Suede Degreaser 2.2

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

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

 Step-by-Step Instructions:

 Dry Soil Removal

Before using Degreaser 2.2, remove all dry soiling:

• Use a suede brush for general cleaning (wet or dry).
• Rub with Eraser 5 to lift sticky grime and deteriorating naps.
• After erasing, vacuum thoroughly to remove all dry particles.

 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 1 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.

 Rinse with Suede 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.

 pH Balance with Suede 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.

 Deep Clean with Suede 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? 

  How to Remove Penetrated Soiling from Suede with the Reverse-Transfer Technique?

To extract deeply penetrated soiling from Suede:

• Saturate the suede 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 suede through a capillary action and traps them in the towel.

 How to Restore Suede Softness and Strength After Cleaning?

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

1. Hydrate the Suede with Hydrator 3.3 to relax the suede fiber structure.
2. Fatliquor with Suede 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 suede’s luxurious feel.

 What is the Optimum Fatliquor Content in Healthy Suede?

• A healthy suede should retain a fatliquor (fat and oil) moisture content average 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 Suede’s resilience and appearance.

 What is the Nature of Suede?

Suede 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, Suede requires specialized, pH-sensitive care.

 What is Suede-Safe Degreasing?

Suede-safe degreasing respects the suede’s amphoteric protein structure and follows tannery science:

• The suede fiber is recharged to a positive ionic state (+ve) by using Degreaser 2.2 (pH 2.2)—this is below Suede’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 fats and oils (common with solvent systems)
  • Restored softness and integrity of the suede

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

Edited: April 27, 2024 | December 26, 2024 | April 8, 2025 | June 29,2025 by Roger Koh.