Vachetta Leather Mold Killer Kit V5.mk

Vachetta Leather Mold Killer Kit V5.mk by Leather Doctor® is a fungicide mold killer, sanitizer, and deodorizer specifically designed for Vachetta and all vegetable-tanned leathers.

What is Vachetta?

Vachetta is a type of vegetable-tanned leather often referred to as:

• Saddlery leather
• Bridle leather
• Equestrian leather
• Craft or tooling leather

Commonly found in:

• Bags, boots, wallets, saddles, furniture.

 Why Does Mold Grow on Vachetta?

• Vachetta is natural and biodegradable.
• It is more absorbent than most finished leathers.
• Mold spores flourish in the presence of:
• Moisture
• Limited air circulation
• Moderate temperature
• Lack of sunlight

 What Damage Does Mold Cause?

• Draws nutrients from the leather’s fat and oil.
• Leads to dry rot, stiffness, and eventual cracking.

• Results in:

• Musty odor
• Dark mold spots
• Sinking pits that may require physical removal.

 How to Prevent Mold on Vachetta 

• Avoid water damage and store in a low-humidity environment.
• Use Mold 3.6 for preventive anti-fungal treatment.
• Apply treatment every 8 months for long-term protection. 

How to Decontaminate Mold from Vachetta

1. Contain and dispose of affected material safely.
2. Erase mold residue using Eraser 4.
3. Clean with: 

• Mold 1.5 (pH 1.5 cleaner) 
• Rinse with Leather Acidifier 2.0 (pH 2.0)  
• Disinfect with Mold 3.6 (pH 3.6) to control odor and fungi.

 How to Restore Suppleness to Vachetta

1. Hydrating with Hydrator 3.3 to relax the fibers.
2. Fatliquoring with Fatliquor 5.0 Plus to replenish fat and oil.

How to Lighten Darkened Vachetta

• Treat discoloration and suntanning with Vachetta 2.8, using a redox (oxidation-reduction) reaction. 

How to Protect Vachetta

• Apply Protector B to:
• Shield against sticky soiling
• Reduce scuffing
• Maintain a non-stick finish

Kit V5.mk concentrates require 1229g or 1.35 quarts of distilled water before use. A holistic approach to dovetailing mold decontamination is accomplished with this product system:

Leather Mold Cleaner 1.5

Mold 1.5 by Leather Doctor® is a pH 1.5 solution designed for mold growth clean-up on leather and suede surfaces, used prior to long-term fungicidal treatment with Leather Mold Killer 3.6.

 ✅ Key Benefits:

✔ Low pH discourages mold regrowth.
✔ Strengthens leather by enhancing ionic bonding between the leather structure and its tanning agents/fatliquors.
✔ Safe for leather and suede when used as directed.

Leather Acidifier 2.0 

Acidifier 2.0 by Leather Doctor is a pH 2.0 acidic rinse designed to control, neutralize, and restore leather’s natural pH balance. It prevents leather from denaturing, which can lead to bleeding, streaking, tackiness, and structural weakness due to alkaline overexposure.

Leather Hydrator 3.3

Hydrator 3.3 by Leather Doctor is a pH 3.3 hydrating conditioner designed to relax, soften, and restore leather’s natural integrity while preparing it for fatliquoring.

 ✅ Key Benefits:

✔ Restores Leather Softness & Flexibility – Relaxes stiff fibers and prevents brittleness
✔ Smooths Out Creases & Wrinkles – Prepares leather for optimal conditioning
✔ Reactivates Dormant Dyestuff – Helps resurface color for a more even appearance
✔ Prepares for Fatliquoring – Enhances absorption of essential oils and fats
✔ Residue-Free & Non-Sticky – Ensures a clean, breathable finish

Leather Scent Fatliquor 5.0 Plus

Fatliquor 5.0 Plus by Leather Doctor is a scent fat and oil conditioner that softens all leather, suede, and hair-on-hide from dryness, stiffness, and prevents cracking.

