Product Overview
Nubuck Care Kit N3 by Leather Doctor is a leather-safe system for cleaning, rinsing, hydrating, softening, and conditioning Nubuck without common side effects.
Kit N3 is an innovative system for keeping Nubuck at its highest level of appearance at all times, maintaining its pH chemistry integrity, enhancing its suppleness, retaining its characteristic finger-writing effect, and preventing premature aging. Nubuck that faces the sun, closed to a fireplace, and heaters dry out its fat liquor (the lifeblood of leather) fades, and stiffs out its suppleness. Fatliquor diminishes through evaporation, resulting in the structure fibers being stuck closer together, causing stiffness, and can easily lead to rips, tears, or cracks during use. Nubuck suppleness is maintained with periodic hydration to plump the stick-together fibers and fatliquoring with Hydrator 3.3 and Fatliquor 5.0 systems, thus reducing premature aging against stiffness and cracking. Nubuck surface wear is greatly reduced in preventive care with a rub-resistant Conditioner S that enhances a non-stick smooth feel to shield against sticky soiling, and S Plus further imparts a leather scent to charm. Periodic cleaning and rinsing with Nubuck 4.5, followed by Rinse 3.0, for the body contact areas such as the headrest and armrest, help reduce greasy soiling build-up. Restorative cleaning and occasional general stain removal are accomplished with Prep 4.4 before resorting to specialty cleaners. Accumulative soiling, accidental spills, forgotten stains, neglected odor, fading and aging with time, holistic problem solving approach comes handy with Nubuck Leather Problem Solving Matrix, with five category of identification including Soil, Stain, Odor, Finish and Structure problems with a matching product sequence of steps, keeping it close to showroom condition.
Kit N3 concentrates require 1072g or 1.1 quart distilled water to be mixed and added to 1.5 inches below the top of the 8oz bottles before use.
Instruction:
Prep 4.4 is a pH4.4 nubuck-safe restorative cleaner, works on general accumulated soiling and aged conditioners. A holistic restorative cleaning system follows with Nubuck 4.5 and and rinse with Rise 3.0.
1.1: Prep 4.4 is applied thinly and works with a nylon Brush 2 and Eraser 4 on heavily soiled areas.
1.2: Prep 4.4 suspended soiling is towel extracted before dries until it shows clean and continues general cleaning with Cleaner 3.8.
Nubuck 4.5 is a pH4.5 universal mild cleaner without the potential side effects associated with rings and browning for Nubuck. A holistic cleaning and rinsing system completes with Rinse 3.0.
2.1: Nubuck 4.5 concentrate 1: 64 is mixed with 224g distilled water or 1.5 inches from the top of the 8oz bottle before use.
2.2: Nubuck 4.5 is applied and brushed with a nylon Brush 2..
2.3: Nubuck 4.5 suspended soiling is extracted with a dry absorbent towel until it shows clean and proceed to rinse with Rinse 3.0
Rinse 3.0 is a pH3.0 rinse for removing residue soiling that also functions as a pH balancer to strengthen nubuck from denaturing. It removes suspended soiling by towel extraction and ionic positive (+ve) charges to increase the ionic attraction between the negative (-ve) constituents like the tanning agent, dyestuff, and fat liquor from common tackiness and bleeding side effects.
Hydrator 3.3 is a pH3.3 hydrating conditioner to relax and stretch out stiffness, creases, and wrinkles before fat liquoring. It facilitates colloidal water movement, reactivating the dormant dyestuff to resurface and reducing surface inter-facial tension for an even appearance. Softening is accomplished with Fatliquor 5.0.
4.1: Hydrator 3.3 concentrate 1: 25 is mixed with 218g distilled water or 1.5 inches from the top of the 8oz bottle before use.
4.2: Hydrator 3.3 is applied and brushed with a horsehair Brush 1 with a deep even saturating appearance, massaged, and stretched to dimension.
4.3: Hydrator 3.3, wicked soiling is extracted with a dry, absorbent towel, and proceed with fatliquoring.
