[maxcarpets]

I have been asked if I could clean a real cowhide rug ( lovely ) I declined. Anyone ever come across this?

Cheers


Justin

P.S Still no sign of the Xmas rush!

[Deep Clean Newcastle Gateshead]

Talk to LTT, I believe they have a product that will do it.
http://www.lttsolutions.net/contact.asp

[LTT Leathercare]

These are becoming increasingly popular along with hair on hide furniture (often pony skin) but they require slightly different treatment to normal(!) leather.

There is a specialist cleaner/protector called cow care (as far as we know the only one available) which is very effective, took a curry stain out of a hair on hide rug after 12 hours. It is very important not to overwet the hide itself as if it gets very wet the hairs will fall out.

Furniture and rugs should be treated in the same way with this product which will also protect the hairs as well as cleaning them.

Hope this helps

[maxcarpets]

Many thanks

[Ken Wainwright]

This is a leather rug that was flood damaged earlier this year. It was fully retored, and I saw it and took this picture at Royal Professional Dry Cleaners in Leicester. They are members of the Certified Restoration Drycleaning Network (CRDN) and specialise in the restoration of all sorts of textile restoration from silk through to leather. www.royal-drycleaners.co.uk

Safe and happy cleaning
Ken

[LTT Leathercare]

Hi Ken

Can you email me a copy of the photo as I don't seem to be able to open it on the forum.  Cheers.  It is interesting to see different methods of approaching these things.

[Mike Osbourne]

Ken

Do you know what they use the peri pumps for?

[Ken Wainwright]

I don't even know what a peri-pump is mike

Being a dry cleaners and laundry, there were zillions of pipes and pumps around for cold water, hot water and steam. probably others too.

Safe and happy pumping
Ken

[*paul_moss]

Ken How did they restore it? Did they share their techniques with you?

[LTT Leathercare]

Ken Was this a woven leather rug? 

This would be a very different cleaning process to a hair on hide.
Woven leather would be impossible to clean other than a total immersion dry cleaning process.

[*paul_moss]

By the buckling on it, it looks like it has been immersed.
Im not sure about using solvents Judy, would they not damage the finishes on the leather?

[LTT Leathercare]

We don't actually know much about dry cleaning processes.  It is not something we recommend because we don't know enough about it.

We were only asking whether that is the way it had been done because conventional leather furniture cleaning processes wouldn't really be effective on woven leather rugs.

[*paul_moss]

This would be a very different cleaning process to a hair on hide.
Woven leather would be impossible to clean other than a total immersion dry cleaning process.

We don't actually know much about dry cleaning processes.  It is not something we recommend because we don't know enough about it.

Judy that makes sense.

[Roger Koh]

How to Safely Clean a Cowhide Rug

Cowhide rug is leather tanned with their hair still intact.
Commercial hair-on hide are mainly from cowhide.
It’s hair on one side and suede on the other.
pH value of hair is around 4-6, and suede is around 3-5.
Hair side is protein fiber and suede side is protein fiber too,
but loaded with other leather chemistry that includes
tanning agents pH 2-5, fatliquors pH 4-6, besides preservatives pH 3-5, etc.

Safe cleaning means that cleaning solution pH value has to work in harmony with the leather chemistry integrity,
otherwise it will denature the leather and cause brittleness or yellowing to white hair.

Safe cleaning for the hair is by using pH 4–6 cleaning solutions,
that may include deGreaser5.1™ > hair-On5.0™ > rinse4.0™ > mothProof4.0™ > leatherScent’S™.

Safe cleaning for the suede is by using pH 3–5 cleaning solutions,
that may include superCleaner4.0™ > cleaner3.8™ > rinse3.0™ > fatliquor5.0™.

Hair inspection is to check for hair-brittleness, insect-damages, physical-damages or stains.
Inspect the suede side to check the severity of soiling.
Creases and weak tear strength is sign of diminishing fatliquor.

Assuming we are doing a restoration cleaning on both sides.
Then both sides dry soil removal by vacuuming and compressed air is the first step.
Used suedeBrush3™ on both sides, groom the hair and brush the suede.

Step 2 is to clean the suede side first with Preconditioner > Cleaner > Rinse > Fatliquor.
2.1 Spray Preconditioner > Brush > Dwell > Extract.
2.2 Spray Cleaner > Brush > Extract.
2.3 Spray Rinse > Brush > Extract.
2.4 Spray Fatliquor > Brush.

Step 3 Put heavy white terry towel on top of the suede and roll it tight overnight.

Step 4 Unroll it the next day and lay it flat with suede facing up.

Step 5 These anionic products will suspend soil particulate to the fiber tips through the wicking process.
   Brush the wick up soil and vacuum if off.

Step 6 Clean the hair side as follows:
6.1 Spray Degreaser > Dwell > Groom > Extract.
6.2 Spray Cleaner > Groom > Extract.
6.3 Spray Rinse > Groom > Extract.
6.4 Speed up drying with air mover.
6.5 When dry Fine Spray with leather Scent Silky Feel Conditioner.

Hope this gives you an idea of how to clean Cowhide Rug safely and effectively.

Roger Koh
IICRC#942 LCT MTC MSR
info@leatherdoctor.org
Leather Doctor® System
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