 Replenish. Soften. Strengthen.

Bring your leather back to life with a conditioning treatment that restores suppleness and leaves behind a clean leather scent.

 ✅ Key Features & Benefits

• Micro-Emulsion Formula
• Fat, oil & water blend deeply bonds leather fibers for lasting softness.
• Natural Leather Scent
• Lightly fragranced for a fresh, revitalized aroma.
• Crack & Dry Rot Prevention
• Prevents premature aging, stiffness, and fiber damage.
• Restores Strength & Flexibility
• Enhances stretchability, compressibility & tensile strength.
• Safe for All Types
• Works on full grain, suede, nubuck, and hair-on-hide.

Leather Scent Protector B Plus

Protector B Plus by Leather Doctor, pH 3.2 enhances seating comfort, prevents sticky soiling, and reduces wear while adding a luxurious leather scent.

✅ Key Benefits:

✔ Non-Stick Buttery Shield – Prevents ballpoint ink and dye transfer stains, especially on pastel leathers.
✔ Squeak Reduction – Stops friction noise, ideal for motion leather.
✔ Abrasion Resistance – Increases durability, reducing stretch, scuffing, and wear.
✔ Breathability Maintained – Non-film-forming formula keeps leather naturally breathable.
✔ Leather-Safe – pH 3.2 matches the leather pH neutral of 3-5.
✔ Leather Scent – Enhances the sensory experience with a rich, luxurious leather aroma.

Instruction: 

Step 1 - Mold Cleaning:

1. Mold 1.5 works with Eraser 4 for erasing and detailing Brush 1 for penetrating, lubricating, and suspending the soiling, before towel extraction, until the towel shows clean.

Step 2 - Acidifying Rinse:

1. Acidifier 2.0 is applied and worked again with Brush 1 and Eraser 4 for better soiling removal.
2. Repeat application, brushing, and towel extraction to ensure the changed folding side is clean and ready for hydration.

Step 3 - Hydrating:

1. Hydrator 3.3 is applied and brushed using Brush 1 to distribute and be absorbed into the leather structure.
2. When the leather appears evenly with moisture saturation, staking, massaging, and flexing return the leather for fatliquoring.

Step 4 - Fatliquoring:

1. Fatliquor 5.0 Plus is applied and brushed using Brush 1 to distribute and be absorbed into the leather structure.
2. It is repeatedly applied each time the water content evaporates until the leather takes no more.
3. It is left to slow natural drying and before it is fully dried, staking, massaging, or flexing until fully dry will result in a softer leather.
4. Sticky residue is wiped off with Hydrator 3.3 ready for fungicidal treatment.

Step 5 - Mold Treatment:

1. Mold 3.6 is transferred to a foam brush or detailing Brush 1 and brushed into the leather for an even appearance, and left to natural drying.
2. When spraying a breathing mask is recommended.

Step 6 - Conditioning: 18: 

1. Protector B is sprayed and spread out with a lint-free towel let dry and the leather is ready to use.

How to Identify Leather 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.

1. 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.

2. 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)

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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 leather to its original beauty.

Vachetta Leather Problem-Solving Matrix

How to Use the Vachetta Leather Problem-Solving Matrix?

• The matrix categorizes common issues with vachetta into five groups: Soil, Stain, Odor, Finish, and Structure (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 with
• Hydrator 3.3 to rehydrate and relax the leather.
• Fatliquor 5.0 to replenish lost fats and oils, restoring suppleness.
• Protector B conditioning the leather for ongoing durability.

Email Comments by G. D. on 2-Feb-2019:

I want to tell you how unbelievably grateful I am for your products. They are just amazing and there is absolutely nothing else like them.  I’m able to restore vintage Louis Vuitton bags to the point where before and after pictures of the leather are hard to believe.  So a very big thank you!! 

We welcome your feedback to continuously improve this manual and better address your leather care concerns.

 Updated: Aug 23, 2024.| April 15, 2025 by Roger Koh