Product Overview
Semi-Aniline Leather Cleaner & Conditioner Kit SA3 by Leather Doctor cleans, rinses, conditions, hydrates, replenishes fat liquors, and protects leather, restoring it to a condition close to showroom quality.
This innovative leather-safe (pH 3-5) system is designed to maintain leather's appearance, structural integrity, and suppleness.
A quick leather finish identification involves checking for a monotone appearance, with the reverse suede side displaying the same color range. Sun-faded areas can often be hydrated to resurface dormant dyestuff and then reconditioned to intensify color with fat liquor before resorting to color refinishing.
Semi-aniline leathers exhibit all the qualities of aniline leather, with an additional light micro-pigment finish and topcoat to even out color consistency. This micro-pigment finish and topcoat enhance UV light and water resistance. Top-grain leathers colored with transparent aniline dyes, and micro-pigmented with a satin finish are classified as semi-aniline.
Semi-aniline leather develops micro-crazing as it ages, and evaporation depletes the fat liquors (fat and oil) from these weak points and stitching holes. The loss of fat liquors dries out the leather, leading to creases and wrinkles. Stiffness in the leather is another sign of fat liquor depletion, causing the inter-fibrillary spaces to collapse, making the fibers stick together and prone to cracking when flexed during use.
Periodic use of Hydrator 3.3 to hydrate and relax the stuck-together fibers, followed by Fatliquor 5.0, will keep the leather supple and strong. This routine fat liquoring helps prevent premature aging of the leather, reducing stiffness and cracking. The surface wear of the leather is also minimized when friction noise is kept low. Noise reduction is achieved with rub-resistant Protector B, which imparts a natural buttery feel and offers an optional leather scent for added charm.
Periodic cleaning and pH-balancing rinses with Cleaner 3.8, followed by Rinse 3.0 on body contact areas, help reduce greasy soil buildup. Unwanted stains such as ink or dye transfer from new blue jeans can be removed with Prep 7.7 followed by Dye 7.9. Note: the product name suffix denotes its pH value in this leather-safe holistic care system.
Kit SA3 requires 1179g (or 1.29 quarts) of distilled water before use. The concentrate is mixed and filled up to 1.5 inches below the top of the 8oz bottles.
Products are available as individually as refills to complete your project:
Prep 7.7 is a pH 7.7 water-based, heavy-duty cleaner for greasy, oily, and general stains on non-absorbent leather. It works through dwell time, allowing its superior penetrating, lubricating, and suspending power to lift stains before towel extraction.
Cleaner 3.8 is a pH 3.8 water-based, leather-safe cleaner with no adverse side effects. It penetrates, lubricates, and suspends soiling safely through gentle chemical reactions that harmonize with all leather constituents, including tanning agents, preservatives, dyestuffs, and especially fat liquors, for a leather-safe cleaning experience.
Rinse 3.0 is a pH 3.0 rinse designed to remove suspended soil and pH balance leathers. It neutralizes harmful alkaline residues and charges the leather ionically positive (+ve), increasing the attraction between the ionically negative (-ve) tanning agents, dyestuffs, and fat liquors, preventing tackiness, bleeding, and stiffness.
Hydrator 3.3 hydrates dried, stiff, and shrunken leather before fat liquoring. With a pH of 3.3, Hydrator 3.3 facilitates colloidal water movement, reactivates dormant dyestuffs, and reduces the leather's surface tension.
Fatliquor 5.0 is a fat and oil emulsion softener that combats dryness, stiffness, and cracking. With a pH of 5.0, Fatliquor 5.0 is ionically negative (-ve) charged and replenishes diminishing fat and oil, restoring suppleness. The fat plumps the leather for fullness, while the oil relaxes coarse breaks, creases, and wrinkles, imparting drape and suppleness, delaying aging, and preventing cracks.
Protector B is a non-film-forming, nonstick, rub-resistant conditioner that reduces friction noise and imparts a soft, buttery feel on smooth leather. Protector B Plus is the leather scent option. It shields against sticky soiling and helps release stubborn dye transfer stains, especially on pastel colored leathers. It increases resistance to wet and dry rubs, reducing stretch, scuffing, and abrasion.
Brush 1 is a detailing horsehair brush for all smooth leather for soft and scratch-free cleaning. Brush 1 is ergonomically designed as an extension of our hand with a sturdy grooved grip to produce effective results easily and efficiently. Its length is 7 inches with a three-row horsehair 1½ inches cleaning head.
Foam 2 is a 2-inch high-density poly foam brush that resists tearing and shredding and carries more material for controlling and spreading solution for a more even distribution.
This paper towel works like cloth and is lint-free, highly absorbent, stretchable, washable, and strong.
By following these Instruction Care Guidelines, your semi-aniline leather will retain its beauty, softness, and strength, ensuring years of lasting quality.
