To
“keep it in good condition” may suggest appearance; to maintain at showroom aesthetic at all times; will require the routine cleaning and rinsing; to remove soiling before they build-up especially in-between the grains. Things we don’t see is the pH value shifting toward alkalinity of the leather from sweaty hands that deteriorate the finish and the structure; signs of extreme alkaline exposure is the tackiness; requires the pH neutralizing with a pH 3.0 acidifying rinse to rectify it.
“Condition the leather” suggest imparting a tactile-feel to the finish; draggy-feel is recommended especially to the steering wheel for better grip and buttery-feel to seats that lubricate the leather against wear from rubbing and getting in and out of cars; it’s non-stick protection reduce sticky soiling; including the common dye transfer from belts and new blue jeans; and even the common ballpoint will fail to disperse its nasty ink as the ball tip fails to roll on contact.
“Hydrate” suggests the rejuvenating of the leather structure with leather-safe (pH 3-5) hydrator; where the suppleness of the leather lies. Leather is hydrophilic (water loving) and can take up to 40% of water with strength and elongation; to dry averaging 15% of moisture level; hydrating moist is where the leather fibrils become relaxed to be stretched or massaged and or hot-plated of its unwanted creases.
However when the leather is dry again without fatliquor it will become stiff as the drying fibrils becomes stick together again and when flex will break the interlocking fibrils thus makes the leather weaker. Thus hydrating always follows with fatliquoring (fat, oil and water) to lubricate each interlocking fibrils so that when dry it will slide over one another smoothly that gives leather its softness, strength with suppleness.
“And still have the nice leather scent?” may suggest that the “scent of leather is more leathery than the leather itself”; the scent is infused into the fatliquor as part of the leather constituent and as the fatliquor evaporates as VOC (volatile organic compound) the leather scent diminishes as well.
Leather scent infused fatliquor has twice the durability to release the leather scent more than the leather scent infused tactile-feel protector.
What you are looking for is the new leather-safe (pH 3-5) innovative system for modern indoor leathers; rather than products used during the “horse and buggy” era still used today.
Google search images > Leather Kit S250
Roger Koh
info@leatherdoctor.org
