Description

Hair-on Hide Zebra and Cow Sofa Cleaner, Conditioner, and Repair Kit H6 by Leather Doctor® is Hair-onHide-Safe™ to clean and condition the hair, and repair and condition the hide.

Kit H6 is designed to clean, condition, and repair hair-on-hide upholstery, ensuring both the hair and hide are preserved for long-lasting durability.
A hair-on hide refers to the complete, unaltered skin of an animal, such as a zebra or cow, with the hair intact.
The reverse side of the hide is tanned to create a suede-like texture, making it a popular choice for rugs, ottomans, armchairs, and sofas.

Why Regular Maintenance is Essential?

Over time, the natural oils and fats within the hide that maintain its suppleness gradually evaporate.
This loss, caused by the depletion of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), reduces the hide's tear strength.
Factors such as exposure to direct sunlight, fireplaces, or other heat sources accelerate this drying process, leaving the hide brittle and more prone to damage.

Common Issues and Causes:

Dry Rot:

Dry rot develops when tanning oils and fats evaporate, often exacerbated by forgotten spills left uncleaned.
As the hide dries out, it becomes stiff, fragile, and prone to breaking under pressure.
Regular replenishment of fats and oils prevents dry rot, ensuring the hide remains soft, strong, and durable.

Hair Loss:

As the hide ages and dries, hair follicles weaken and lose grip, leading to bald spots from friction.
This is an early indicator of slow dry rot.
Conditioning with fat liquors restores fats and oils, improves hair retention, and prevents further damage.

Repairing Tears on Hair-on-Hide

Rips or tears signal a significant loss of tear strength.
Before any repair, the hide must be properly cleaned, rinsed, hydrated, and fatliquored to restore its structural integrity.

Repairs are conducted directly from the hair side without removing the hide, using the following steps:

1. Hydration and Fatliquoring:

Rehydrate and restore lost oils and fats to regain suppleness and tensile strength.

2. Bonding Adhesive:

Apply a leather bonding adhesive that integrates seamlessly with the hide.

3. Patch Application:

For added strength and aesthetics, a thin top-grain leather patch is applied over the repair area.

Proactive Care and Maintenance

Regular cleaning and conditioning play a crucial role in maintaining hair-on hides.
Removing dirt and debris reduces hair breakage, while rub-resistant conditioning prevents wear and improves the hide’s resilience.
Fat liquoring replenishes the hide’s fats and oils, preventing bald spots and preserving its practical and aesthetic qualities over time.

Kit H6 Product Contents

Available Sizes: 4oz / 8oz / 16oz fills
(Dilution required — distilled water only)

Water Required per Kit Size

4oz fill → 534 g / 0.6 quart
8oz fill → 1067 g / 1.2 quarts
16oz fill → 2134 g / 2.4 quarts

(Shake well before use).

Step by Step Instructions:

Follow the provided sequence of steps to ensure a seamless dovetailing process and achieve optimal results.
By following these care and repair guidelines, your hair-on-hide furniture will retain its beauty, softness, and strength, ensuring years of lasting quality.

Hair-on-Hide Hair Cleaner 5.5 by Leather Doctor® is a Hair-on-Hide-Safe™, pH-balanced 5.5 mild disinfectant cleaner for hair-on-hide, bear, cow, tiger, wildebeest, zebra, etc.

1️⃣ Mix the Concentrate with Distilled Water

Mix with distilled water following the instructions on the bottle to prepare the cleaning solution.
Using distilled water prevents mineral deposits or residue from tap water.

2️⃣ Inspect and Remove Dry Soiling

Carefully inspect the item for stains, wear, or heavily soiled areas.
Vacuum or brush off loose dirt, dust, or pet hair using a hair-on-hide brush.
This step prevents rubbing dry particles deeper into the hide during wet cleaning.

3️⃣ Apply Cleaner

Shake the solution well to activate ingredients.
Lightly spray the cleaner onto the hair side from a short distance.
Use a soft bristle brush at a slant angle to gently agitate the surface.
This lifts embedded soils without damaging hair shafts.

4️⃣ Extract Suspended Soiling

Immediately blot the treated area with a clean, dry, absorbent terry towel.
Gently press and lift to extract suspended soiling.
Rotate the towel to a clean area frequently and continue blotting until it shows no further soil transfer.
Ready for Rinse 4.0.

Hair-on-Hide Hair Rinsing Conditioner 4.0 by Leather Doctor® is a pH 4.0 balanced rinse that neutralizes and restores the hair's natural integrity after cleaning.

1️⃣ Mix the Concentrate with Distilled Water

Add 40 parts distilled water into 1 part concentrate.

2️⃣ Spray & Towel Extract

Mist the area.
Use a clean, absorbent terry towel to gently blot and extract suspended soiling.
Repeat as needed until the towel shows clean.

