Suede Napa Care Kit SN3 by Leather Doctor® is an advanced Suede-Safe™ pH-balanced (pH 3–5) care system designed to keep Napa suede at its highest level of appearance, softness, and structural integrity.
- The system preserves suede’s natural chemistry, restores suppleness, and prevents premature ageing caused by heat, dryness, body contact, and environmental exposure.
Understanding Napa Suede.
Napa suede features a fine, velvety nap on the grain side, with smooth leather on the reverse. It is most commonly made from lambskin, though goat, calf, and deer are also used.
Because of its open fiber structure, Napa suede is especially vulnerable to:
- Heat exposure (sunlight, fireplaces, heaters)
- Evaporation of natural fats and oils
- Stiffening, weakening, and tearing when flexed dry
- Grease and body-oil contamination in contact areas
As fats and oils evaporate, suede fibers bind closer together. This causes stiffness, loss of strength, and increased risk of tearing during normal use.
Why the Kit SN3 System Works?
The Kit SN3 system follows the natural suede lifecycle:
- Clean without damaging the nap
- Hydrate to relax and separate fibers
- Fatliquor to restore strength and flexibility
- Condition to protect and maintain appearance
Regular use prevents stiffness, reduces surface wear, and significantly slows premature ageing.
Key Functional Benefits
- Maintains suede’s natural acidic pH balance
- Prevents stiffness, cracking, and tearing
- Restores softness and “finger-writing effect”
- Reduces grease and body-oil buildup
- Shields against sticky soiling and friction wear
- Extends time between heavy cleanings
Kit SN3 – Product Contents
Available Sizes: 4oz / 8oz / 16oz fills
(Dilution required — distilled water only)
Water Required per Kit Size
- 4oz fill → 537 g / 0.6 quart
- 8oz fill → 1,070 g / 1.2 quarts
- 16oz fill → 2,141 g / 2.4 quarts
- (Shake well before use).
Included in the Kit:
✅ Suede Soft Cleaner 4.5
✅ Suede Rinsing Conditioner 3.0
✅ Leather Soft Prep Cleaner 4.4
✅ Leather Fatliquoring Conditioner 5.0
✅ Suede Smooth Feel Conditioner S
✅ Suede Napa Brush 2
✅ Suede Eraser 5
✅ Towel 5 (5pcs)
Suede-Safe™ Cycle of Care
Preventive · Routine · Periodic · Restorative
A. Preventive Care
(Before regular use)
Preventive care places a non-stick, rub-resistant barrier on the suede before it is exposed to daily wear.
Conditioner S imparts a smooth, feel while shielding the nap from sticky soiling and friction wear. Reduced friction also lowers noise and surface abrasion.
Step – Conditioning
- Lightly mist Conditioner S
- Brush evenly to distribute
- Allow to dry naturally
- Brush again to lift the nap
Suede is ready for use
B. Routine Care
(Light maintenance & sweat control)
Routine care addresses dust, light soil, and alkaline body contact before damage occurs.
Step 1 – Rinsing
- Spray Rinse 3.0
- Brush lightly at an angle
- Extract with cotton terry towel until clean
Step 2 – Conditioning
- Mist Conditioner S
- Brush evenly
- Brush again once dry to groom nap
C. Periodic Care
(Prevent buildup & maintain softness)
Recommended before soiling becomes embedded. High-contact areas may require more frequent attention.
Step 1 – General Cleaning
- Spray Suede Cleaner 4.5
- Brush gently, section by section
- Towel extract until clean
- Rinse with Rinse 3.0 and extract to a squeaky-clean finish
Step 2 – Hydrating
- Spray Hydrator 3.3
- Check for even absorption
- This relaxes fibers and prevents blotchiness
Step 3 – Fatliquoring
- Spray Fatliquor 5.0
- Allow to dry naturally
- Repeat applications between drying cycles until saturated
- Brush lightly with Hydrator 3.3 if any surface residue appears
Step 4 – Conditioning
- Apply Conditioner S
- Brush to set the nap
- Ready for use when dry
D. Restorative Care
(Deep cleaning & revival)
Restorative care removes accumulated soiling and aged conditioners often mistaken for wear.
