Hello Roger,
I have a nubuck leather set with body oil stains on the head and armrests along with some fading and general wear. What do you recommend to remove body oils and refresh? I look forward to hearing from you.
Chris
Printable View
Hello Roger,
I have a nubuck leather set with body oil stains on the head and armrests along with some fading and general wear. What do you recommend to remove body oils and refresh? I look forward to hearing from you.
Chris
Follow the sequence of steps as found in this Nubuck leather problem solving guide under grease remover you will have the stains gone.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/Rogerkoh/N.jpg
Leather-Safe Problem Solving Guide (N) – Nubuck Leathers
Products description and instruction are found in this Kit
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...koh/N3dr-2.jpg
Leather Doctor® - Nubuck Leather Degreaser Kit N3.dr
Leather Doctor® Nubuck Leather Degreaser Kit N3.dr - features specialty product Degreaser-2.2 with a pH value of 2.2. Degreaser-2.2 is a high viscosity water-based formulated nubuck degreaser; for degreasing nubuck of penetrated sweat, oil and grease stains from skin and hair contact. Degreasing process involves two steps; first is the sufficient penetration of the degreaser to reach the depth of grease penetration and second is to rinse out the suspended soiling particulates. Rinse-3.0 always follows after Degreaser-2.2 to rinse off suspended soiling particulate. In severe cases additional process is done with Hydrator-3.3 until fully exhausted. Sweat contamination that cause tackiness after hydration may require further neutralization with Acidifier-2.0 to rectify it.
■ Degreasing System
■ Routine Care System
■ Periodic Care System
■ Restorative Care System
Email [email protected] for shipping option or trade price.
■ Nubuck Leather - Degreasing System:
Degreasing process involves two steps; first is the sufficient penetration of the degreaser to react with the grease and second is the rinsing action to bring out the suspended particulates. This process may be repeated depending on the depth of grease penetration with each successive waves of floating up these suspended particulates to be towel extracted while damp and erased with Eraser-4 when crispy dry. An advance technique is to plastic wrapped the degreaser, rinse and hydrator at each successive stage to control evaporation for a more effective dwell time.
Instructions
1st phase - Degreasing:
1] Warm up Degreaser-2.2 and shake very well until it turns to an opaque gel.
2] Apply direct and agitate with nylon Brush-2/Eraser-4 and towel extract until it shows clean.
3] Penetrated stains may require a deeper saturation with dwell time of 10 to 30 minutes or before it dries for chemical reaction to occur, follows with towel extraction. Option for severe cases is to saturate it and plastic wrapped to control evaporation for a longer overnight dwell.
4] Suspended soiling particulates are to be rinse with Rinse-3.0 and towel extract until it shows clean.
5] Let natural dry for deeper suspended particulates to further wicks up, towel extract at intervals while damp and erase with Eraser-4 when crispy dry; inspect thereafter for visual satisfaction, otherwise repeat as necessary or move to the hydrating stage for additional wicking process.
2nd phase - Restorative Hydrating:
Hydrating in the degreasing process helps plump the entire leather thickness to exploit its potential multifold benefits. This thorough hydrating process allows sufficient water movement within the leather structure to wick suspended soiling to the surface to be towel extracted when damp and erased when crispy dry. Sufficient dwell time helps reactivating the dormant dyestuff to resurface thus reduces sweat related color lost. Sufficient hydrating and dwelling relaxes stiffness, reduces unnatural creases and wrinkles; separating the crushed, stick together fibrils and relaxes them in the inter-fibrillary leather structure for effective fatliquor distribution. Effective hydrating helps charging the leather protein fibers below its iso-electric point positive to hydrogen-bond with the ionic negative charged fatliquor. It also helps reduce or eliminate blotchiness when dry and facilitate better color penetration with uniformity during optional re-dyeing. Advance technique uses plastic cling wrapper to control evaporation for an overnight dwell and using absorbent tissue paper as an extension of the surface to catch the soiling particulates as they wicks through.
1] Spray Hydrator-3.3, with foam brush control to hydrate the entire thickness of the leather; extract with dry absorbent white terry towel to inspect for an even appearance without blotchiness and it’s ready for immediate fatliquoring.
