Product Overview
Waxy Matte Aniline Leather Cleaner & Conditioner Kit AM3 by Leather Doctor® is a complete care system designed to prep, clean, rinse, hydrate, soften, and condition aniline waxy matte leather.
It supports preventive, routine, periodic, and restorative care, ensuring long-term protection and preservation.
Understanding Waxy Matte Aniline Leather:
Aniline leather derives its color from a transparent dye that penetrates through to the reverse suede side. The surface is often further dye-coated for a more uniform appearance and sealed with either a gloss topcoat for a buttery feel or a matte topcoat for a waxy texture, allowing the natural grain to remain visible.
Among various aniline leather variations, wax pull-up leather stands out due to its wax-infused surface effect, which creates a glossy, darker finish that lightens when pulled or stretched.
Over time, micro-crazing naturally develops, enhancing the leather’s character while promoting breathability and increased absorbency in areas of frequent body contact.
Challenges and Maintenance of Aniline Leather:
Aniline leather continues to dry out even when not in use, leading to stiffness, fading, and increased vulnerability to damage - especially when exposed to heat or sunlight. To maintain its original color and suppleness, periodic hydration is essential, allowing the dormant dye within the leather structure to resurface and restore vibrancy.
Unnatural creases, wrinkles, or curls can be relaxed and smoothed through hydration before replenishing the fat and oil content necessary for maintaining flexibility. Fatliquor plays a crucial role in keeping aniline leather soft, resilient, and less absorbent, as aniline leather is naturally hydrophilic (water-absorbing) and oleophilic (oil-absorbing), making it prone to liquid stains.
A well-structured care cycle, tailored to the severity of soiling, helps maintain optimal appearance, softness, strength, and tactile comfort, ensuring the leather remains in its best possible condition at all times.
Kit AM3 requires 1070g or 1.2 quarts distilled water to be mixed and added to 1.5 inches below the top of the 8oz bottles before use.
Prepping, Cleaning and Rinsing system:
Prep 4.4 is a pH 4.4 solution specially formulated for heavy soiling on pH-sensitive leather, nubuck, and suede, ensuring a safe and effective deep clean. It effectively removes accumulated soiling, silicone shine, sticky residues, and greasy stains. For compound greasy stains containing dye components—such as ballpoint ink, blue jean dye, crayon, leather belt marks, plastic ink prints, newsprint, and stamp pad ink - follow up with Dye 7.9 to achieve the best results.
Cleaner 3.8 is a leather-safe, pH 3.8 mild cleaner formulated to effectively emulsify and suspend general soiling without causing common side effects. It works in conjunction with Prep 4.4, seamlessly cleaning over the entire sections without leaving dry edges. When used as part of a holistic cleaning system with Rinse 3.0, it ensures a residue-free finish while restoring the leather’s pH balance. This process helps prevent rings, browning, and other potential side effects, particularly on pH-sensitive aniline leathers.
Rinse 3.0 is a pH 3.0 rinse formulated to remove suspended soil and restore the pH balance of leather, ensuring its structural integrity. It works by lifting and extracting suspended soiling with a towel while simultaneously neutralizing harmful alkaline residues. Additionally, Rinse 3.0 recharges the leather with a positive (+ve) ionic charge, enhancing its ability to bond with negatively (-ve) charged tanning agents, dyestuff, and fatliquor. This process helps prevent tackiness, dye bleeding, and stiffness, preserving the leather’s suppleness and durability.
Hydrating and Fatliquoring system:
Hydrator 3.3 is a pH 3.3 hydrating conditioner designed to relax and soften stiff leather while smoothing out creases and wrinkles before the fatliquoring process. It facilitates colloidal water movement, helping to reactivate dormant dyestuff, allowing the color to resurface. Additionally, it reduces surface interfacial tension, promoting a more even and uniform appearance.
Fatliquor 5.0 is a pH 5.0 micro-emulsion of fat, oil, and water, specially formulated to rejuvenate, restore, and soften leather. This negatively (-ve) charged ionic fatliquor conditions leather by enhancing softness and strength once it dries. When applied, the water-encased fat and oil molecules break free and are naturally attracted to the protein structure of the leather. As the water content evaporates, it creates space for the leather’s natural transpiration, maintaining its flexibility and resilience.
Conditioning system:
Protector W is a nonstick, rub-resistant, non-film-forming conditioner designed to shield leather from the damaging effects of sticky soiling while imparting a soft, waxy feel. Its breathable barrier enhances resistance to both wet and dry rubs, helping to reduce stretch, scuffing, and abrasion, while preserving the leather’s durability and appearance.
