Leather Degreaser, Hydrator, and Softener Kit DHS3 by Leather Doctor® safely and effectively degreases, cleans, pH-balances, hydrates, softens, and protects old, stiff leather.
Although Kit DHS3 is primarily focused on degreasing, hydrating, and softening leather, a holistic full leather care product in the Leather Doctor system is also explored accordingly.
Why is there a need to degrease leather of body oil, grease, and sweat?
Body oil, grease, and sweat damage leather’s structure.
These contaminants penetrate into the leather’s absorbent structure, especially in unfinished leathers (like Vachetta, Nubuck, Aniline, Suede,) or worn finished leather.
Oils and grease displace the original fatliquor (fat and oil that keeps leather flexible), leading to stiffness, cracking, and weakening of the fibers.
Sweat introduces urea and salts, which break down the leather’s protein structure (collagen), causing stickiness, discoloration, and brittleness.
They cause pH imbalance and destabilization.
Leather is acidic in nature (typically around pH 3–5). Body oils and sweat (alkaline when dry) shift the pH upwards.
This alkaline overexposure weakens the ionic bonds that hold the leather’s structure together, accelerating deterioration.
Left untreated, this can lead to permanent damage — dark stains, hardening, cracking, and ultimately loss of structural integrity.
Why Degreaser 2.2?
Degreaser 2.2 is pH 2.2 and formulated to emulsify and suspend body oil, grease, and sweat for easy removal.
It penetrates deeply into the leather to break up and loosen these contaminants without harming the leather.
Its acidic pH helps begin the rebalancing of the leather’s pH toward its natural acidic state.
Why follow with Acidifier 2.0?
Acidifier 2.0 (pH 2.0) completes the pH balancing process. It:
Tightens and stabilizes the leather’s protein structure.
Neutralizes any residual alkaline contamination.
Helps reduce darkening or marks caused by sweat (especially in unfinished leathers).
Prepares the leather for hydration, fatliquoring, refinishing, or protection.
Summary of the need
Degreasing and acidifying are essential to:
Remove harmful contamination.
Restore pH balance and prevent further damage.
Prepare leather to accept conditioning and refinishing.
Extend the life and appearance of the leather.
What is the Specialty Function of Leather pH Cleaner 1.5?
Leather pH Cleaner 1.5 is a specialty cleaner designed with two key roles:
Break down and suspend alkaline contamination
Leather pH Cleaner 1.5 has a pH of 1.5 — highly acidic compared to leather’s native pH (typically 3–5).
It is specifically formulated to neutralize and break down alkaline contamination, such as:
- Sweat residues (which are alkaline and can destabilize the leather structure)
- Alkaline cleaners or spills
- Grease, body oil and sweat compounds that have shifted the leather’s pH balance
By neutralizing these contaminants, it prevents further damage like denaturation of leather fibers, stickiness, or stiffness.
Deep cleaning while preserving leather chemistry
It is not just an acidifier — it cleans by suspending foreign soiling at a pH that leather tolerates safely during corrective cleaning.
It helps remove:
- Embedded grime that resists normal cleaners
- Residual soiling after degreasing or alkaline exposure
Its low pH helps precondition the leather to accept subsequent pH balancing and conditioning treatments.
Why this specialty matters
Leather is an amphoteric protein material: if the pH drifts too high (alkaline), its structure weakens.
pH Cleaner 1.5 restores the environment toward the acidic side while cleaning, setting the stage for Acidifier 2.0 to complete the balancing and strengthening of the fiber structure.
Summary of the specialty function
Leather pH Cleaner 1.5 is a pH-corrective cleaner that:
Neutralizes and breaks down alkaline contamination
Suspends and removes foreign soiling
Prepares the leather’s pH environment for effective acidification, hydration, and fatliquoring
Why Leather pH Cleaner 1.5 is always followed by Acidifier 2.0
Leather pH Cleaner 1.5 is a cleaner first, not just an acidifier.
