How to clean, care & protect Aniline leather
Aniline leather is full grain leather that is coloured all the way
through with a transparent dye. It is porous without surface coating.
Liquids penetrate and darken the surface. Some aniline leathers have a
protective waterproofing.
Aniline leather has a natural, warm and soft grip but is also exremely sensitive. Aniline leather develops a typical patina with time. Stains become visible and the leather might also fade with time.
Due to the limited cleaning options, new aniline leather needs stain protection. Depending on the type of aniline leather, three different protection products can be used:
The COLOURLOCK Aniline Cream and the COLOURLOCK Waterproofing for Leather & Textile. If the leather is extremely porous and sensitive, use COLOURLOCK Waterproofing for Leather & Textile. The Aniline Cream can be used on less sensitive Aniline leather.
Aniline leather has a natural, warm and soft grip but is also exremely sensitive. Aniline leather develops a typical patina with time. Stains become visible and the leather might also fade with time.
Due to the limited cleaning options, new aniline leather needs stain protection. Depending on the type of aniline leather, three different protection products can be used:
The COLOURLOCK Aniline Cream and the COLOURLOCK Waterproofing for Leather & Textile. If the leather is extremely porous and sensitive, use COLOURLOCK Waterproofing for Leather & Textile. The Aniline Cream can be used on less sensitive Aniline leather.
Leather without any protective layer is
particularly stain-sensitive, especially when it is light coloured. In
such cases, the Waterproofing for Leather & Textile is the first
choice. The same recommendation is true for coarse and porous leather.
Very open pore and sensitive.
Porous aniline leather when viewed under a magnifying glass.
For fine pore leathers, depending on the degree of gloss, we recommend COLOURLOCK Aniline Cream. This product offers intensive protection against stains for fine pore aniline leather when used regularly.
Important: Only a regular treatment from the beginning ensures high protection against stains. Stains caused by liquids that have already penetrated can’t be removed easily. Ask a specialist for help to avoid major damage due to improper cleaning attempts. Prevention is the best protection.
Important: Only a regular treatment from the beginning ensures high protection against stains. Stains caused by liquids that have already penetrated can’t be removed easily. Ask a specialist for help to avoid major damage due to improper cleaning attempts. Prevention is the best protection.
dull: COLOURLOCK Aniline Cream.
Exposed surfaces should be treated at least every three months. Before protection treatment, clean the area carefully with COLOURLOCK Mild Leather Cleaner.
Test in a hidden area first. Ensure area is not too wet to avoid stains
and rub gently. Always work from seam to seam. Ask for advice in case
of difficult stains.
To nourish old and dry aniline, treat the leather with COLOURLOCK Aniline Protector. The COLOURLOCK Aniline Protector contains oils and UV protection to preserve the leather.
Single coloured, older, slightly faded and lightly scratched aniline leather can be refreshed with COLOURLOCK Leather Fresh. Initially, degrease gently with COLOURLOCK Degreaser. Most big stains from skin and hair contact that are not too dark can be improved with COLOURLOCK Grease Absorber. Please refer to our information text.
In case of heavily stained and faded aniline leathers, cleaning and protection should be carried out by a specialist. Our products for private households cannot solve such problems. Often the stains can get larger.
In case of extremely sensitive aniline
leather, use the COLOURLOCK Waterproofing for Leather & Textile
twice at first. Later, treat the leather, also depending on gloss grade,
with COLOURLOCK Aniline Cream. With this method, you can achieve maximum protection.
Important:
Even with this double protection, aniline leather remains sensitive!
The best protection for aniline leather is to handle it with utmost
care.
To nourish old and dry aniline, treat the leather with COLOURLOCK Aniline Protector. The COLOURLOCK Aniline Protector contains oils and UV protection to preserve the leather.
Single coloured, older, slightly faded and lightly scratched aniline leather can be refreshed with COLOURLOCK Leather Fresh. Initially, degrease gently with COLOURLOCK Degreaser. Most big stains from skin and hair contact that are not too dark can be improved with COLOURLOCK Grease Absorber. Please refer to our information text.
In case of heavily stained and faded aniline leathers, cleaning and protection should be carried out by a specialist. Our products for private households cannot solve such problems. Often the stains can get larger.
Extremely faded: Contact us first!
Very greasy: Contact us first.
new/old, aniline leather with patina
Penetrated stains: Standard cleaning attempts will not work.
Recommended products
Tip
Leather Cleaner with sponge
£23.29*
Ideal for cleaning leather car and furniture upholstery, bags, suitcases or garments.The Leather Cleaner is provided in a foam dispenser bottle. Foams clean the leather more efficiently than liquid agents, the consumption is considerably smaller, and the leather does not become wet, which could otherwise become hard after drying.Firstly, clean the leather thoroughly before refreshing the colour or applying care products. Use COLOURLOCK Mild Leather Cleaner against normal soiling. Cleaning before treatment prevents the dirt sticking to the leather's surface. Our COLOURLOCK Leather Cleaning Brush effectively removes ingrained dirt (use circular motions and work from seam to seam). After cleaning, it is always best to apply a care product to protect it against general wear and future staining.Amount: 200 ml Mild Leather Cleaner. This is usually sufficient for the cleaning of a whole car interior or set of furniture.Amount: 1 litre Application of Leather CleanerAlways test any products first on a hidden area in case they affect the colour.Dispense some foam on a sponge or brush. Do not apply to the leather directly! Clean the leather from seam to seam using the foam; repeat several times, if necessary. Remove dirty foam residue with a slightly moistened piece of cloth, then allow to dry.On older leathers, stains might sink into the surface, or perceived dirt might actually be colour damage. Such stains cannot always be removed by cleaning, in which case, use COLOURLOCK Leather Fresh for refreshing the colour, or ask us for advice.These products are also suitable for "Cool Leather/SRT (SunReflective Technology) Leather"!
