Product Overview
What Causes Leather to Become Sticky or Tacky?
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Incompatible Conditioners:
Residue from non-leather-safe oily or waxy conditioners accumulates, turning sticky.
Recommended: Aniline Leather Cleaner & Conditioner Kit A3. -
Deteriorating Topcoat Finishes:
Bicast, pigmented, or simulated leather may lose their topcoat, becoming tacky.
Recommended: Bicast Leather Sticky Topcoat Refinishing Kit B7. -
Sweat and Alkaline Damage:
Leather exposed to aging sweat or alkaline cleaners (especially on pH-sensitive leathers like aniline, vachetta, or nubuck) denatures into sticky rawhide.
- Sweat shifts pH, leaching tanning agents.
- Leather is amphoteric and reacts negatively to pH imbalance (ideal pH: 3–5).
Key Insight:
Most sticky conditions are worsened by alkaline cleaners, disrupting leather's ionic balance.
Product Summary
Kit L7 Includes:
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 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 pH Cleaner 1.5 Working System:
pH 1.5 is part of a holistic Leather-Safe™ restoration system designed to correct leather denaturing caused by alkaline exposure (e.g., sticky, slimy, or discoloration).
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.
It prevents leather from denaturing, which can lead to bleeding, streaking, tackiness, and structural weakness due to alkaline overexposure.
After exposure to alkaline products (alkaline cleaners, soap, ammonia, baking soda, saddle soap, dish detergent, etc.)
To rectify tackiness, dullness, or streaking from alkaline overexposure
To stabilize and restore the leather’s natural pH balance
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.
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 It 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.
How It Works:
Application Process:
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.
Key Benefits:
Tools:
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 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 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.
Step 1: Decontaminate and pH-Balance
Products: pH 1.5 + Acidifier 2.0
- Remove dry soil.
- Apply pH 1.5, agitate with Brush 1, and extract with a clean towel.
- Apply Acidifier 2.0, brush, and extract again until the towel shows clean.
- Repeat Acidifier 2.0 application to saturate the leather, allow to dwell, then extract again.
- Continue until stickiness significantly reduces.
- While still damp, proceed to Step 2.
Step 2: Hydrate and Soften
Products: Hydrator 3.3 + Fatliquor 5.0
- Apply Hydrator 3.3, brush in, and extract. Repeat as needed to flush out contamination and redistribute displaced tanning agents.
- While leather is damp, apply Fatliquor 5.0 in multiple light applications until saturated.
- Allow water content to evaporate naturally; only fat and oil remain in the leather.
- Remove surface residue with Hydrator 3.3 and let dry.
- Before fully dry, flex or massage the leather for softness.
Step 3: Impart Non-Stick Protection
Product: Protector B
- When dry, apply Protector B evenly with a foam brush or towel.
- Leather is now ready for use.
Updated: June 4, 2025 by Roger Koh.