While it has a low pH (1.5), its primary role is to clean, suspend soiling, break down alkaline contamination (like sweat residue), and remove unwanted substances that destabilize the leather structure.
In the process of cleaning, it may leave behind traces of residues, or the cleaning action may further disturb the pH balance at the leather’s surface or within the fiber structure.
Acidifier 2.0 ensures pH balance, charge alignment, and fiber reconditioning.
Acidifier 2.0’s role is to finalize the pH balancing process. It helps:
- Re-align the ionic (+ve and -ve) charges of the leather’s protein fibers, tightening the fibrils and restoring structural integrity.
- Neutralize any residual cleaner, ensuring no unwanted residues or over-acidification remains.
- Promote suppleness by helping the fibers stay in their healthy, slightly acidic native state (around pH 3–5).
Sequential synergy — one prepares, the other stabilizes.
pH Cleaner 1.5 prepares the leather by cleaning and addressing contamination.
Acidifier 2.0 follows to ensure the leather's chemistry is properly restored, and the leather fibers are ready for further treatments like hydration, fatliquoring, or protection.
Analogy
You can think of it like washing your hair with a clarifying shampoo (pH Cleaner 1.5) to strip away buildup, followed by a rinse conditioner (Acidifier 2.0) to restore softness and seal the cuticle — except here, it's for leather fibers!
Why Leather needs further hydrating and fatliquoring to restore, maintain, and prolong its suppleness, strength, and durability after acidifying rinse. Here’s the reasoning:
Why leather needs hydrating
Leather is fibrous and absorbent: Leather is made from collagen fibers that need moisture to stay flexible and resilient. Without proper hydration, these fibers shrink, stiffen, and may crack.
Loss of moisture over time: Leather naturally loses its original moisture due to evaporation, aging, environmental exposure (sun, heat, low humidity), and routine use.
Hydrator 3.3 (pH 3.3): Leather Doctor’s Hydrator 3.3 is designed to redistribute the leather’s internal moisture, relax stiffness, and open up the fibrous structure to receive fatliquor.
Hydration helps displacement of contamination: Hydrating helps displace impurities and suspended soiling within the leather structure during restoration.
Why leather needs fatliquoring
Leather naturally loses its original moisture due to evaporation, aging, environmental exposure (sun, heat, low humidity), and routine use. Fatliquor replaces essential fat and oil lost over time: Original fatliquor applied during tanning gradually diminishes with age, use, or improper cleaning. This loss leaves leather dry, brittle, and prone to cracking. Fatliquor restores softness and strength: Fatliquor (like Leather Doctor® Fatliquor 5.0 or Leather Scent Fatliquor 5.0 Plus) reintroduces fat and oil that coat and lubricate individual collagen fibrils. This allows the leather to flex without damage. Fatliquoring enhances tensile strength: Adequately fatliquored leather resists breakage because the fibrils slide over each other smoothly rather than sticking and tearing. Preservation of dimensional stability: Fatliquor helps leather retain its shape by keeping the internal structure balanced and elastic.
The Leather Doctor® principle:
“Fat and oil, in the correct pH range and ratio, are the lifeblood of leather. Without them, leather dies by stiffening, cracking, and disintegrating.”
Summary:
In the Leather Doctor® system:
Hydration prepares, relaxes, and opens up the leather structure.
Fatliquoring replenishes the essential fat and oil that give leather its life — softness, strength, flexibility, and resistance to cracking.
Why is Leather Protector B recommended after fatliquoring?
After leather has been hydrated (with Hydrator 3.3) and fatliquored (with Fatliquor 5.0 or Fatliquor 5.0 Plus), the leather's structure has been internally restored — its softness, suppleness, and strength are revived by replenishing its fat and oil content. However, this internal conditioning does not protect the leather’s surface from future soiling, wear, or environmental exposure.