3rd phase - Restorative Fatliquor Replenishing:
Degreasing to remove unwanted body oil and grease, will inevitably remove one of the essential leather fatliquor constituent as well. Without replenishing displaced and lost of the original fatliquor will lead to leather stiffness with coarse breaks or creases and wrinkles, and when flexed may lead to premature crack. With diminished fatliquor the leather tends to lose its color intensity and becomes more susceptible to liquid stain. Leather when wet and then dry again, have the tendency for the fibrils to becomes stick together – known as the Van der Waals or London force phenomenon. Fatliquor, the lifeblood of leathers penetrates and lubricates the leather fibers so that after drying, they are capable of sliding over one another smoothly. Besides softening the leather with stretchability, compressibility and flexibility; fatliquor enhances its rip tensile strength greatly.
It relaxes coarse breaks, creases and wrinkles to provide drapes, suppleness and prevents cracking. It helps to keep leather at its optimum physical performance and prevent premature ageing.
1] Spray Fatliquor-5.0, with foam brush control for an even appearance.
2] Repeat application in between drying as the water contents evaporates until it’s saturated.
3] The fully saturated leather is left for slow natural drying for extra softness.
4] Use Eraser-4 to remove wicks up residue and inspect for visual satisfaction.
4th phase - Non-Stick Rub-Resistant Protection:
Degreasing definitely will remove any breathable protection from the leather if any. Continuous presence of this non-film forming, rub-resistant protection is essential to shield the detrimental effects of sticky soiling including the common blue jeans stain and the nasty ballpoint ink; and making such removal so much easier. Its natural silky-feel protection increases the leather resistance to wet and dry rubs, with the unforgettable classical leather scent. Odorless protector is available as Protection-S.
1] Shake very well, mist spray Protection-S+ evenly and brush-in with Brush-2; when dry thereafter groom again with Brush-2 for a silky finger writing effect and it’s ready for use.
■ Nubuck Leathers - Routine Care System:
Routine care includes procedures such as general vacuuming; nap grooming to maintain the “finger writing effect”; attending to spots and stains as necessary, especially the timely removal of sweaty soiling from headrest and armrest from shifting alkaline. Thus prevents soiling build-up, discoloration or tackiness. A routine non-stick rub resistant protection thereafter helps keep leather in a more attractive and healthy state, while preventing premature wear.
Instructions
1st phase – Routine Cleaning:
Headrest and armrest may require additional attention using Cleaner-3.8 to prevent build up of sweaty/greasy soiling.
1] Dry soil removal is done with help of nubuck Brush-2, leather Eraser-4 and vacuuming, prior to wet cleaning.
2] Spray Rinse-3.0, agitate with Brush-2/Eraser-4 and towel extract until it shows clean.
2] Let crispy dry, groom off wick up residues with Brush-2/Eraser-4 for a “finger writing effect” and inspect for satisfaction, otherwise repeat or proceed to Protection-S+.
2nd phase – Routine Rub-Resistant and Non-Stick Protection:
Constant friction rubs from usage diminishes the level of protection. Routine protecting it, keeps leather in a consistent higher level of appearance at all times.
1] Shake well, mist spray and brush-in Protection-S+, let dry, groom again with only using Brush-2 for a “finger writing effect”.
■ Nubuck Leathers - Periodic Care System:
Periodic care is recommended before soiling flattens the nap. This keeps leather consistently clean and healthy with the “finger writing effect” at all times.
Instructions
1st phase - Periodic Cleaning:
1] Dry soil removal is done with help of nubuck Brush-2, leather Eraser-4 and vacuuming, prior to wet cleaning.
2] Spray Cleaner-3.8 and agitate with Brush-2/Eraser-4 to a panel at a time.
3] Towel extracts the suspended soiling until it shows clean.
4] Spray Rinse-3.0 and towel extract to a squeaky clean.
2nd phase - Periodic Hydrating:
Hydrating with the leather-safe pH 3.3 active surfactantcy is for lowering the interfacial tension. This surface wetting procedure is to help in the leather surface visual inspection and correction if any, free from blotchiness prior to fatliquor replenishing it.
1] Spray Hydrator-3.3, foam brush control it for an even appearance.
2] Towel extract until it shows clean and it’s ready for immediate fatliquoring.