Step 1 Prepping:
Prepping removes accumulated general soiling with Prep 7.7, Brush 1, Foam 2, and Towel 5.
1. Prep 7.7 is spread with Foam 2 and detailing with Brush 1 over heavy soiling areas.
2. Allow to dwell 3-30mins or before it dries before extraction with a Towel 5 until it is clean.
Step 2 Cleaning:
Cleaning over the prepped area is extended to the rest of the surface area with Cleaner 3.8, Brush 1, Foam 2, and Towel 5.
1. Cleaner 3.8 is spread with Foam 2 and detailing with Brush 1 over the entire surface.
2. Allow to dwell 3-30mins or before it dries before extraction with a Towel 5 until it is clean.
Step 3 Rinsing:
Rinsing follows after Cleaner 3.8 with Rinse 3.0, Brush 1, Foam 2, and Towel 5.
1. Rinse 3.0 is spread with Foam 2 and detailing with Brush 1 after Cleaner 3.8.
2. Allow to dwell 3-30mins or before it dries before extraction with a Towel 5 until it is clean to a healthy squeaky feel.
Step 4 Hydrating:
Hydrating follows after Rinse 3.0 with Hydrator 3.3, Brush 1, Foam 2, and Towel 5.
Hydrator 3.3 is applied to the micro-crazing, creases, scratches, abrasion, and stitching holes where they become darkened with Rinse 3.0.
1. Hydrator 3.3 is spread with Foam 2 and detailing with Brush 1 after Rinse 3.0.
2. Allow 3-30 minutes to fully saturate absorbent areas and towel extract any wick up soiling until it shows clean.
3. Leather is manipulated and stretched to dimension, ready for Fatliquor 5.0.
Step 5 Fatliquoring:
Fatliquoring follows after Hydrator 3.3 with Fatliquor 5.0, Brush 1, Foam 2, and Towel 5.
1. Fatliquor 5.0 is spread with Foam 2 and detailing with Brush 1 into absorbent areas.
2. Application is repeated between drying cycles until it absorbs no more.
3. Stretching and manipulating overstretches wrinkles to smartness.
4. The leather is left for slow natural drying for extra softness.
5. Surface strays are wiped with Hydrator 3.3 to be free of sticky residue.
Step 6 Conditioning:
Conditioning begins when leather is dry with Protector B, and Foam 2.
1. Protector B is spread with Foam 2.
2. Leave to natural dry and ready for use.
People Also Ask:
1: What is Leather Preventive Care?
Preventive Care starts with nonstick, rub-resistant protection before the leather is used. Protector B imparts a soft, natural, buttery feel that enhances the leather's luxurious touch. Protector B Plus adds a classic leather scent for a sensuous appeal. Preventive Care protects against sticky soiling, prolonging the new showroom's appearance. Rub-resistant properties reduce friction noise and wear.
Preventive Care System sufficient with only Step 6 Conditioning.
2: What is Leather Routine Care?
Routine Care includes dusting and addressing spots, especially pH-balancing sweat stains to prevent leather damage. A nonstick, rub-resistant protection after neutralizing rinse keeps leather attractive and healthy while preventing wear.
Routine Care System starts with Step 3 Rinsing and and ends with Step 6 Conditioning.
3: What is Leather Periodic Care?
Periodic Care is essential to prevent soiling from damaging the leather finish. It focus on body contact areas like headrests and armrests, which are more prone to oil, grease, and sweat buildup.
Periodic Care System starts with Step 2 Cleaning, Step 3 Rinsing, Step 4 Hydrating, Step 5 Fatliquoring and ends with Step 6 Conditioning.
4: What is Leather Restorative Care?
Restorative Care removes accumulated soiling and aged conditioners to restore appearance.
Restorative Care System starts with Step 1 Prepping, Step 2 Cleaning, Step 3 Rinsing, Step 4 Hydrating, Step 5 Fatliquoring and ends with Step 6 Conditioning.
How to Use this Semi-Aniline Leather Problem-Solving Matrix?
This matrix categorizes common issues with semi-aniline leather into five groups: Soil, Stain, Odor, Structure and Finish (listed in the left column). Corresponding recommended products are displayed across the top row. Each number within the matrix indicates the steps required to address the problem holistically.
For example:
If a leather issue involves an unknown compound that combines soil, stain, and odor, follow the sequence across the matrix, combining necessary steps from each category. The process should always conclude when the leather finishes become absorbent from micro-crazing, abrasion, scratches, and stitching holes.
1 Hydrator 3.3 to rehydrate and relax the leather.
2 Fatliquor 5.0 to replenish lost fats and oils, restoring suppleness.
3 Protector B conditioning the leather for ongoing durability.
Thank you for your input on improving this writing, any comments are welcome.
Updated: March 4, 2025, by Roger Koh.