Fatliquor 5.0 is a pH5.0 micro-emulsion of fat, oil, and water for conditioning nubuck to its original softness and strength. In application, the water-encased fat and oil molecules break free when the attraction between the nubuck protein fibers takes place. The excess free water wicks out leaving a breathing space behind for Nubuck's natural transpiration.
5.1: Fatliquor 5.0 concentrate 1: 5 is mixed with 189g distilled water or 1.5 inches from the top of the 8oz bottle before use.
5.2: Fatliquor 5.0 is applied and redistributed with a brush or pad for even saturation and leaves to dry naturally.
5.3: Fatliquor 5.0 is repeated each cycle water contents evaporate leaving behind the fat and oil content until it absorbs no more.
5.4: Fatliquored fullness is allowed natural drying for extra softness.
5.5: Fatliquored desired suppleness is further staked, massaged, and flexed accordingly with a little wet back with Hydrator 3.3 until dry.
Conditioner S is a smooth-feel, nonstick, rub-resistant, non-film-forming conditioner to shield the detrimental effects of sticky soiling with a finger writing effect. Its breathable barrier increases resistance to wet and dry rubs, thus reducing stretch, scuff, and abrasion.
6.1: Conditioner W concentrate 1:19 is mixed with 217g distilled water or 1.5 inches from the top of the 8oz bottle before use.
6.2: Conditioner W is applied, spread with a brush or a folded towel, is left to dry, and ready to use.
People Also Ask:
1: What is Nubuck Preventive Care?
2: What is Nubuck Routine Care?
3: What is Nubuck Periodic Care?
4: What is Nubuck Restorative Care?
5: How to Identify Nubuck Stains?
6: How to Use Nubuck Leather Problem Matrix?
7: Technical Help and Support?
1: What is Nubuck Preventive Care?
Nubuck preventive care involves applying a non-stick, rub-resistant, breathable conditioner that shields from sticky soiling, thus prolonging its high level of appearance at all times. It is recommended to apply the protector before putting the nubuck to use. Conditioner S imparts a soft, natural, smooth feel that enhances the nubuck, giving it a luxurious feel to the touch. S Plus diffuses a classic leather scent that makes the sensuous nubuck even more appealing to leather lovers.
2: What is Nubuck Routine Care?
Nubuck routine care includes procedures such as general dust cleaning, attending to spots and stains as required especially the pH balancing of sweat stains with Rinse 3.0 from shifting alkaline. Thus prevents nubuck from tackiness. A routine non-stick rub-resistant conditioning with Conditioner S after neutralizing rinse helps keep nubuck in a more attractive and healthy state while preventing premature wear.
3: What is Nubuck Periodic Care?
Nubuck periodic care is recommended with Nubuck 4.5 to clean soiling from damaging the nap. Cleaning and rinsing with Rinse 3.0 keeps Nubuck consistently clean and healthy. Body contact areas require more frequent attention than unused areas. The headrest, handrest, and handles are particularly affected by body oil and sweat contact. Conditioner S keeps the nap nonstick and smooth with a characteristic writing effect.
4: What is Nubuck Restorative Care?
Nubuck restorative care is the ultimate care system that removes accumulated soiling, including aged conditioners. Accumulated soiling that fills creases is often mistaken for cracks. Prep 4.4 is used to perform restorative cleaning and works by a chemical reaction to emulsify soiling through its penetrating, lubricating, and suspending power. Detailing Nubuck Brush 2 is recommended to work into heavily soiled areas sufficiently to avoid excessive brushing that might damage already weakened nubuck on heavily used areas. Residual soiling is removed with Nubuck 4.5, rinse with Rinse 3.0 to a healthy squeaky feel and Conditioner S to impart a nonstick and smooth feel with a characteristic writing effect.
5: How to Identify Nubuck Stains?
Stains are identified by: Appearance, Odor, Color, Feel-of-Hand, Location, and Buildup or Absorbed!
