Product Overview
Nubuck Degreaser Kit N5.dr by Leather Doctor degrease, neutralize, pH balance, clean, rinse, hydrate, soften, and condition oil, grease, and sweat stains.
Nubuck is a result of buffing or sanding an aniline grain or a smooth leather side to produce a fine velvety texture, also known as velvet suede. Nubuck fine velvety nap is brushed with a nylon brush or a leather eraser to produce a finger-writing effect. Nubuck is naturally hydrophilic, water-loving, and oleophilic, oil-loving protein fiber material that easily absorbs body contact oil, grease, and sweat. Nubuck saturated with body sweat, attracts the atmospheric bacteria, and when ferments turn alkaline in severe cases an ammonia odor permeates. Nubuck is an amphoteric material, and the ionic positive (+ve) charges weaken in the presence of alkaline and shift ionic negative (-ve) resulting in denaturing. Nubuck protein fiber at the fermenting stage breaks the hydrogen bond with the tanning agent and turns tacky, similar to the dyestuff that begins to bleed.
Instruction:
Kit N5.dr concentrates require 1.290g or 1.1 quarts distilled water to be mixed and added to 1.5 inches below the top of the 8oz bottles before use. Nubuck's holistic degreasing system involves a 7-step sequence as follows:
Degreaser 2.2 is a pH2.2 water-based hydrocarbon degreaser with tackiness and dye bleeding control for penetrated oil, grease, and sweat stains from skin, and hair contact. Degreaser 2.2 charges the nubuck protein fiber ionic positive (+ve) for strengthening the ionic attraction between the ionic negative (-ve) tanning agent, dyestuff, and fat liquor eliminating most potential side effects, unlike other non-leather-safe products.
1.1: Degreaser 2.2 is shaken to gel before use.
1.2: Degreaser 2.2 is transferred onto Foam 2, Brush 2, or Eraser 4 for better control before applying to the stain.
1.3: Degreaser 2.2 is brushed and suspended soiling extracted with a white absorbent towel changing folding sides until it shows clean, ready for acidifing rinse.
Acidifier 2.0 is a pH2.0 rinse after Degreaser 2.2 to control, neutralize, and pH-balance nubuck from denaturing into bleeding, streaking, or getting tacky. It rectifies nubuck alkaline overexposure toxicity from contamination, spills, products, and cleaners.
2.1: Acidifier 2.0 concentrate 1: 25 is to be mixed with 218g distilled water or 1.5 inches from the top of the 8oz bottle before use.
2.2: Acidifier 2.0 is applied directly, brushed, and extracted with a towel until clean.
2.3: Acidifier 2.0 is kept for 3 to 30 minutes to control browning or tackiness.
2.4: Acidifier 2.0 treatment is complete with a test for a healthy squeaky feel, ready for other specialty and overall cleaning.
Nubuck 4.5 is a water-based pH4.5 sanitizing cleaner without the potential side effects commonly associated with tackiness or bleeding on pH-sensitive nubuck. It is particularly effective in emulsifying oily soils and suspending particulates. It works by penetrating, lubricating, and suspending soiling safely and effectively through gentle chemical reactions working in perfect harmony with all nubuck constituents that include the tanning agent, preservative, dyestuff, and especially the fat liquor for a nubuck-safe cleaning experience. Nubuck Rinse 3.0 rinses suspended soiling with a healthy squeaky feel in a holistic cleaning and rinsing system.
3.1: 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.
3.2: Nubuck 4.5 is applied and brushed with a nylon brush.
3:3: Nubuck 4.5 suspended soiling is extracted with a dry absorbent towel until it shows clean and proceed with rinsing.
Rinse 3.0 pH3.0 rinse suspended soiling, neutralizes, and pH-balance to strengthen Nubuck from denaturing. It ionic positive (+ve) charges to increase the ionic attraction between the negative (-ve) nubuck constituents like the tanning agent, dyestuff, and fat liquor from common side effects.
4.1: Rinse 3.0 concentrate 1: 80 is mixed with 224g distilled water or 1.5 inches from the top of the 8oz bottle before use.
4.2: Rinse 3.0 after Nubuck 4.5 or identify, inspect, test, and dry soil removal before application.
4.3: Rinse 3.0 is applied, and brushed with a nylon Brush 2.
4.4: Rinse 3.0 suspended soiling is extracted with a dry, absorbent towel, and proceed with hydrating.
Hydrator 3.3 pH 3.3 is a water-based specialty relaxer for hydrating dry, stiff, creased, and wrinkled Nubuck before fat liquoring. It facilitates colloidal water movement within the structure, reactivating the dormant dyestuff to resurface and reducing the surface tension for an even appearance.
