to prevents loss of hair.


>>> dull appearance,

Use Protector-S+ to sheen condition the hair, lubricating them with a soft silky feel that also reduces friction rubs that reduces hair breakage.


>>> What do you suggest as treatment and deodorizer for the hair side only?

My recommend sequence of process:

Hide Suede Side:
1 – Remove the fabric backing
2 – Cleaning the suede side with Clean-3.8 > Rinse-3.0
3 – Deodorizing with CleanOdor-4.5 for body odor or KillBacteria-3.7 for pungent odor, etc.
4 – Rejuvenate the hide with Hydrator-3.3 > Fatliquor.LS-5.5 (Leather-scented softener).

Hair Side:
1 – Groom with a slicker comb.
2 – Vacuuming.
3 – Cleaning and sanitizing with CleanHair-5.5.
4 – Rinsing with RinseHair-4.0
5 – Sheen conditioning, leather scenting and imparting a silky-feel to lubricating the hair from breakage.

Follow this instruction if you wish only to work from the hair side:

Option to rejuvenate the stitch-up Suede/Hide/Skin side from the Hair Side:

Sequence-O1: A) Dry Soil Removal: Instruction: A1) Vacuum off foreign soiling with help of suede Brush-3.

Sequence-O2: B) Wet Soil Removal:Instruction: B1) Apply CleanHair-5.5, brush along the lay of hair in one direction and towel extract until it shows clean. B2) Spray RinseHair-4.0 and towel extract to a squeaky clean. B3) Let natural drying and dry towel wipe of wick-up soiling.

Sequence-O3: C) Hydrating: Hydrating from the hair side is inevitable when the suede/hide/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 hair depends on the health of the hide/skin and when it becomes too dry the hair 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 too, when fatliquor leaches out, and when it becomes dry again the fibrils becomes stick together. Hydrating is to precondition the skin for an effective fatliquor replenishing; it helps to relax and separate the stick together fibrils and opens up the inter-fibrillary spaces for effective colloidal water movement within the hide/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 hide/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: C1)The hair is comb back to reveal the hide/skin or grain and Hydrator-3.3 is spray direct into it to wet out and saturate the hide/skin. C2) Effective dwell time to relax the skin may take up to 72hrs with plastic covering for evaporation control depending on severity of dryness. C3) When hide/skin is hydrated limp and relaxed, excess moisture is terry cotton towel extracted until towel shows dry.

Sequence-O4: D) Fatliquoring: Fatliquor-5.0 an emulsion of fat and oil originally introduces to the hide/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, 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 hide/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 hide/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 hide/skin at its optimum physical performance and prevent premature ageing. The attachment of hair on the hide/skin depends much on the health and strength to hold it. Instruction: D1) The hair is comb back to reveal the hide/skin or grain and Fatliquor-5.0 is sprayed direct into it to wet out and saturate the hide/skin. D2) 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. D3) The hair is clean with Hydrator-3.3 by spraying and wiping it off with a terry towel.

Sequence-O5: E) Mothproofing (optional): MothProof-5.4 works by being absorbed into the hide/skin and will slowly release vapors repelling insects causing damages. E1) Shake well, groom and spray deep into the skin with help of a comb. E2) Let natural dry, groom with a comb or slick brush for a bloom.

Sequence-O6: F) Non-Stick, Rub-Resistant Protection: Instruction: F1) Shake well, mist spray Protector-S+ evenly and brush-in with towel to pick up soiling at the same time. F2) When dry thereafter groom with suede Brush-3 or a slick comb for best appearance and it is ready for use.

Products mentioned are found in this Hair-on Hide Care Kit-H4, or the upsize Kit H4+ with extra Hydrator-3.3 and Fatliquor-5.0 in concentrates, all others mentioned are found as optional add-on to this kit
http://www.leatherdoctor.com/kit-h4-...hide-care-kit/
Attachment 6311