Nubuck Degreaser 2.2

Nubuck Degreaser 2.2 by Leather Doctor® is a pH 2.2 water-based degreaser for removing body oil, grease, and sweat stains from sensitive Nubuck leather.

Designed to clean without drying the leather like solvent-based products—commonly found on headrests, armrests, seat cushions, collars, cuffs, and handles.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Dry Soil Removal

Before using Degreaser 2.2, remove all dry soiling:

• Use a nylon brush for general cleaning (wet or dry).
• Rub with Eraser 4 to lift sticky grime and deteriorating naps.
• After erasing, vacuum thoroughly to remove all dry particles.

2. Apply Degreaser 2.2

• Shake well until the product forms a complete gel.
• Saturate the stained area using a brush and eraser to agitate and work the product in.
• Extract with Towel 5 or a dry, highly absorbent towel—repeat until the towel shows clean.
• For stubborn or deep stains, reapply and let dwell 5–60 minutes, making sure it doesn’t dry. Then extract again.

3. Rinse with Nubuck Rinse 3.0

• Apply Rinse 3.0 to flush out suspended soiling.
• Blot and extract with a clean towel, using fresh folds until they come out clean and dry.

4. pH Balance with Nubuck Acidifier 2.0

• To neutralize tackiness and restore proper pH from sweat or alkaline exposure, saturate the area with Acidifier 2.0.
• Extract with a clean towel until it shows no more soiling to a healthy, squeaky feel.
• If needed, follow with Hydrator 3.3 to remove any deep remaining residue.

5. Deep Clean with Nubuck Hydrator 3.3

• Apply Hydrator 3.3 generously to the area to deeply saturate and loosen remaining soiling.
• Extract using a clean towel until it lifts clean.
• For extra effectiveness, press down through the towel with a spatula or spoon to wick up deeper residues.
• Let air-dry naturally and inspect.

People Also Ask:

1. How to Remove Penetrated Soiling from Nubuck with the Reverse-Transfer Technique?
2. How to Restore Nubuck Softness and Strength After Cleaning?
3. What is the Optimum Fatliquor Content in Healthy Nubuck?
4. What is the Nature of Nubuck Leather?
5. What is Nubuck-Safe Degreasing? 

Nubuck Leather Care FAQ – Leather Doctor® System

1. How to Remove Penetrated Soiling from Nubuck with the Reverse-Transfer Technique?

To extract deeply penetrated soiling from Nubuck:

• Saturate the leather with Hydrator 3.3 to relax the structure and allow soiling to resurface.
• Prepare Towel 5 by wet-stretching it flat over the stain using a soft brush, ensuring it makes tight contact with the surface—this eliminates air pockets.
• Let it dry naturally.
• Once the towel becomes crisp and dry, peel it off to remove the wicked-up soiling from beneath the surface.

This process draws contaminants out of the leather through a capillary action and traps them in the towel.

2. How to Restore Nubuck Softness and Strength After Cleaning?

Once cleaning is complete and the leather is free of stains and soiling:

1. Hydrate the Nubuck with Hydrator 3.3 to relax the leather fiber structure.
2. Fatliquor with Fatliquor 5.0 to replenish essential fat and oil for suppleness and strength.
3. Clean off surface residue left by fatliquoring using Hydrator 3.3 for a fresh, soft finish.

This process prevents drying, stiffness, or cracking, and restores the leather’s luxurious feel.

3. What is the Optimum Fatliquor Content in Healthy Nubuck?

• A healthy Nubuck should retain a fatliquor (fat and oil) moisture content of up to 14%.
• This can be measured with a leather moisture meter.
• When moisture content drops below 7%, signs of dry rot, fading, and stiffness increase significantly.

Regular fatliquoring is critical to maintaining Nubuck’s resilience and appearance.

4. What is the Nature of Nubuck Leather?

Nubuck is both hydrophilic (water-absorbing) and oleophilic (oil-absorbing), making it highly susceptible to:

• Body oil, grease, and sweat from contact areas like collars, armrests, or headrests.
• Contamination that, over time, denatures the protein fiber, causing:
• Tackiness or sticky feel.
• Dark spots from tannin migration.
• White blotches from displaced fat.
• Dye bleeding, especially on sensitive or darker tones.

Due to this absorbency, Nubuck requires specialized, pH-sensitive care.

5. What is Nubuck-Safe Degreasing?

Nubuck-safe degreasing respects the leather’s amphoteric protein structure and follows tannery science:

• The leather fiber is recharged to a positive ionic state (+ve) by using Degreaser 2.2 (pH 2.2)—this is below Nubuck’s isoelectric point.

• This restores ionic attraction to:

  • Tanning agents
  • Dyestuff
  • Fatliquor

• Rinsing with Acidifier 2.0 helps further remove suspended contaminants and stabilizes the pH balance.

• This process results in:

  • A healthy squeaky feel
  • Reduced dye bleeding
  • No leaching of natural oils (common with solvent systems)
  • Restored softness and integrity of the leather

Degreasing the Leather Doctor® way is non-toxic, water-based, and ideal for pH-sensitive Nubuck.

Edited on April 27,  December 26, 2024, & April 8, 2025 by Roger Koh.