5.1: 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.
5.2: Hydrator 3.3 is applied and brushed with a nylon Brush 2 with a deep even saturating appearance, massaged, and stretched to dimension.
5.3: Hydrator 3.3, wicked soiling is extracted with a dry, absorbent towel, and proceed with fatliquoring.
Fatliquor 5.0 pH5.0 is a 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 natural transpiration.
6.1: 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.
6.2: Fatliquor 5.0 is applied and redistributed with a brush or pad for even saturation and leaves to dry naturally.
6.3: Fatliquor 5.0 is repeated each cycle water contents evaporate leaving behind the fat and oil content until it absorbs no more.
6.4: Fatliquored nubuck fullness is allowed natural drying for extra softness.
6.5: 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 silky-feel, nonstick, rub-resistant, non-film-forming conditioner that imparts a soft finger-writing effect to shield the detrimental effects of sticky soiling. Its breathable barrier increases resistance to wet and dry rubs, thus reducing stretch, scuff, and abrasion.
7.1: Conditioner S concentrate 1:19 is mixed with 217g distilled water or 1.5 inches from the top of the 8oz bottle before use.
7.2: Conditioner S is applied, spread with a brush or a folded towel and left to dry.
7.3: Conditioner S is brushed for a 'finger writing effect' and is ready for use.
People Also Ask:
1: How to Identify Nubuck Stains?
2: How to Use Nubuck Leather Problem Matrix?
1: How to Identify Nubuck Stains?
Stains are identified by: Appearance, Odor, Color, Feel-of-Hand, Location, and Buildup or Absorbed!
1.1: Appearance
1.2: Stain identification by appearance will show whether it is characteristic of a spill, rub-on, penetrated or deposited.
1.3: Stain may also reveal dye or finish damages caused by the stain.
1.4: Odor
1.5: Odor-by-smell identification can be helpful in positive stain identification.
1.6: Odors such as moldy, smoke, putrid, or ammonia from urine are some common stains identified by smell.
1.7: Color
1.8: Color stain identification will also give a clue to the staining stuff.
1.9: Color stains from beverages, nail polish, lipstick, blood, or others could all appear red.
1.10: Color identification may not be right with time and oxidization, a red bloodstain may turn from tan to black.
1.11: Color of the leather may mesmerize or alter the appearance of the stain.
1.12: Feel of Hand
1.13: Feel-of-hand stain identification may help determine the stain types.
1.14: Feel sticky and appear red as a candy, beverage, or sugar substance.
1.15: Feel brittle and stiff could be a nail polish, shellac, or paint stain.
1.16: Feel the smear by hand could be a grease-base stain as lipstick.
1.17: Location
1.18: Location may give a clue as to the makeup of the staining substance in visual inspection and identification.
1.19: Location on the headrest and armrest of furniture is common with dark stains from body oil, grease, and sweat.
1.20: Buildup or Absorbed
1.21: Stains may take several appearances.
1.22: Stains accumulate mostly on top of non-absorbent pigmented leathers.
1.23: Stains are mostly absorbed on unfinished, Vachetta, aniline, and nubuck leathers.
1.24: Stains can also be combined, absorbed, and built up.
1.25: Stains absorbed indicate it was a liquid before it penetrated the leather.
1.26: Stains that are liquid stain may have chemically changed, destabilized the leather chemistry integrity, and altered its appearance.
1.27: Example of sweat stains often react with absorbent leathers and denature them.
1.28: Examples of stains affecting the tanning agent manifest as tackiness when dry and sliminess when wet are detected by the feel of hand.
1.29: Examples of stains affecting the dyestuff occur when color appears during wet wiping with a white absorbent towel.
1.30: 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.
1.31: In any event, the leather may show a marked color change in that area after spotting, and possibly after cleaning.
1.32: Examples of built-up stains include paint and some foodstuff, etc.
1.33: Examples of absorbed stains include beverages, wine, tea, coffee, etc.
1.34: Examples of combination stains include lipstick, ink, mustard, etc.
1.35: Most absorbed stains will have part of their staining stuff absorbed into the leather and part accumulated on its surface.
1.36: A stain may also be a substance that has wet solvent-soluble and dry solvent-soluble components combined.
1.37: Examples of a compound stain would be gravy which contains grease, flour (from a plant), and milk (from an animal).
1.38: 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.
1.39: When identifying stains always try to determine whether they are of a protein, cellulose, oil-based, or a colloidal make-up in nature.
1.40: Three common types of soiling or stain are solvent-soluble, water-soluble, and insoluble.
1.41: 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
Nubuck Leather Problem Solving Matrix
2: 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.