Tools:
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.
Instruction:
Step 1 Prepping
Prepping is to remove accumulated soilings.
- Prep 4.4 is applied with Foam 2, agitate with Brush 1, and suspended soiling is extracted with Towel 5.
Step 2 Cleaning
Cleaning follows prepping to remove remaining suspended soiling.
- Cleaner 3.8 concentrate 1: 64 is mixed with 224g distilled water or 1.5 inches from the top of the 8oz bottle before use.
- It is spread with Foam 2 and agitated with Brush 1.
- Suspended soiling is extracted with Towel 5 until it shows clean, and proceed to rinse.
Step 3 Rinsing
Rinsing follows cleaning to remove suspended soiling and pH balance to a healthy squeaky feel.
- Rinse 3.0 concentrate 1: 40 is mixed with 222g distilled water or 1.5 inches from the top of the 8oz bottle before use.
- It is applied, brushed, and suspended soiling is extracted with Towel 5 and ready with hydrating.
Step 4 Hydrating
Hydrating follows rinsing to relax and plump stiffness, unnatural creases, and wrinkles for effective fatliquoring to follow through.
- Hydrator 3.3 concentrate 1: 25 is mixed with 218g distilled water or 1.5 inches from the top of the 8oz bottle before use.
- It is spread by Foam 2 and works in the leather structure with Brush 1 with a deep even saturating appearance, massaged, and stretched to dimension, before proceeding with fatliquoring.
Step 5 Fatliquoring
Fatliquoring follows the hydrating process deep into the leather structure for leather softness and strength with fat and oil when dry.
- Fatliquor 5.0 concentrate 1: 5 requires 189g of distilled water or mixing up to 1.5 inches below the 8oz bottle top before ready to use.
- It is applied and redistributed following the same hydrating technique.
- The application is repeated each cycle, the water content evaporates.
- Its application ends when the leather absorbs no more and is left to natural drying.
- Its sticky residue is rinsed off with Hydrator 3.3.
- The leather is left to dry naturally for extra softness.
- Fully fat-liquored leather is further staked, massaged, or flexed accordingly with a little wet back with Hydrator 3.3 until dry for extra suppleness.
Step 6 Conditioning
Surface conditioning begins when leather is dried and regains its suppleness.
- Protector W concentrate 1:19 is mixed with 217g distilled water or 1.5 inches from the top of the 8oz bottle before use.
- Protector W is applied applied and spread with Foam 2 or Towel 5.
- Leave to dry and is ready for use.
People Also Ask:
- What is a Leather Preventive Care System?
- What is a Leather Routine Care System?
- What is a Leather Periodic Care System?
- What is a Leather Restorative Care System?
- How to Identify Leather Stains?
- How to Use Leather Problem Matrix?
- Technical Help and Support?
1 What is Leather Preventive Care System?
The Leather Preventive Care System is designed to protect, enhance, and prolong the luxurious look and feel of aniline leather before use.
Key Benefits:
✔ Initial Surface Conditioning – Applying Protector W creates a waxy-soft feel that enhances leather’s natural touch.
✔ Non-Stick Shield – Prevents sticky soiling, maintaining a clean, high-end appearance.
✔ Rub-Resistant Barrier – Reduces friction and minimizes wear and scuffing.
✔ Leather Scent Infusion (Optional) – Protector W Plus adds a classic leather aroma for an enhanced sensory experience.
By implementing preventive care, leather remains supple, clean, and resilient, ensuring its beauty and longevity.
Preventive care begins and ends with Step 6 Conditioning.
2 What is Leather Routine Care System?
The Leather Routine Care System ensures regular maintenance to keep aniline leather clean, supple, and well-conditioned while preventing premature wear.
Key Components:
✔ Dust Removal – Regularly dusting with a soft cloth or vacuuming with a brush attachment prevents buildup.
✔ Targeted Cleaning – Using a leather-safe cleaner to remove accumulated dirt and body oils without damaging the leather.
✔ pH Balancing of Sweat Stains – Rinse 3.0 helps neutralize alkaline sweat, preventing tackiness and deterioration.
✔ Nonstick Conditioning – Applying Protector W (or Protector W Plus for a leather scent) creates a rub-resistant barrier that reduces friction, maintains softness, and prevents sticky soiling.