Step 1 – Restorative Cleaning
- Apply Prep Cleaner 4.4
- Agitate gently with brush
- Allow 3–30 minutes dwell
- Towel extract until clean
- Follow with Suede Cleaner 4.5 if residue remains
- Rinse with Rinse 3.0
Step 2 – Hydrating
- Spray Hydrator 3.3 evenly
- Allow short dwell
- Towel extract resurfaced soiling
Step 3 – Fatliquoring
- Apply Fatliquor 5.0
- Repeat between drying cycles until saturated
- Use Hydrator 3.3 to eliminate any surface residue
Step 4 – Finishing
-
Brush and erase resurfaced soil as needed
Step 5 – Conditioning
- Mist Conditioner S
- Brush evenly
- Final grooming for a rich finger-writing effect
Summary
The Suede Napa Care Kit SN3 is a complete Suede-Safe™ maintenance and restoration system that:
- Protects before damage occurs
- Maintains softness and strength
- Revives tired, stiff, or contaminated suede
- Preserves Napa suede’s luxurious look and feel
Frequently Asked Questions on Napa Suede Care
- Suede (Napa) Dye Bleeding — How Do I Stop It?
- Suede (Napa) Blotchiness — How Can It Be Prevented?
- Suede (Napa) Creases & Wrinkles — Can They Be Restored?
- Suede (Napa) Fading — How Can Color Be Refreshed?
- Suede (Napa) Sticky Fatliquor Residue — How Do I Remove It?
- Suede (Napa) Rough Nap — How Do I Soften It?
- Suede (Napa) Shrinkage — Is It Reversible?
- Suede (Napa) Stains — How Are They Removed Safely?
- Suede (Napa) Stiffness — How Can It Be Softened?
- Suede (Napa) Tackiness or Sliminess — What Went Wrong?
- Suede (Napa) Crushed Nap & Dent Marks — Can They Be Lifted?
- How Much Fatliquor Does Napa Suede Need?
1. Suede (Napa) Dye Bleeding — How Do I Stop It?
Why it happens
Napa suede dye bleeding occurs when moisture or liquids with a pH above suede’s iso-electric point (pH 3–5) disrupt dye fixation. Suede protein fibers are amphoteric, while dyestuffs are not. When exposed to alkaline or near-neutral liquids, the fibers become negatively charged and repel the negatively charged dyestuffs, causing hydrogen bonds to break and dye to leach.
How to stop it
Bleeding is controlled by restoring acidic balance and ionic attraction.
Corrective approach
- Clean first using Suede 4.5 + Rinse 3.0
- Apply Acidifier 2.0 (pH 2.0) to protonate the suede fibers, restoring positive charge
- Repeat until no dye transfers to a dry towel
- Restore suppleness using Hydrator 3.3 → Fatliquor 5.0 → Hydrator 3.3
- Finish with Conditioner S and groom for a finger-writing effect
2. Suede (Napa) Blotchiness — How Can It Be Prevented?
Why it happens
Blotchiness is caused by uneven surface tension that blocks uniform penetration of moisture or fatliquor.
Prevention strategy
Always inspect for even absorption before conditioning.
Best practice
- Lightly mist Hydrator 3.3 and brush until the surface darkens evenly
- Apply Fatliquor 5.0 gradually with brushing
- If residue appears, convert it back into the structure using Hydrator 3.3
- Extract clear moisture and allow slow natural drying
3. Suede (Napa) Creases & Wrinkles — Can They Be Restored?
Why they form
Dryness and fiber fatigue cause “coarse breaks” instead of natural fine breaks. Severely broken fibers may not recover fully.