Degreaser
£15.62*
Degreaser
is used in various situations for degreasing. The degreaser is a solvent-free
product, yet powerful and gentle to the surface. It does not dissolve the color
and is therefore excellent for degreasing all types of leather.
Areas of
application:
for
degreasing smooth leather and removing care product residues before repair for
the professional and end user.
for
degreasing grease spots in the headrest and armrest areas of furniture,
steering wheels, handles and gear knobs on vehicles, handles on handbags and
suitcases, etc.for
cleaning/degreasing of "spackled" rough leathers in the furniture tradefor
degreasing greasy collars on jackets before washing with leather detergentfor
degreasing greasy areas before professional dyeing in the workshop
Amounts
of COLOURLOCK Degreaser:
30 ml is
enough for steering wheels or handbag handles.
150 ml
is sufficient for a furniture set or car interior.
250 ml
and 1 liter for more extensive degreasing work or for several objects.
APPLICATION
Always
test all products first on a concealed area for changes! Although COLOURLOCK
Degreaser does not dissolve colors, it may cause a lightening of colors in
open-pored leathers or if too much was used on smooth leather. Therefore,
pre-testing is always advisable.
Dampen a
clean, soft cloth with the degreaser and go over the greasy areas. Plain smooth
leathers can be degreased thoroughly after a test.
For open-pored
leather (suede, aniline leather, etc.), only briefly dart over the leather with
the cloth in order to avoid edging and stains caused by the cleaning attempt.
Allow
the leather to dry between all treatments. Do not blow dry.
Not all
grease spots can be removed completely. Areas of contact with skin or hair and
areas greased over long periods of time are particularly difficult. In some cases,
grease remover spray might help. For large areas, deeply absorbed oils, or
heavy greasing, seek professional advice.
After
cleaning with the COLOURLOCK Degreaser, re-condition and protect the leather
with a care product suitable for the type of leather.
Variants from £7.94*
Refresher for scratches
Leather Fresh Dye
From
£29.91*
Leather Fresh is a colour refresher (dye) for scratches, worn, or faded leather. Leather Fresh is ideal to refresh colour damages on car leather, furniture leather, leather garments and handbags. Do not use on porous leathers unless colouring the entire surface - it can make the surface appear patchy. It can be sponged on or sprayed using an airbrush.
Application
Always test any products first on a hidden area to test for colour match!Firstly, clean the leather thoroughly and prepare the surface. Use Mild Leather Cleaner for normal degrees of soiling or Strong Leather Cleaner to remove heavier dirt (where the leather has been neglected for many years). Cleaning prior to treatment ensures the paint bonds to the surface well and ensures durability. Use Leather Cleaning Brush to effectively remove all ingrained dirt. Cleaning removes dirt but for long lasting results you should also de-grease using Degreaser.Use a sponge to apply the colour evenly, working from seam to seam. Dry afterwards with a hair dryer. On small spots, a one application is sufficient. Apply multiple thin layers and dry each layer using a hair dryer.A day later, after it dries, apply Leather Protector. It gives the leather a good sheen and helps blend the repair. It contains antioxidants, which stops the leather's decay, and its UV filters protect the surfaces of old and valuable leathers from bleaching and fading. Also keeps the leather supple.
46 standard colours and prepared special colours according to sample or manufacturer name.Find car leather colours for Leather Fresh Dye in our Car Leather Repair category.
Aniline Protector Spray Pump
£21.97*
The Aniline & Suede Protector is a care product with a complex UV-filters and antioxidants. It protects absorbent leather (Nubuck, Suede, Buffalo and Aniline Leather) from fading by sun and drying out. Regular care increases the gloss and lifespan of your leather.Amount: 200 ml
Waterproofing Leather & Textile, 200 ml, Aerosol Spray
£11.65*
The Waterproofing Spray is a gentle anti-stain protection
for sensitive nubuck and suede leather as well as textiles. Available
in 200 ml and 500 ml cans.
Areas of application: Garments, shoes, cushions, bags, saddles, tents etc.ApplicationAlways test any products first on a hidden area in case they affect the colour.Spray on a clean and dry surface horizontally, from a distance of approx. 40 cm, thinly and evenly. Allow to dry. For heavily strained surfaces repeat as necessary. It should also be reapplied after cleaning. Apply according to instructions and warnings on the label.Important: The waterproofing will not make absorbent leather fully water-resistant. It increases protection, but the surfaces nevertheless have to be treated gently.