3️⃣ Groom & Air Dry

Gently groom the hair with a pet brush or slicker comb.
Let the item dry naturally, away from heat or direct sunlight.

4️⃣ Final Groom for Bloom

Once fully dry and slightly crispy, groom again to restore a soft, fluffy "bloom."

Hair-on-Hide Hide Hydrating Conditioner 3.3 by Leather Doctor® is a Hair-on-Hide-Safe™ pH-balanced 3.3 aqueous surfactant solution formulated to clean, hydrate, relax, and restore the hair-on hide’s internal structure during hydration - in line with its tannery science-based function.

1️⃣ Mix the Concentrate with Distilled Water:

Add 25 parts distilled water into 1 part concentrate.

2️⃣ Application:

Apply directly onto the base parting the hair using a brush or comb.

3️⃣ Saturate and Spread:

Saturate the entire panel evenly, ensuring no dry edges.
Moisture should ooze slightly when pressed with fingers.

4️⃣ Massage and Stretch:

Massage, flex, and stretch the repair area to overlap rips or tears.

5️⃣ Pre-Conditioning for Fatliquoring:

When the hide is damp and fully relaxed, proceed with Fatliquoring.

Hair-on-Hide Hide Softening Conditioner 5.0 by Leather Doctor® is a pH-balanced 5.0 emulsion of fat, oil, and water, a fatliquor softener conditioner to replenish dry leather hides, in line with its tannery science-based function.

1️⃣ Mix the Concentrate with Distilled Water:

Add 5 parts warm distilled water into 1 part concentrate.

2️⃣ Application:

Apply generously and redistribute following the path after hydration.

3️⃣ Reapplication:

Reapply as needed whenever water evaporates, leaving behind only the fat and oil.

4️⃣ Drying:

Allow the hide to dry naturally.
This helps develop a softer hand feel.

5️⃣ Finishing Touch:

Once almost dry, enhance suppleness by staking, massaging, or flexing the hide.

Hair-On Hide Glue 3R by Leather Doctor® is a Hide-Safe™ repair adhesive system engineered to restore rips and tears in hair-on hides without stiffening, cracking, or restricting hair movement.

Leather Patch 4S by Leather Doctor is a smooth full-grain lambskin with suede on the other side for rip or tear repairs with a thickness of only 0.4mm, (24 sq inch) which becomes less noticeable at the edges, pair with Glue 3D/3R.

Before You Begin

Perform all repairs from the suede/flesh/hide side only
Never apply adhesive to the hair side
Work on a clean, dry, flat surface

1️⃣ Step 1 – Clean the Repair Area (If Needed)

Lightly clean the suede/flesh/hide side surrounding the tear to remove dust, oils, or residues that may interfere with adhesion.
Allow the area to dry completely.
Leather Doctor® Principle: Clean bonding surfaces ensure maximum adhesive performance.

2️⃣ Step 2 – Prepare the Tear

Gently align the torn edges so they meet naturally without overlapping or tension.
Trim loose fibers on the suede side only if necessary.
Tip: Proper alignment ensures the repair remains invisible from the hair side.

3️⃣ Step 3 – Cut & Position the Lambskin Patch

Cut the 0.4 mm lambskin patch so it extends at least ½ inch (12 mm) beyond the tear on all sides.
Dry-fit the patch beneath the tear to confirm flat, full coverage.
Leather Doctor® Principle: Thin, flexible sub-patching prevents ridges, stiffness, and telegraphing.

4️⃣ Step 4 – Apply Glue 3R

Apply an even coat of Glue 3R to:

The suede side of the lambskin patch
The suede/flesh side edges of the tear

Allow the adhesive to become tacky (partially dry) before bonding.

5️⃣ Step 5 – Bond the Patch

Insert the lambskin patch beneath the tear.
Press firmly so the torn edges meet naturally.
Work from the center outward to eliminate air pockets and ensure full contact.
Hold with light pressure until the bond sets.

6️⃣ Step 6 – Dry & Relax

Allow the repair to dry naturally.
Do not stretch, fold, or stress the area during curing.
Gentle airflow is acceptable
Avoid heat

7️⃣ Step 7 – Groom the Hair Side

Once fully dry, gently brush or hand-separate the hair fibers on the grain side to restore natural hair flow and conceal the repair.
Result: A soft, flexible, structurally reinforced repair with no visible glue lines.

8️⃣ After-Care Notes

Avoid vacuuming or aggressive handling over the repaired area for 24 hours
Normal use may resume once the adhesive has fully cured.

9️⃣ The Leather Doctor® System Advantage

Glue 3R preserves what matters most:

Natural hide flexibility
Original hair movement and texture
Soft hand feel—without stiffening or surface alteration

Hair-on-Hide Smooth Feel Scent Conditioner S Plus by Leather Doctor® is a leathery scent, nonstick, rub-resistant, soft, smooth-feeling conditioner that lubricates and increases hair resistance to rubbing breakage.