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Non-Absorbent Leather General Cleaning & Rinsing Instructions

For Protected Automotive Leather & Finished Leather Upholstery

Clean Appropriately. Rinse Completely. Dry Naturally. Inspect Carefully.

Leather Doctor® Non-Absorbent Leather General Cleaning & Rinsing System is a two-product cleaning process developed for routine cleaning and maintenance of protected, non-absorbent leather.

The system uses two complementary products:

Step 1 — Non-Absorbent Leather Foam Cleaner 6.5

A controlled-foam cleaner that loosens and lifts accessible surface soil and everyday contamination.

Step 2 — Non-Absorbent Leather Stabilizer Rinse 5.0

A dedicated rinse that removes residual cleaning materials and suspended contamination following the cleaning stage.

Together, these products provide a coordinated approach to general cleaning of protected leather surfaces without unnecessarily aggressive cleaning or excessive moisture.

The two products can be used together for general leather maintenance or incorporated into different Leather Doctor® care kits and specialized treatment systems according to the leather type and treatment objective.

The four-step Non-Absorbent Leather Anti-Urine System is one example of their additional application.

1. Suitable Leather Applications

This cleaning and rinsing system is developed for protected, non-absorbent finished leather, including:

  • Pigmented automotive leather

  • Protected automotive Nappa leather

  • Finished leather car seats

  • Protected leather sofas

  • Leather chairs and recliners

  • Office seating

  • Other protected leather upholstery

The system is particularly useful for modern automotive interiors where controlled moisture application is important.

Examples include:

  • Perforated seats

  • Ventilated seats

  • Seat bolsters

  • Headrests

  • Armrests

  • Stitched and seamed upholstery

  • Other detailed interior surfaces

Important: Select the cleaning system according to the leather's present condition and absorbency, rather than relying exclusively on its original material classification.

2. Understand the Two-Product Cleaning System

STEP 1 — CLEANING

Non-Absorbent Leather Foam Cleaner 6.5

The first stage loosens and lifts accessible surface contamination.

Typical cleaning targets include:

  • Dust

  • Sweat

  • Fingerprints

  • Light body oils

  • Skin residue

  • Light cosmetic contamination

  • Everyday environmental soil

  • General surface deposits

The controlled foam format allows the cleaner to be worked across the leather while minimizing unnecessary liquid application.

STEP 2 — RINSING

Non-Absorbent Leather Stabilizer Rinse 5.0

The second stage removes residual cleaning materials and suspended contamination.

The rinse completes the cleaning process and prepares the surface for natural drying and subsequent inspection.

A cleaner and a rinse perform different functions.

Cleaner — Loosen & Release

Rinse — Remove & Prepare

Both stages are important for completing the cleaning process.

3. Before You Begin

Inspect the Leather

Examine the surface for:

  • General soil accumulation

  • Fingerprints and body-contact deposits

  • Stickiness or tackiness

  • Excessive shine

  • Surface discoloration

  • Scratches and abrasions

  • Cracking or finish deterioration

  • Previous cleaning or conditioning residue

Determine whether the contamination is ordinary surface soil or a more specialized problem requiring a different treatment.

Check Surface Absorbency

Perform a Water Absorbency Test on an inconspicuous area and, when appropriate, directly on the affected area.

Protected leather should normally resist immediate water absorption.

If water readily absorbs into the affected leather, the protective finish may have deteriorated.

For absorbent or porous leather, select the appropriate Leather Doctor® absorbent-leather treatment rather than automatically proceeding with this non-absorbent cleaning system.

Perform a Preliminary Test

Before treating the complete surface:

  1. Select an inconspicuous area.

  2. Test Foam Cleaner 6.5.

  3. Complete the rinse with Stabilizer Rinse 5.0.

  4. Allow the area to dry naturally.

  5. Evaluate color, sheen, surface feel, and finish condition.

Proceed only when the test result is satisfactory.

4. Step-by-Step Cleaning Instructions

STEP 1 — Apply Non-Absorbent Leather Foam Cleaner 6.5

Objective: Loosen and lift accessible surface contamination.

  1. Dispense a controlled amount of Foam Cleaner 6.5 onto a suitable soft leather-cleaning brush or clean Microfiber Towel 3.

  2. Distribute the foam evenly over a manageable section.

  3. Work gently using light, controlled circular or back-and-forth motions.

  4. Allow the foam to loosen the surface soil.

  5. Avoid aggressive scrubbing and unnecessary pressure.

For perforated or ventilated seats, use the foam on the cleaning tool rather than flooding the surface directly.

Do not allow excessive liquid to enter perforations, ventilation holes, seams, stitching, or cushion structures.

Remove the Working Foam

  1. Wipe away the dirty foam and released contamination using a clean Microfiber Towel 3.

  2. Use a fresh section of the towel as the soil transfers.

  3. Replace the towel when it becomes excessively soiled.

  4. Continue until the accessible working foam and surface soil have been removed.

Do not simply spread the dirty working foam over adjacent leather.

STEP 2 — Apply Non-Absorbent Leather Stabilizer Rinse 5.0

Objective: Remove remaining cleaning materials and suspended contamination.

