Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: suffolkclean on September 23, 2009, 07:00:55 pm
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Hi - could anyone give me some advice. I've been cleaning my black leather suite for about 5 yrs now. Got some prochem leather cleaner & seperate conditioner. Im wiping the arms with the cleaner slightly damp cloth as instructions, drying it off with a dry cloth. Same process with the conditioner. Its drying up dull & feels slightly sticky. Any ideas what i'm doing wrong - should I just get a damp cloth on it?
Barbara
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is prochem leather cleaner a foam or a cream? how often are you applying the protector?
derek
ps.. did you get my return email?
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The lacquer top coat may be worn and you are trying to clean the pigment which is soft and absorbant. If that's the case you won't ever clean it and needs repainting/laquering.
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Hi derek - yes I did get your mail - thanks very much. Prochem is cream.
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theres ya problem, use a foam cleaner, acts like a bra, lifts and seperates. ;D
creams just get rubbed in leaving what youve got.
derek
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You apply it with a damp cloth the wipe it off with a seperate one.
Why use both, Prochem leather cleaner has a conditioner in it.
Bit like wash and wax for cars.
John
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I tried the Prochem leather cleaner a few years back - sat on the shelf now - anyone want it?
Barbara - get some Strong Cleaner from LTT - its a foam. You may need to buy the foamer bottle as well.
They have trade prices tucked away on their website - you need a password to get them though - no big deal.
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Yeh me Joe my lad finds it great on his bike leathers
Tony
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First thing to do is to check the type of leather you have. Sticky areas after this length of time may be an indication of Bicast leather. If this is the case and it hasn't been protected on a regular basis then body oils could have broken down the coating.
If it is not Bicast but a standard protected leather then there would appear to be a problem with the finish or a build up of grease.
Foam cleaning would be a good start and then see what you are left with.
Using cream cleaners is a real problem and 'conditioners' will only add to it.
This doesn't sound as though it is a 'cleaning' problem and may not be resolved this way. Joe will tell you all about this!!!!!!!
If we can be of further help please do not hesitate to contact us
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I've had this with bicast and I believe that the 'invisible' finish has gone/worn out, Andy from LTT advised me on how to correct this but as Judy says you need to find out what leather it is (mixed=bicast)
Shaun
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Yeh me Joe my lad finds it great on his bike leathers
Tony
Email me you address Tony, Ill get it over to you.
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First thing to do is to check the type of leather you have. Sticky areas after this length of time may be an indication of Bicast leather. If this is the case and it hasn't been protected on a regular basis then body oils could have broken down the coating.
If it is not Bicast but a standard protected leather then there would appear to be a problem with the finish or a build up of grease.
Foam cleaning would be a good start and then see what you are left with.
Using cream cleaners is a real problem and 'conditioners' will only add to it.
This doesn't sound as though it is a 'cleaning' problem and may not be resolved this way. Joe will tell you all about this!!!!!!!
If we can be of further help please do not hesitate to contact us
I was at the NCCA Technical Roadshow on Tuesday at Shrewsbury with about another 25 carpet cleaners from as far away as Fort William and London.
Andy and Judy from LTT were there doing a presentation, and we covered sticky surfaces on Bicast.
Strange how things come about - 2 days ago on a training session, then it gets mentioned.
For £25 (£35 for non NCCA members and buffet included) that was a very good day.
Going off topic (apologies) but Host were there, and they have a new Reliance CRB (counter rotating brush) system launched at a special price of £999 inc vat and a set of brushes of your choice.
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Hi - could anyone give me some advice. I've been cleaning my black leather suite for about 5 yrs now. Got some prochem leather cleaner & seperate conditioner. Im wiping the arms with the cleaner slightly damp cloth as instructions, drying it off with a dry cloth. Same process with the conditioner. Its drying up dull & feels slightly sticky. Any ideas what i'm doing wrong - should I just get a damp cloth on it?
Barbara
Would you like to solve this sticky problem?
Roger Koh
Leather Doctor®
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I have no idea what kind of leather it is ::) It wasn't a cheap suite cost £2,200 5 yrs ago. I've never put a protection on it, was only ever told about cleaning & conditioning it. ???
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Probably NOT bicast then Barbara..............
Try to get a photo up and the response will be better and more accurate
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Yes!