That’s where Protector B comes in:
Key reasons Protector B is applied after fatliquoring:
Forms a non-stick, rub-resistant barrier
Protector B imparts a smooth-feel, breathable protective layer that resists the adhesion of sticky soiling, dust, and dirt. This prevents grime from penetrating or clinging to the leather’s surface.
Reduces friction and abrasion
The rub-resistant property reduces frictional wear — important for high-contact areas like seats, armrests, or bag handles.
Enhances longevity of fatliquoring
While fatliquor conditions internally, Protector B shields externally. This synergy ensures the leather stays soft and supple longer because soiling and friction damage (which accelerate fatliquor loss) are minimized.
Maintains appearance and touch
Protector B helps maintain the desired tactile character — a buttery smooth feel without stickiness, keeping the leather pleasant to handle and look at.
Makes future cleaning easier
By preventing soiling from bonding, future cleaning becomes less invasive, reducing the need for aggressive cleaners that could strip away fatliquor or damage the leather.
In short:
Fatliquor nourishes the inside; Protector B shields the outside.
Applying Protector B after fatliquoring completes the Leather Doctor® restoration cycle by ensuring the leather stays clean, beautiful, and protected against future wear.
Kit DHS3 concentrates contents require 1049g (1.15 quarts) distilled water to be mixed and filled before use with these selected leather-safe products:
Kit DHS3 Product Summary Includes:
Leather Degreaser 2.2
Leather pH Cleaner 1.5
Leather Acidifier 2.0
Leather Hydrator 3.3
Leather Fatliquor 5.0
Leather Protector B
Brush 1
Foam 2
Towel 5
A holistic system includes a dovetailing process with these bundled products.
Leather Degreaser 2.2 by Leather Doctor® is a professional-grade, water-based solution formulated to remove body oils, grease, and sweat from leather surfaces.
Degreaser 2.2 Key Benefits:
Deep-Cleansing, Leather-Safe Degreaser for All Leather Types:
Ideal for use on headrests, armrests, collars, cuffs, handles, and steering wheels, this powerful cleaner penetrates deep to lift embedded grime while maintaining the integrity of the leather.
With a pH value of 2.2, Degreaser 2.2 is leather-safe and prevents common issues like dye bleeding and surface damage. Unlike harsh solvent-based alternatives, it cleans effectively without drying out or weakening the leather structure.
Suitable for all leather types—including absorbent and sensitive finishes like Nubuck and suede—Degreaser 2.2 is an essential tool for restoring and preserving leather’s natural beauty, softness, and longevity.
Leather pH Cleaner 1.5 by Leather Doctor® is a pH 1.5 balanced specialty cleaner that controls leather from bleeding, water spots, and becoming sticky.
pH 1.5 Key Benefits:
pH 1.5 is a low pH (1.5) ionic, negatively charged (-ve) water-based restorative cleaner specially designed to neutralize and balance side effects on leather and suede caused by alkaline overexposure—such as bleeding, discoloration, or stickiness.
Leather has a natural pH range of 3 to 5. When exposed to products with high pH (alkaline)—like saddle soap, baking soda, dish detergent, above pH 7, or harsh commercial cleaners—the leather structure becomes denatured, leading to long-term damage. pH 1.5 reintroduces acidity (extra H⁺ ions) to protonate the protein fibers, helping to restore the leather’s integrity and bring it back to its healthy, pH-balanced state.
How Leather pH Cleaner 1.5 Works:
pH 1.5 functions by restoring the leather’s pH balance through its low pH value of 1.5. This acidic solution increases the ionic positive (+ve) attraction of the amphoteric leather protein fibers, allowing them to form hydrogen bonds with negatively charged (-ve) leather constituents.
This action helps to:
Stabilize migrating tanning agents that would otherwise leach out and revert the leather to sticky rawhide.
Anchor dyestuffs that may bleed or shift due to pH imbalance.