5.1: Appearance
5.2: Stain identification by appearance will show whether it is characteristic of a spill, rub-on, penetrated or deposited.
5.3: Stain may also reveal dye or finish damages caused by the stain.
5.4: Odor
5.5: Odor-by-smell identification can be helpful in positive stain identification.
5.6: Odors such as moldy, smoke, putrid, or ammonia from urine are some common stains identified by smell.
5.7: Color
5.8: Color stain identification will also give a clue to the staining stuff.
5.9: Color stains from beverages, nail polish, lipstick, blood, or others could all appear red.
5.10: Color identification may not be right with time and oxidization, a red bloodstain may turn from tan to black.
5.11: Color of the leather may mesmerize or alter the appearance of the stain.
5.12: Feel of Hand
5.13: Feel-of-hand stain identification may help determine the stain types.
5.14: Feel sticky and appear red as a candy, beverage, or sugar substance.
5.15: Feel brittle and stiff could be a nail polish, shellac, or paint stain.
5:16: Feel the smear by hand could be a grease-base stain as lipstick.
5.16: Location
5.17: Location may give a clue as to the makeup of the staining substance in visual inspection and identification.
5.18: Location on the headrest and armrest of furniture is common with dark stains from body oil, grease, and sweat.
5.20: Buildup or Absorbed
5.21: Stains may take several appearances.
5.22: Stains accumulate mostly on top of non-absorbent pigmented leathers.
5.23: Stains are mostly absorbed on unfinished, Vachetta, aniline, and nubuck leathers.
5.24: Stains can also be combined, absorbed, and built up.
5.25: Stains absorbed indicate it was a liquid before it penetrated the leather.
5.26: Stains that are liquid stain may have chemically changed, destabilized the leather chemistry integrity, and altered its appearance.
5.27: Example of sweat stains often react with absorbent leathers and denature them.
5.28: Examples of stains affecting the tanning agent manifest as tackiness when dry and sliminess when wet are detected by the feel of hand.
5.29: Examples of stains affecting the dyestuff occur when color appears during wet wiping with a white absorbent towel.
5.30: Examples of stains affecting the fat liquored fat and oil leaching out as a milky film known as spew, the leather becomes stiff, loses its tensile strength, and cracks when stressed.
5.31: In any event, the leather may show a marked color change in that area after spotting, and possibly after cleaning.
5.32: Examples of built-up stains include paint and some foodstuff, etc.
5.33: Examples of absorbed stains include beverages, wine, tea, coffee, etc.
5.34: Examples of combination stains include lipstick, ink, mustard, etc.
5.35: Most absorbed stains will have part of their staining stuff absorbed into the leather and part accumulated on its surface.
5.36: A stain may also be a substance that has wet solvent-soluble and dry solvent-soluble components combined.
5.37: Examples of a compound stain would be gravy which contains grease, flour (from a plant), and milk (from an animal).
5.38: Examples of paint-type stains are readily detected because of their stiff nature and generally bright colors and they seem to be sitting on top of the leather.
5.39: When identifying stains always try to determine whether they are of a protein, cellulose, oil-based, or a colloidal make-up in nature.
5.40: Three common types of soiling or stain are solvent-soluble, water-soluble, and insoluble.
5.41: Stains are often of a combination in nature, and in most instances, there will be no information regarding the stain especially if they are bought used.
6: How to Use Nubuck Leather Problem Matrix?
Problems associated with Nubuck are grouped as Soil, Stain, Odor, Finish, and Structure in the left column, and the products recommended are listed on the first row. The numbers represent the sequence of steps to solve a problem holistically. For example, an unknown compound problem may include soil, stain, and odor, and they can be combined in a line sequence to reduce duplicating that ends with Hydrator 3.3, Fatliquor 5.0, and Conditioner S.
7: Technical Help and Support?
Your opinions and insights are precious and will help us solve your leather problem more efficiently.
Updated January 3, 2025, by Roger Koh.