Restoration method
- Clean with Suede 4.5 + Rinse 3.0
- Deep hydrate using Hydrator 3.3 with controlled dwell (up to 12 hours)
- Replenish fat and oil using Fatliquor 5.0
- Manipulate (stake, stretch, massage) while damp
- Finish with grooming for softness and finger-writing
4. Suede (Napa) Fading — How Can Color Be Refreshed?
What’s possible
Sun and UV degrade visible dye, but dormant dyestuff within the structure may be reactivated.
Refresh process
- Clean thoroughly
- Saturate with Hydrator 3.3 and allow extended dwell (up to 12 hours)
- Let excess dyestuff resurface naturally
- Rehydrate lightly before fatliquoring
- Restore softness and finish with Conditioner S
Results depend on original dye quality and saturation.
5. Suede (Napa) Sticky Fatliquor Residue — How Do I Remove It?
Why it happens
Fatliquor belongs inside the structure, not on the surface. Residue attracts soil and dulls nap.
Solution
- Lightly mist Hydrator 3.3
- Brush residue back into the structure until milky turns crystal clear
- Extract excess moisture
- Finish with Conditioner S and grooming
6. Suede (Napa) Rough Nap — How Do I Soften It?
Cause
Loss of internal fatliquor causes abrasive, sandpaper-like texture.
Softening system
- Clean appropriately
- Deep hydrate with Hydrator 3.3
- Allow dwell to relax fibers
- Reintroduce fat and oil with Fatliquor 5.0
- Groom nap for softness and finger-writing effect
7. Suede (Napa) Shrinkage — Is It Reversible?
Why shrinkage occurs
Heat drives off fatliquor, causing fibers to bind and contract.
Restoration steps
- Fully hydrate with Hydrator 3.3
- Control evaporation and allow full relaxation
- Gently stretch back to original dimension
- Fatliquor while still damp
- Manipulate fibers during drying
- Protect and groom with Conditioner S
8. Suede (Napa) Stains — How Are They Removed Safely?
Principle
Stains are removed by penetration, suspension, and extraction — not abrasion.
General method
- Hydrate with Hydrator 3.3 to lift deep stains
- Extract suspended soils with absorbent towels
- Dry-brush or erase resurfaced residues
- Repeat wet/dry cycles as needed
- Restore suppleness and protect with Conditioner S
9. Suede (Napa) Stiffness — How Can It Be Softened?
Cause
Water, alkalinity, and heat strip fatliquor and bind fibers together.
Correction
- Clean and pH-balance if required
- Deep hydrate with controlled dwell
- Reintroduce fatliquor
- Manipulate fibers during drying for natural flexibility
10. Suede (Napa) Tackiness or Sliminess — What Went Wrong?
Cause
Alkaline exposure (e.g., ammonia) denatures protein fibers and releases tanning agents.
Fix
- Clean first
- Apply Acidifier 2.0 to neutralize alkalinity
- Repeat until tackiness disappears
- Restore suppleness with Hydrator 3.3 + Fatliquor 5.0
- Finish with Conditioner S
11. Suede (Napa) Crushed Nap & Dent Marks — Can They Be Lifted?
Why it happens
Compression flattens nap and redirects light, creating sheen or dents.
Restoration
- Pre-clean
- Hydrate deeply with Hydrator 3.3
- Allow controlled dwell
- Brush repeatedly to re-stand nap
- Fatliquor to restore body
- Finish with Conditioner S and grooming
12. How Much Fatliquor Does Napa Suede Need?
Industry benchmark
Tannery fatliquor content typically ranges from 14–16% by weight.
Example
- 100g suede with <1% remaining fatliquor
- Applying 80g Fatliquor 5.0 yields ~13.3% fatliquor after water evaporation
- Use Hydrator 3.3 at a 2:1 ratio to facilitate penetration and redistribution
Key notes
- Under-fatliquoring risks cracking during manipulation
- Hydrator 3.3 prepares fibers, redistributes moisture, and prevents surface residue
- Always allow slow natural drying
Visit: www.LeatherCleaningRestorationForum.comfor technical help and support.
Email: info@leatherdoctor.com for other information.