Why It’s Important
Routine care extends the life of aniline leather by preserving its natural beauty, preventing dryness, and reducing stains from becoming permanent.
Routine care begins with Step 3 Rinsing and ends with Step 6 Conditioning.
3 What is Leather Periodic Care System?
The Leather Periodic Care System focuses on preventive deep cleaning before soiling causes permanent damage. This ensures the leather remains consistently clean, supple, and well-maintained.
Why is Periodic Care Important?
Over time, body oils, grease, and sweat can penetrate the leather, leading to darkening, stickiness, and potential structural damage. Areas with frequent contact, such as headrests, armrests, footrests, and handles, require more frequent attention than lesser-used areas.
Recommended Periodic Care Steps:
1️⃣ Cleaning – Use Cleaner 3.8 for general cleaning or Prep 4.4 for heavier buildup, ensuring body oils and sweat are removed before they degrade the leather.
2️⃣ pH Rinse & Balance – Rinse 3.0 neutralizes residues and maintains the leather’s natural pH integrity, preventing tackiness.
3️⃣ Hydration & Rejuvenation – Hydrator 3.3 rehydrates and relaxes leather fibers before fatliquoring.
4️⃣ Fatliquoring for Suppleness – Fatliquor 5.0 replenishes lost fat and oil, restoring softness and flexibility.
5️⃣ Protective Conditioning – Protector W (or Protector W Plus for a leather scent) creates a nonstick, rub-resistant barrier that enhances durability and prevents sticky soiling.
How Often Should Periodic Care Be Done?
✔ High-use areas (headrests, armrests, seat cushions) → Every 3-6 months
✔ Moderate-use areas → Every 6-12 months
Periodic care begins 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 System?
The Leather Restorative Care System is designed to revive and restore leather that has suffered from heavy soiling, aging, or damage. This comprehensive system addresses deeply embedded dirt, oils, and old conditioners that may have built up over time, which can compromise the leather’s appearance and feel.
Why It’s Needed
Over time, accumulated soiling can fill in creases, which are often mistaken for cracks, and aged conditioners can lead to a stiff, brittle leather. This system helps to restore the leather’s softness, flexibility, and natural beauty by removing contaminants and rejuvenating the material.
Key Steps of the Restorative Care System:
1️⃣ Restorative Cleaning – Use Prep 4.4 for heavy-duty cleaning. It emulsifies and suspends soiling, breaking it down for easy removal without damaging the leather.
2️⃣ Deep Agitation – Use the Brush 1 to gently agitate areas where dirt and oils have deeply settled, ensuring they are fully removed.
3️⃣ Extract Residual Soiling – Use Cleaner 3.8 to extract any remaining residues, followed by a rinse with Rinse 3.0 to neutralize any remaining cleaning agents and restore the leather’s natural squeaky clean feel.
4️⃣ Hydration and Softening – Apply Hydrator 3.3 to relax stiffness, followed by Fatliquor 5.0 to replenish lost oils and fats, restoring softness and strength to the leather.
5️⃣ Nonstick Conditioning – Finally, apply Protector W (or Protector W Plus for a leather scent) to create a nonstick, rub-resistant barrier, protecting the leather from future damage and reducing friction wear.
When to Use Restorative Care
✔ For heavily soiled or aged leather
✔ When leather appears stiff or brittle
✔ When creases appear to have deepened or cracked
✔ When older conditioners have left residue or caused discoloration
This system works as a last-resort care to fully restore aniline leather that has experienced deep-set issues, bringing it back to life with supple, vibrant, and clean leather.
Restorative care begins with Step 1 Prepping, Step 2 Cleaning, Step 3 Rinsing, Step 4 Hydrating, Step 5 Fatliquoring and ends with Step 6 Conditioning.
5 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.
- Red stains: Could be from wine, blood, lipstick, nail polish, or beverages.
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.
6 How to Use the Waxy Matte Aniline Leather Problem-Solving Matrix?
The matrix categorizes common issues with 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 with
- Hydrator 3.3 to rehydrate and relax the leather.
- Fatliquor 5.0 to replenish lost fats and oils, restoring suppleness.
- Protector W conditioning the leather for ongoing durability.
7 Technical Help and Support?
Post your leather problems with some pictures, and help will be there.
https://www.leathercleaningrestorationforum.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?63-Chanel-Bag-Forum
Thank you for your input on improving this writing. Comments are welcome!
Updated: March 11, 2025, by Roger Koh.