Retain fatliquor content (fats and oils) that are essential for softness and suppleness—preventing stiffness when the leather dries.
Leather Acidifier 2.0 by Leather Doctor® is a pH 2.0 acidic rinse designed to control, neutralize, and restore leather’s natural pH balance.
Acidifier 2.0 prevents leather from denaturing, which can lead to bleeding, streaking, tackiness, and structural weakness due to alkaline overexposure.
Acidifier 2.0 Key Benefits:
Neutralizes alkaline contamination from cleaners, sweat, and body oils
Prevents dye bleeding and color streaking
Reduces leather tackiness and improves texture
Strengthens leather fibers and enhances structural integrity
Leather Hydrator 3.3 by Leather Doctor® is a pH 3.3 conditioner that softens stiff leather by relaxing fibers and prepping it for effective fatliquoring.
Hydrator 3.3 Key Benefits:
Restores Leather Softness & Flexibility – Relaxes stiff fibers and prevents brittleness
Smooths Out Creases & Wrinkles – Prepares leather for optimal conditioning
Reactivates Dormant Dyestuff – Helps resurface color for a more even appearance
Facilitating Colloidal Water Movement - Redistributing and balancing leather constituents
Prepares for Fatliquoring – Enhances absorption of essential oils and fats
Residue-Free & Non-Sticky – Ensures a clean, breathable finish
How Hydrator 3.3 Works:
Hydrator 3.3 penetrates deeply into the leather, reducing surface tension and facilitating colloidal movement to redistribute and balance the leather constituents, reactivate dyestuff, and even out color inconsistencies.
It plumps the leather structure, making it more receptive to fatliquoring with Fatliquor 5.0, which restores essential oils for long-term suppleness and durability.
Leather Fatliquor 5.0 by Leather Doctor is a pH 5.0 micro-emulsion of fat, oil, and water to restore the leather's original softness, strength, and flexibility.
Fatliquor 5.0 Key Benefits:
Replenishes Essential Fats & Oils - Prevents leather from drying, stiffening, or cracking
Enhances Leather’s Suppleness & Elasticity - Maintains a soft, luxurious feel
Strengthens Leather Fibers - Improves tensile strength and durability
Creates a Breathable Structure - Ensures leather remains pliable without feeling greasy
Prevents Brittleness & Fiber Breakage - Essential for long-term leather preservation
How Fatliquor 5.0 Works:
When applied, the water-encased fat and oil molecules penetrate deep into the leather fibers.
As the water gradually evaporates, the fat and oil molecules hydrogen bond with the fibers, creating a breathable, flexible structure that enhances leather’s resilience and longevity.
Leather Protector B by Leather Doctor® is a pH 3.2 non-stick, rub-resistant conditioner that enhances smooth leather’s durability while providing a soft, buttery feel. Protector B Key Benefits:
Tools:
Leather Brush 1
Brush 1 by Leather Doctor is a detailing horsehair brush designed for gentle, scratch-free cleaning on all smooth leathers.
Features & Benefits:
✔ Soft Horsehair Bristles – Ensures safe cleaning without scratching or damaging leather surfaces
✔ Ergonomic Grooved Grip – Provides comfort and control for effortless detailing
✔ Sturdy & Durable Design – Built for long-term use in leather maintenance
✔ Ideal for Deep Pore Cleaning – Effectively loosens embedded dirt and grime without harming the finis
Perfect for use with Leather Doctor’s leather-safe cleaners to maintain leather’s pristine condition.
Foam Brush 2
Foam 2 is a 2-inch high-density polyfoam brush designed for durable, precise, and smooth application of leather care products.
Features & Benefits
✔ High-Density Polyfoam – Resists tearing and shredding for long-lasting use
✔ Even Product Distribution – Ensures smooth, streak-free application
✔ Controlled Absorption – Holds and releases product efficiently for optimal coverage
✔ Versatile Use – Ideal for applying dyes, finishes, and conditioners on leather and sued
Perfect for professional and DIY leather care applications, delivering a consistent and flawless finish.
