Nubuck Degreaser Kit N5.dr

 Nubuck Degreaser Kit N5.dr by Leather Doctor® Degrease • Neutralize • Clean • Rinse • Hydrate • Soften • Condition: oil, grease, and sweat stains.

 What is Nubuck?

Nubuck is created by buffing the grain side of aniline-dyed leather to produce a fine, velvety nap—often referred to as velvet suede. This absorbent, protein-based material is hydrophilic (water-loving) and oleophilic (oil-loving), making it especially susceptible to body oil, grease, and sweat.

When saturated with sweat, nubuck invites bacterial activity that ferments into ammonia—turning the leather alkaline and destabilizing its structure. This can lead to dye bleeding, tackiness, and weakening of the protein-tanning bond.

Nubuck is an amphoteric material, meaning its pH-sensitive structure can shift from positively to negatively charged, accelerating deterioration when exposed to high alkalinity.

 Kit N5.dr concentrates content requires 1290g (1.1 quarts) distilled water to be mixed and filled before use with these selected leather-safe products:

 Kit N5.dr Product Summary Includes:

Nubuck Degreaser 2.2
Nubuck Cleaner 4.5
Nubuck Rinse 3.0
Nubuck Acidifier 2.0
Nubuck Hydrator 3.3
Nubuck Fatliquor 5.0
Nubuck Conditioner S
Nubuck Brush 2
Nubuck Eraser 4
Towel 5

 Nubuck's holistic degreasing system involves a dovetailing sequence of product systems as follows: 

 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.

 Degreaser 2.2 Key Benefits:

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

 Nubuck Cleaner 4.5 by Leather Doctor® is a mild, water-based cleaner specially designed for nubuck, suede, and most natural and synthetic fabric linings (excluding rayon and silk).

With its pH-balanced formula (4.5), it effectively cleans delicate materials without causing common problems like ring marks, browning, or texture damage. Whether you’re cleaning high-end accessories, shoes, or upholstery, this cleaner is an ideal choice for maintaining your items’ integrity and appearance.

 Nubuck 4.5 Key Benefits:

 Safe for Delicate Materials: Cleans without damaging or altering texture.
 pH-Balanced Formula: Prevents unwanted side effects like browning and residue buildup.
 Versatile: Suitable for Nubuck, suede, and many fabric linings (excluding rayon & silk).

 Nubuck Rinse 3.0 by Leather Doctor® is a Leather-Safe™ solution formulated at pH 3.0 to safely remove residual soiling from nubuck leather while restoring its pH balance.

 Rinse 3.0 Key Benefits:

 Its ionic positive (+ve) charge strengthens the bonding between the negatively (-ve) charged leather constituents—such as tanning agents, dyes, and fatliquor—reducing common issues like tackiness, dye bleeding, and stiffness caused by pH imbalance.

 This Acidic pH 3.0 Rinse & Balancer for Nubuck Leather enhances the overall integrity of nubuck leather by lifting and removing suspended soiling through towel extraction, helping maintain its softness, color stability, and natural nap.

 Nubuck Acidifier 2.0 by Leather Doctor® is a Leather-Safe™ solution specially formulated to restore nubuck leather affected by alkaline cleaners or household spills.

This pH 2.0 acidifier helps correct issues like tackiness, dye bleeding, and stiffness by rebalancing the leather’s pH and reinforcing its internal structure.

 By strengthening the ionic bond between negatively charged tanning agents, dyestuffs, and fatliquors with the positively charged nubuck protein fibers, this treatment brings leather back to a healthy, squeaky-clean condition.

 Acidifier 2.0 Key Benefits:

 Neutralizes alkaline residue and toxicity
 Restores leather’s original tactile feel and flexibility
 Prepares surface for hydrating and fatliquoring
 Helps prevent further dye migration or structural damage

 Nubuck Hydrator 3.3 by Leather Doctor® is a specialty pH 3.3 hydrating conditioner formulated for nubuck and other absorbent leather types.