3rd phase - Periodic Fatliquor Replenishing:
Fatliquor diminishes through evaporation as VOC (volatile organic compound), resulting in unnatural creases and wrinkles and when flexed will crack. To keep the leather soft, supple and flexible the original fatliquor has to be periodically replenished. This is done by introducing a relative small percentage of fat and oil into the leather structure, so that the entire interlocking fibers are uniformly coated. The total moisture contents of fatliquor by percentage on weight of leather when dry for use average 14%. In a fatliquor emulsion, the fat and oil are dispersed in microscopically small droplets, giving it a white, milky appearance. It is formulated that the water encased fat and oil droplets should remain as an emulsion until they penetrate the leather inter-fibrillary structure, and should not separate out as a layer of oil, which could not penetrate the leather surface and would only give a useless greasy surface. Periodic fatliquor replenishing besides maintaining the leather with suppleness; also enhances the color intensity; and the well lubricated fibers are less susceptible to liquid staining.
1] Spray Fatliquor-5.0, foam brush control for an even appearance and let natural dry.
2] Repeat application in between drying as moisture contents evaporates until it’s saturated.
3] The fully saturated leather is left for slow natural drying for extra softness.
4] Groom with nubuck Brush-2 for a “finger writing effect” and inspect for visual satisfaction.
4th phase - Periodic Non-Stick Rub-Resistant Protection:
Protection is focused on the wear areas similar to the need of cleaning them. This protection is the continuous line of defense against sticky soiling and resistant against premature wear. Consistently having this non-film forming breathable protection help keeps leather in a higher level of appearance at all times, besides enhancing the leather with a natural silky feel.
1] Shake very well, mist spray Protection-S+ evenly and brush-in with Brush-2; when dry thereafter a final groom with Brush-2 again for “silky finger writing effect” and it’s ready for use.
■ Nubuck Leathers - Restorative Care System:
Restorative or salvage cleaning for neglected nubuck may further reveal penetrated body sweat, oil and grease stain, especially the headrest and armrest that may need to further degreased with Degreaser-2.2 found in Kit N3.dr or as an add-on item.
Instructions
1st phase - Restorative Cleaning:
The objective of this process is to remove general surface soiling.
1] Apply Cleaner-3.8 and agitate with Brush-2/Eraser-4 to a panel at a time and towel extract until it shows clean.
2] Spot clean remaining soiling areas with Prep-4.4, let dwell 10 to 30 minutes and towel extract until it shows clean.
3] Sticky residue is removed by Cleaner-3.8 with agitation and towel extract until it shows clean.
4] Spray Rinse-3.0 and towel extract to a squeaky clean.
Spots and Stains Removal:
Specialty cleaning system applies to match the remaining soiling types, using the Nubuck Problem Solving Guide-N9 as reference.
Blue jeans dye transfer and ballpoint ink stains will require a longer Prep-4.4 dwelling time with repeat and continue with hydrating and fatliquoring to disperse the reabsorbed stains.
2nd phase - Restorative Hydrating:
Hydrating in the restorative process plumps the entire leather thickness to exploit its potential multifold benefits. This thorough hydrating process allows sufficient water movement within the leather structure to wick suspended soiling to the surface to be towel extracted when damp and erased when crispy dry. Sufficient dwell time helps reactivating the dormant dyestuff to resurface thus reduces sun fading contrast. Sufficient hydrating and dwelling relaxes stiffness, reduces unnatural creases and wrinkles; separating the crushed, stick together fibrils and relaxes them in the inter-fibrillary leather structure for effective fatliquor distribution. Effective hydrating helps charging the leather protein fibers below its iso-electric point positive to hydrogen-bond with the ionic negative charged fatliquor. It also helps reduce or eliminate blotchiness when dry and facilitate better color penetration with uniformity during re-dyeing. Advance technique uses plastic cling wrapper to control evaporation for an overnight dwell and using absorbent tissue paper as an extension of the surface to catch the soiling particulates as they wicks through.
1] Spray Hydrator-3.3, with foam brush control to hydrate the entire thickness of the leather; extract with dry absorbent white terry towel to inspect for an even appearance without blotchiness and it’s ready for immediate fatliquoring.
3rd phase - Restorative Fatliquor Replenishing:
Fatliquor, one of the essential leather constituent is volatile in nature and diminishes through evaporation as VOC (volatile organic compound).