  1. Prepare the Stabilizer Rinse according to the supplied product-specific preparation instructions.

  2. Apply it using a clean Microfiber Towel 3 or the designated application method.

  3. Work systematically over the previously cleaned surface.

  4. Remove residual working materials with a clean towel.

  5. Use fresh towel sections as necessary to avoid redistributing contamination.

Avoid flooding perforations, ventilation openings, seams, stitching, and damaged areas.

The purpose of this stage is to complete the rinsing process, not simply to make the leather wet again.

STEP 3 — Natural Drying

Allow the leather to dry naturally in a well-ventilated area.

Avoid:

  • Hair dryers

  • Radiators

  • Direct heat sources

  • Excessive sunlight

  • Forced drying

Drying reveals the actual condition of the finished surface after cleaning.

STEP 4 — Inspect the Finished Surface

After complete drying, inspect:

  • Cleanliness

  • Surface feel

  • Tackiness or stickiness

  • Surface sheen

  • Color uniformity

  • Remaining contamination

  • Condition of the protective finish

Determine whether additional treatment is necessary.

Do not automatically repeat cleaning or apply conditioner simply because the surface has been cleaned.

Clean → Rinse → Dry → Inspect → Determine the Next Treatment

5. Special Considerations for Automotive Leather

Modern automotive interiors often include perforated and ventilated seating.

These areas require controlled application to avoid unnecessary liquid penetration.

Perforated Leather Seats

  • Apply foam to a suitable cleaning tool.

  • Work gently around the perforations.

  • Avoid flooding the holes.

  • Remove working foam promptly.

  • Use controlled application of the Stabilizer Rinse.

  • Remove excess moisture with a clean towel.

Seat Bolsters and High-Contact Areas

Side bolsters, seat bottoms, armrests, and steering-wheel contact areas may accumulate more body soil and surface deposits.

Clean systematically and evaluate each area separately.

Excessive shine may result from accumulated contamination, surface polishing through friction, or deterioration of the original finish.

Cleaning may remove contamination but cannot reverse actual finish wear.

Stitching and Seams

Use controlled moisture and gentle application.

Avoid saturating stitching, seams, and adjoining upholstery materials.

6. When General Cleaning Is Not Enough

Not every leather problem can be solved with routine foam cleaning and rinsing.

Heavy Oily or Sticky Contamination

Persistent grease, accumulated body oils, conditioner buildup, and heavy oily contamination may require a separate targeted treatment.

Do not compensate by applying excessive amounts of Foam Cleaner 6.5 or repeatedly scrubbing the surface.

Dye Transfer

Hair dye, clothing dye, ink, and other color-transfer contamination may require a specialized reverse-transfer or stain-removal treatment.

Routine cleaning alone should not be expected to remove all dye transfer.

Urine Contamination

For protected, non-absorbent leather affected by urine, the two-product cleaning pair forms the first two stages of the specialized four-step Anti-Urine System.

Finish Deterioration

Cracking, abrasion, peeling, and missing topcoat require separate repair or refinishing procedures.

Cleaning does not restore lost protective finish.

7. Applications in Other Leather Doctor® Treatment Systems

Non-Absorbent Leather Foam Cleaner 6.5 and Non-Absorbent Leather Stabilizer Rinse 5.0 are multipurpose products.

They are not exclusive to one treatment kit or contamination problem.

Depending on the leather type and treatment objective, they can be incorporated into different Leather Doctor® care kits and specialized treatment systems.

For example:

Four-Step Non-Absorbent Leather Anti-Urine System

Step 1 — Non-Absorbent Leather Foam Cleaner 6.5

Step 2 — Non-Absorbent Leather Stabilizer Rinse 5.0

Step 3 — Non-Absorbent Leather Anti-Urine 4.5

Step 4 — Non-Absorbent Leather Anti-Urine Post Rinse 6.0

The Foam Cleaner and Stabilizer Rinse retain their general-purpose identities even when included in this specialized four-step system.

Other applications should follow their respective kit instructions.

8. Important Precautions

  • Always perform an inconspicuous test before full application.

  • Confirm that the leather is suitable for the non-absorbent cleaning pathway.

  • Do not flood perforations, ventilation holes, seams, stitching, or damaged areas.

  • Avoid aggressive brushing and excessive pressure.

  • Remove dirty working foam rather than redistributing it.

  • Complete the rinsing stage.

  • Allow the leather to dry naturally.

  • Inspect before deciding on additional conditioning, repair, or refinishing.

  • Follow product-specific preparation instructions for any concentrate supplied.

9. Two-Product Cleaning System at a Glance

STEP 1 — CLEAN

Non-Absorbent Leather Foam Cleaner 6.5

Loosen and lift accessible surface contamination.

↓

STEP 2 — RINSE

Non-Absorbent Leather Stabilizer Rinse 5.0

Remove residual cleaning materials and suspended contamination.

↓

NATURAL DRYING

Allow the surface to dry completely.

↓

INSPECTION

Evaluate cleanliness, surface feel, sheen, and finish condition.

↓

NEXT TREATMENT

Select appropriate maintenance, conditioning, corrective treatment, or refinishing according to the actual condition of the leather.

Leather Doctor® Cleaning Philosophy

Effective leather care is not about using the strongest cleaner or applying the most moisture.

It is about selecting the appropriate cleaner, completing the rinsing process, and understanding the condition of the leather after it has dried.

Clean appropriately. Rinse completely. Dry naturally. Inspect carefully. Restore only what is needed.

Leather Doctor® — Restore Below, Refine Above.

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