 Hydrator 3.3 Key Benefits:

 Its primary function is to relax and restore leather structure by reducing stiffness, softening creases, and minimizing wrinkles.

  This treatment promotes colloidal water movement within the leather fiber structure, helping to reactivate dormant dyes and bring them to the surface, resulting in a richer, more even coloration.

  Used as a preparatory step before fatliquoring, it sets the stage for deeper conditioning and long-lasting suppleness.

  For best results, follow up with Fatliquor 5.0.

 Nubuck Fatliquor 5.0 by Leather Doctor is a pH 5.0, negatively charged (-ve) fat and oil microemulsion designed to restore and rejuvenate Nubuck leather.

 Fatliquor 5.0 Key Benefits:

 It combats dryness, stiffness, and weakness by replenishing the leather’s original fat and oil content—enhancing softness, strength, and flexibility. 

 The fat component plumps and strengthens the protein fibers, while the oil relaxes coarse breaks, creases, and wrinkles.

 This combination restores drape, suppleness, and prolongs the life of the leather by delaying premature aging and preventing dry rot. 

 Nubuck Conditioner S is a smooth-feel, nonstick, rub-resistant, and non-film-forming conditioner designed to protect Nubuck leather from the harmful effects of sticky soiling. 

 Conditioner S Key Benefits: 

 Smooth Feel: Leaves Nubuck with a subtle, smooth, and soft texture. 

  Nonstick, Rub-Resistant Protection: Creates a breathable barrier that protects against sticky soiling, abrasion, scuffing, stretching and reduces friction-related wear. 

 Enhanced longevity: By shielding it from everyday contaminants while maintaining Nubuck natural beauty and softness.

 Step-by-Step Nubuck Degreasing System:

 Dry Preparation

a. Dry Soil Removal:
Use Brush 2 to remove dry soil and loose debris.

b. Surface Erasing:
Rub Eraser 4 over heavily used or greasy areas to lift embedded grime and deteriorated nap.

c. Vacuum:
Thoroughly vacuum eraser crumbs and remaining dry particles.

  Degreasing – Degreaser 2.2

• Purpose: Dissolves body oil, grease, and sweat with Leather-Safe™, pH 2.2 formulation.

 Instructions:

1. Shake well to form a gel.
2. Saturate the stain using Brush 2 or Eraser 4.
3. Extract with Towel 5—repeat until the towel shows clean.
4. For stubborn stains, dwell 5–60 minutes (prevent drying), then repeat extraction.

  Cleaning – Nubuck Cleaner 4.5

• Purpose: Gently removes general soiling from nubuck and suede (pH 4.5).
• Dilution: 1 part cleaner to 64 parts distilled water.

 Instructions:

1. Shake and spray evenly.
2. Gently agitate with Brush 2 or Eraser 4.
3. Let dwell 3–30 minutes (don’t allow to dry).
4. Blot and extract with Towel 5.
5. Follow immediately with Rinse 3.0.

 Rinsing – Nubuck Rinse 3.0

• Purpose: Removes residue and balances pH to prevent tackiness and dye migration.
• Dilution: 1 part Rinse 3.0 to 40 parts distilled water.

 Instructions:

1. Spray evenly and agitate gently with Brush 2.
2. Blot and extract with Towel 5 using a blot-and-wipe motion.

 pH Correction – Nubuck Acidifier 2.0

• Purpose: Re-acidifies Nubuck to strengthen internal fiber bonding and neutralize alkaline damage.
• Dilution: 1 part Acidifier 2.0 to 25 parts distilled water.

 Instructions:

1. Apply evenly using Brush 2 or sponge.
2. Gently agitate and blot with Towel 5 until the leather feels squeaky clean.
3. Repeat if needed.
4. Optionally follow with Hydrator 3.3 to flush residual impurities.

  Hydrating – Nubuck Hydrator 3.3

• Purpose: Relaxes and plumps leather fibers, reduces stiffness, and preps for fatliquoring.
• Dilution: 1 part Hydrator 3.3 to 25 parts distilled water.