Diminishing fatliquor will leads to leather stiffness often manifests as unnatural creases and wrinkles; looses the leather color intensity; and becomes more susceptible to liquid stain than when it is well fatliquored. Leather when wet and then dry again, have the tendency for the fibrils to becomes stick together – known as the Van der Waals or London force phenomenon. This results in stiffness and when flexed, may lead to premature cracks, as often seen on neglected leathers. Fatliquor, the lifeblood of leathers penetrates and lubricates the leather fibers so that after drying, they are capable of sliding over one another smoothly. Besides softening the leather with stretchability, compressibility and flexibility; fatliquor enhances its rip tensile strength greatly thus reduces split or tear to the stitching holes. It relaxes coarse breaks, creases and wrinkles to provide drapes, suppleness and prevents cracking. It helps to keep leather at its optimum physical performance and prevent premature ageing.
1] Spray Fatliquor-5.0, with foam brush control for an even appearance.
2] Repeat application in between drying as the water contents evaporates until it’s saturated.
3] The fully saturated leather is left for slow natural drying for extra softness.
4] Use Eraser-4 to remove wicks up residue and inspect for visual satisfaction.
4th phase - Non-Stick Rub-Resistant Protection:
Restorative cleaning would have removed any breathable protection from the leather. Continuous presence of this non-film forming, rub-resistant protection is essential to shield the detrimental effects of sticky soiling including the common blue jeans stain and the nasty ballpoint ink; and making removal so much easier. Its natural silky-feel protection increases the leather resistance to wet and dry rubs, with the unforgettable classical leather scent. Odorless protector is available as Protection-S.
1] Shake very well, mist spray Protection-S+ evenly and brush-in with Brush-2; when dry thereafter groom again with Brush-2 for a silky finger writing effect and it’s ready for use.
Featured Content:
Leather Doctor® Degreaser-2.2 in 250ml
This is a pH 2.2 high viscosity aqueous formulated leather degreaser. It’s primarily for degreasing leather of penetrated oil and grease stains from skin and hair contact. It’s also used in assisting in the removing of solvent based stains like permanent marker, paint and nail-polish. Oil and grease based stains like: crayon, wax, ballpoint ink and lipstick.
Contents:
Leather Doctor® Prep-4.4 in 60ml
This is the leather-safe milder version of Prep-7.7 with a pH value of 4.4. It’s high viscosity; designed to be painted on neatly; with a foam brush onto the leather. It works by allowing sufficient dwell-time; to penetrate, lubricate and suspense foreign soil contamination; prior to extraction with towel. It’s is used to strip foreign soil contamination prior to refinishing. Also as stains remover for: Grease based ink stains like ballpoint ink.
Water based ink stains like stamp pad ink. Dye transfer stains like blue jeans, ink prints and newsprints.
Leather Doctor® Cleaner-3.8 in 250ml.
This is a pH 3.8 all purpose leather-safe anionic cleaner that is particularly effective in emulsifying oily soils and in suspending its particulates. It works by penetrating, lubricating and suspending soiling safely and effectively through gentle chemical reaction; working in perfect harmony with all leather constituents that include the tanning agent, preservative, dyestuff and especially the fatliquor. It’s safe for all leather trims including; aniline, vachetta, nubuck and suede. This product is always followed through with Rinse-3.0 as a system to a healthy squeaky feel.
Leather Doctor® Rinse-3.0 in 250ml.
This is a pH 3.0 aqueous anionic leather-safe rinse to neutralize harmful alkaline and perspiration residues; for stabilizing and strengthening leather to its neutral pH value of 3 to 5 chemistry integrity. It’s safe for all leather trims including; aniline, vachetta, nubuck and suede.
Leather Doctor® Hydrator-3.3 in 250ml
This is a pH 3.3 aqueous leather-safe hydrator with active surfactantcy for lowering the interfacial tension between the protein leather fibers and its constituents. It’s for relaxing creases and wrinkle and eliminating them while damp prior to fatliquoring it. It’s for hydrating dried, stiffed or shrunk leathers to separates the crushed, stick together fibrils and relaxes them in the inter-fibrillary leather structure for effective distribution of the Fatliquor-5.0. It’s for charging the leather protein fibers below its iso-electric point positive to hydrogen-bond with the ionic negative charged Fatliquor-5.0. It’s for facilitating colloidal water movement within the leather structure during the wicking process to move soiling particulates to the surface. It’s for reactivating the dormant dyestuff to resurface thus reducing the contrast between the color coat and the leather crust. It’s for reducing or eliminate blotchiness when dry especially absorbent leathers. It’s for facilitating better finish penetration during refinishing thus providing good surface properties, especially the uniformity of surface dyeing during aniline refinishing. It’s safe for other leather trims that may include aniline, vachetta, nubuck, suede, hair-on-hide and woolskin.