As Robert say, with pictures it will be more educational.
And certainly we can help, may even comes with free products to test it out!
Roger Koh
Leather Doctor®
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An offer you can't refuse Barbara............well you could, but a visit to Roger's site will give you an idea of his expertise in leather !
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Unfortunately I can't show you pictures as probs with my camera at the moment. On having a good look the main problem is with the arms, which on feeling its as if the grain is almost worn away like the leather is almost flat in texture compared to the rest of the chair/sofa. Hope this helps ???
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Do This Testing:
1. Apply distilled (pure) water to this problem area and agitate with a horsehair brush.
2. Extract with a dry absorbent towel of all suspended residue until towel shows clean.
3. Check with your fingers if it is still tacky or sticky while the problem area is still wet.
Let us know your findings, please!
Roger Koh
Leather Doctor®
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Problem solved?
Roger Koh
Leather Doctor®
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Hi Roger - I havn't had the chance yet to do your little test but got camera sorted here are some pics for you.
There's not much to see on the arm pic (it is actually the same colour as couch just flash on camera) the arms are what feel sticky sometimes almost like the grain of the leather is almost smooth compared to other areas - probably just worn out (like me)!
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Hi Barbara
From the photos it would appear that there is a grease problem that is now affecting the finish on the leather.
If a protector has not been used then no amount of cleaning would have prevented this. The amount of grease on the surface will be far less than what has soaked in to the back of the leather (you would be surprised!!!) and this will now need degreasing and recolouring/refinishing.
There is no 'cleaning' solution to this problem - it is now a technical problem.
Hope this helps
Judy
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Oh dear!!
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Thank you for the pictures!
The second picture (arm) show that the finishes look normal.
And a 3 steps simple cleaning procedure will solve this “sticky problem”.
And a non-stick protection will makes you smile!
Step 1: Prep Cleaning.
Use a pH 7.7 leather prep cleaner.
This is a thicker than honey leather preparatory cleaner to remove all foreign contamination.
Apply, spread as thinly as possible and agitate with a horsehair brush.
Let it dwell 10 to 30 minutes.
Step 2: Cleaning
Use a pH 3.8 leather-safe cleaner.
Spray, agitate with the same horsehair brush and extract until towel shows clean.
Step 3: Acidifying Rinse.
Use a pH 2.0 leather acidifier rinse.
Spray and rinse until towel shows clean to a “healthy squeaky clean”.
The sticky problem should stop here!
Non-Stick Protection:
To impart a non-stick breathable barrier.
This prevents stickiness from reoccurrence with a natural buttery-feel.
And with an unforgettable classical leather scent will certainly makes you smile.
Do you think this 3 steps plus system will work?
Roger Koh
Leather Doctor®
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Thanks roger where do you suggest I get all this stuff from? don't suppose you have any samples to help a fellow cleaner??
;) ;D ;)
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As I said Barbara there is no 'cleaning' solution to this problem. These products will not extract the grease from the leather and are merely cleaning products.
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Thanks roger where do you suggest I get all this stuff from? don't suppose you have any samples to help a fellow cleaner??
;) ;D ;)
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Check your email!
Roger Koh
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Thanks Roger but have to wait until after christmas now - got to pay santa!! ;)
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Hi Roger - The stickyness is not so much of a problem at the moment but the white is really starting to look bad now, I've been looking at a leather colourant kit would this re-dye the white areas black?
Could you advise me on this please.
Please see photo - many thanks
Barbara
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Without rectifying the leather structure problem (alkalinity) any colorant applied would not solve your long term problem.
The pH value of the leather structure is shifting towards alkaline (bad) that causes color coating delaminating.
Alkalinity denatures the leather that results in stickiness and delamination.
The correct steps necessary are:
1 Acidify to neutralize the alkalinity making the leather structure more cationic (+) thus restrengthening the leather chemistry integrity.
2 Shaving off deteriorated finishes to the leather crust can be done in conjunction with the acidifier.
3 Adhesion coating is necessary for long term durability.
4 Matching color coat.
5 Matching topcoat.
6 Non-stick protections to reduce dry and wet rubbing.
Roger Koh
Leather Doctor®
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It sounds very complicated - I think I'll get someone in to sort it out! ;D