 Instructions:

1. Apply evenly. Massage in with Brush 2.
2. Dwell until fully hydrated—avoid drying out.
3. Manipulate surface to release creases.
4. Follow with Fatliquor 5.0 before complete drying.

 Softening – Nubuck Fatliquor 5.0

• Purpose: Reintroduces essential fats and oils to restore softness, flexibility, and strength.
• Dilution: 1 part Fatliquor 5.0 to 5 parts warm distilled water.

 Instructions:

1. Apply generously and redistribute with Brush 2.
2. Reapply when water evaporates—repeat until saturation is complete.
3. Let dry naturally.
4. Once dry, flex or massage to enhance softness. Use Hydrator 3.3 as needed during this process.

   Final Conditioning – Nubuck Conditioner S

• Purpose: Protects against sticky soiling and enhances nap without forming a film.
• Dilution: 1 part Conditioner S to 19 parts distilled water.

 Instructions:

1. Shake and mist spray evenly.
2. Immediately spread with a lint-free towel or sponge.
3. Allow to dry completely.
4. Restore nap with Brush 2 for the signature finger-writing effect.

 People Also Ask:

1. How to Identify Nubuck Stains?
2. How to Use Nubuck Leather Problem Matrix?
3. Technical Help and Support?

 How to Identify Nubuck Stains?

Stain identification is crucial for effective treatment and is based on six key factors:

Appearance, Odor, Color, Feel-of-Hand, Location, and Buildup or Absorption.

 Appearance

• Observing how the stain looks can indicate whether it is a spill, rub-on, penetration, or surface deposit.
• Some stains may cause dye or finish damage, revealing changes in the leather’s color or texture.

 Odor

• Smelling the stain can help identify its source.
• Common odors include:
  • Moldy (fungal growth)
  • Smoke (fire or cigarette exposure)
  • Putrid (decaying organic matter)
  • Ammonia (urine contamination)

 Color

• Color provides a clue to the staining substance but can change over time due to oxidation.
• The leather’s natural color may also influence how the stain appears.
  • Red stains: Could be from wine, blood, lipstick, nail polish, or beverages.
  • Blood stains: Can oxidize and shift from red to tan, then to black.

 Feel-of-Hand

• Touching the stain helps determine its type:
  • Sticky: Likely from candy, beverages, or sugary substances.
  • Brittle and stiff: Could be nail polish, paint, or shellac.
  • Greasy smear: Often caused by lipstick, oils, or butter.

  Location

• The stain’s location on the leather provides hints about its origin.
  • Headrests & armrests: Usually stained by body oil, sweat, and grease.
  • Seat cushions: Often show food or beverage spills.

  Buildup or Absorbed?

• Stains can be surface-level (built-up) or deeply absorbed into the leather.
• Built-up stains (common on pigmented leather) include paint, food residue, and ink.
• Absorbed stains (common on nubuck, aniline, and unfinished leather) include wine, tea, and coffee.
• Combination stains: Some stains contain both absorbed and surface elements, such as lipstick, ink, and mustard.
• Protein-based stains: Examples include blood, dairy, and egg-based spills.
• Oil-based stains: Often come from grease, butter, and lotions.
• Colloidal stains: May require specialized treatments.

  Additional Considerations:

• Sweat stains can chemically alter leather, causing tackiness (when dry) or sliminess (when wet).
• Dye stains may show up when wiping with a white towel—this indicates color crocking.
• Fatliquor leaching (spew) appears as a milky film and causes leather to become stiff and prone to cracking.

 By carefully identifying stains, you can apply the appropriate Leather Doctor® solutions to restore Nubuck to its original beauty.

Nubuck Leather Problem Solving Matrix

 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:

1. Hydrator 3.3,
2. Fatliquor 5.0, and
3. Conditioner S.

 Technical Help and Support?

https://www.leathercleaningrestorationforum.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?58-Suede-and-Nubuck-Upholstery-Forum

 Your opinions, insights and review are precious and will help us to improve our writing and solve your leather problem more efficiently.

Updated: January 3, 2025 | April 9, 2025 | June 25, 2025 by Roger Koh.