Leather Doctor® Fatliquor-5.0 in 250ml
This is a pH 5.0 anionic charged micro emulsion fatliquor leather rejuvenator. It’s for replenishing original fatliquor that has diminished thru sun-bleaching, ageing, heat and alkaline exposure or cleaning. It penetrates and lubricates the leather fibers so that after drying, they are capable of sliding over one another smoothly. Besides softening the leather with stretchability, compressibility and flexibility; fatliquor enhances its rip tensile strength greatly thus reduces split or tear to the stitching and perforated holes. It relaxes coarse breaks, creases and wrinkles to provide drapes, suppleness and prevents cracking. It helps to keep leather at its optimum physical performance and prevent premature ageing. It’s safe for all other leather trims including; aniline, vachetta, nubuck, suede, hair-on-hide and woolskin. It is available with infused leather scent as Fatliquor LS-5.5.
Leather Doctor® Protection-S+ (Leather Scent-S) in 120ml.
This is a non-film forming, non-stick rub resistant protector that enhances a soft natural silky-feel with an unforgettable classic leather scent. It’s for imparting a non-stick breathable barrier essentially to shield the detrimental effects of sticky soiling including the nasty ballpoint ink. It is effective to release those tenacious dye-transfers stains especially on light colored nubuck much easily than without it. Its natural silky-feel protection increases the leather resistance to wet and dry rubs, thus prolonging the characteristic finger writing effect of nubuck. Odorless version is available as Protection-S.
Leather Eraser-4
This is a 2½ x 2¼ x ¾ inch foam rubber sponge block with a crepe side for effective dry/wet soil removal.
Nubuck Brush-2
This stiff nylon detailing brush is ergonomically designed to be an extension of our hand with sturdy grooved grip, designed to produce an effective result easily and efficiently for many years to come. It’s recommended for nubuck, to groom its nap effectively. The length is 7 inches with a three row 1½ inches nylon bristles cleaning head.
PolyBrush®
This is the 3” made in USA washable foam brush that last. It’s used for spreading the Prep-7.7, rinse clean or thereafter used for the leather protector application to prevent overspray.
Washable Rags
This rag works like cloth, lint free and highly absorbent for extracting suspended soiling or for wiping the leather Protector during routine easy cleaning-protection application.
Refills are available in ready-to-use and concentrates…for more information email [email protected]
Not sure how to request to purchase Nubuck degreaser kit for sectional?
tomd.
Email me for the purchase.
Roger Koh
[email protected]
Roger.
Thanks for your response. My sectional looks just like the sofa picture in the thread. It is the same color with two head cushions soiled as shown and an armrest. The rest needs general cleaning. I am thinking of trying either the degreaser or super cleaner on these spots first and then a genaeral overal cleaning with cleaner 3.8 or strong cleaner on the whole thing
I am thinking I should purchase the premium nubuck kit and add the degreaser. My question is will the kit be enough to do the sectional one time? If so i would order the premium kit and degreaser today if you can provide the PAyPal invoice. Thanks and I am anxious to give this a try.
Tips on Cleaning:
If the soiling is caused by body oil, grease and sweat the proven approach is to use Degreaser-2.2 > Acidifier-2.0.
General overall cleaning for heavy soil areas is done with Strong Cleaner-4.3 as a pre-conditioner follows with Cleaner-3.8 > Rinse-3.0.
Light soiling areas is clean with Cleaner-3.8 > Rinse-3.0.
It is up to you to make your own judgment for the three areas of soiling.
However, to avoid seams or rings it is recommended that the entire panel is done with process.
Example those panel that has grease stains should be done with Degreaser-2.2 > Acidifier-2.0 to have an overall pleasing appearance.
The reason why Acidifier-2.0 is used instead of Rinse-3.0 is to control the potential of dye bleeding.
The above mention is the cleaning phase.
Leather rejuvenating is another phase that takes care of the suppleness of the leather - from drying stiff after cleaning.
Normally you want to inspect the result of the cleaning when dry - erase resurface soiling particulates with satisfaction prior to rejuvenate the leather structure with Hydrator-3.3 > Fatliquor-5.0.
All kits are starter kits and they are for general application, it is recommended that you try out an extreme soiling section through the entire system to get the best result. Thereafter you will know what amount of supplies with complete the entire set.
I will get back to more details once my own computer is back from service.
Roger Koh
[email protected]