Towel 5
Towel 5 by Leather Doctor is a high-performance, lint-free paper towel designed to perform like cloth for efficient cleaning and drying without leaving residues
Features & Benefits
✔ Lint-Free – Leaves no fibers or residues behind
✔ Highly Absorbent – Quickly absorbed suspended soiling
✔ Stretchable & Durable – Strong enough for repeated use without tearing
✔ Washable & Reusable – Can be rinsed and reused for multiple application
Perfect ensuring a smooth and effective leather care process.
Leather Doctor Degreasing System
Sequence:
- Degreaser 2.2 + Acidifier 2.0 → inspect → repeat as needed → pH Cleaner 1.5 + Acidifier 2.0 → final inspection
- Hydrator 3.3 + Fatliquor 5.0
- Protector B
Dry Prep
- Vacuum or brush off dust and loose soiling.
Degreasing Phase
Product: Degreaser 2.2
- Shake well to gel and apply generously to greasy/oily areas.
- Agitate with Nubuck Brush 2, Leather Brush 1, or Leather Eraser 4 (depending on nap or finish type).
- Let dwell 10–30 minutes — monitor to avoid drying on the surface.
- Blot up suspended grease with clean absorbent towel.
Product: Acidifier 2.0
- Apply over the degreased area.
- Brush gently to aid penetration and pH balance.
- Blot with fresh towel to remove emulsified residues.
Inspect
- Allow leather to dry naturally (room temp, no forced heat).
- Examine for residual darkening, stickiness, or oiliness.
Repeat Degreaser 2.2 + Acidifier 2.0 if needed
Reapply to persistent contaminated spots.
Follow same steps above.
Final Decontamination Phase
Product: pH 1.5
- Apply evenly over area (adjust quantity based on absorbency — more for nubuck/aniline, less for pigmented).
- Work in with brush or towel.
Product: Acidifier 2.0
- Apply over the area immediately after pH 1.5 to further pH balance and rinse out residues.
- Blot with clean towel.
Final Inspection
- Allow to dry naturally.
- Ensure the leather appears uniform, clean, and free of stickiness or darkening.
- Surface should feel clean and balanced (not tacky).
Ready for Rejuvenation
If satisfied, proceed to:
Hydrator 3.3 → Fatliquor 5.0 → Protector B as appropriate.
Hydrating Phase
Product: Hydrator 3.3
- Dilute Hydrator 3.3 (1:25 ratio with 218g distilled water).
- Apply and work into the leather, focusing on stitching, micro-cracks, or the reverse side.
- For stiff leather, cover with a Hydrator-soaked Towel 5 for 1–72 hours to allow deep soaking.
- When leather becomes relaxed, massage and reshape it to original form.
- Blot out excess Hydrator, then proceed with Fatliquor while leather is damp.
Fatliquoring Phase
Product: Fatliquor 5.0
- Shake and dilute Fatliquor 5.0 (1:1 with 189g distilled water).
- Apply in coats, allowing water to evaporate between applications.
- Continue layering until leather is saturated and won't absorb more.
- If surface appears milky, drive residue in or rinse with Hydrator 3.3.
- Let it air dry, then massage, flex, and stake the leather for final softness.
Protection Phase
Product: Protector B
- Dilute Protector B (1:19 ratio with 215g distilled water).
- Apply lightly by brush or pad, allow to dry.
- Leaves a buttery-smooth feel, helps resist future soiling and friction damage.
Your opinions, insights and review are precious and will help us to improve our writing and solve your leather problem more efficiently.
Edited: December 7, 2024| December 17, 2024 | April 25, 2025 | June 25, 2025 | July 1, 2025 by Roger Koh
Increases Wet & Dry Rub Resistance – Reduces stretch, scuffing, and wear.
