[Doug Holloway]

Hi Guys

I have been asked to quote for cleaning a Nubuck suite.

What is the best way to clean these ?

Cheers

Doug

[markpowell]

Doug,
You first need to know if the suite is nubuck or faux suede, if it is faux suede you nwill get good results with HWE.
Mark

[Doug Holloway]

Hi Mark

Yes I have cleaned many Faux Suedes but for now I am assuming genuine Nubuck.

Cheers

Doug

[LTT Leathercare]

Hi Doug

First as usual we say double check that the suite is Nubuck.  There are many good fabric imitations on the market and it is easy to be fooled by them.  Easy to check with a microscope if it is the real thing.

If the nubuck has become matted over time with body oils etc. use a napping brush to raise the pile (you can be quite aggressive with this) and then clean with a nubuck cloth.
Follow with a good nubuck protector which will help with the cleaning process in future.  The results with this method are very impressive.
If there are areas that have become very matted and clogged (turned shiny) then you can also lightly sand these areas (this is the way the nubuck was created) to break up the fibres.  This does not do any cleaning but will enable the fibres to be broken up so that they can be cleaned.  
Using degreasers on nubuck will always pull colour out and this can be very difficult to replace with any great success.  Degreasing cleaners will not remove any of the grease that has penetrated the leather and as the surface is so absorbent any grease will have soaked in anyway.

As usual we do not recommend any wet cleaning processes.  If the nubuck is wetted all over it will take a huge amount of time to dry and any previous soiling that has wicked to the surface will not be cleanable and so can look worse than when you started.  

We have once again checked our methods with tanners and the major upholstery cleaning instructors in the USA who all agree that nubuck and suede cannot be extraction cleaned. Wet cleaning and extraction methods were all tried and tested when Andy was teaching in the USA and after seeing the results of wet cleaning on Nubuck and having to foot the cost of restoration work on them the results were clear to us.

Other people may recommend wet cleaning and extraction but we consider it too risky and inconsistent in its results and we can get just as good results with the methods described above.  Other people may recommend dry cleaning solvents but again we consider it too risky and inconsistent.

Hope this helps

[Roger Koh]

From your CCDO Leather Kit, clean Nubuck as follows:

1. Dry Soil Removal with nubuckBrush2™.

Depending on the severity of soiling (localized areas), choice of levels of cleaning 2A, 2B, 2C or 2D as follows:

2A. Preparatory Cleaning prior to Refinishing.

Use: ultraClean4.5™ > cleaner3.8™ > rinse3.0™ > fatliquor5.0™ >
Dry-Soil-Removal > Refinishing > leatherScent’B for buttery-feel or ‘S for silky-feel > Groom for a “Finger Writing Effect”.

2B. Restorative or Salvage Cleaning for Severe Soiling Conditions.

Use: superClean4.0™ > cleaner3.8™ > rinse3.0™ > fatliquor5.0™ >
Dry-Soil-Removal > leatherScent’B for buttery-feel or ‘S for silky-feel
> Groom for a “Finger Writing Effect”.

2C. Normal Cleaning is periodic cleaning every 12 to 24 months depending on the furniture’s location, use or exposure to soiling.

Use: deGrease4.1™ > cleaner3.8™ > rinse3.0™ > fatliquor5.0™ >
Dry-Soil-Removal > leatherScent’B for buttery-feel or ‘S for silky-feel
> Groom for a “Finger Writing Effect”.

2D. Maintenance Cleaning is performed on a regular routine basis.

Use: cleaner3.8™ > rinse3.0™ > Dry-Soil-Removal > leatherScent’B for buttery-feel or ‘S for silky-feel > Groom for a “Finger Writing Effect”.

Let us know your experience!

Note:
For cleaning the entire suite, your ready-to-use spray bottles need top-up from “Concentrate Refill Set” with free shipping to your door step!

Example:
rinse3.0™ mixing ratio with distilled water is 1:100.
Product Concentrate is developed to save you handling and shipping.
A 250gm conc. rinse3.0™ bottle in your pocket makes 25.25kg (one and a quarter pail on your shoulder).

Roger Koh
Leather Doctor® System

[Doug Holloway]

Hi Guys

Thanks Judy and Roger.

There is an obvious discrepacy between your two methods with LTT advocating dry and Roger using water based solutions.

Has anyone else tried cleaning Nubuck ?

Cheers

Doug

[Roger Koh]

 Caution!

When cleaning Nubuck “wet”, it always wise to check the pH value of products first prior to cleaning.

It has to be leather safe pH 3-5.

It is not the wetness!

It is the pH value of the surfactant formulation that matters!

See picture of spray wetting with leather safe pH 3-5 products.

Roger Koh
Leather Doctor® System

[Roger Koh]

Is “Dry Soil Removing” equals “Dry Cleaning”?

Then Leather Doctor® System embraced both “Dry Clean” and “Wet Clean” of cleaning Nubuck!

Dry soil removal includes utilizing a vacuum cleaner for the cushion deck & crevices.

See pictures of “Dry” and “Wet” Cleaning a LA-Z-BOY Nubuck!

Roger Koh
Leather Doctor® System

[stevegunn]

Cleaned my timberland boots using Rogers kit came up like new.

[Roger Koh]

Our experience of “Dry & Wet Cleaning” Nubuck safely and effectively dates back September 2003 in Vancouver!

This set was done on location, looks scary but turns out beautifully after re-napping for a “finger writing Effect” with a leather scent non-stick silky feel to the delight of the customer!

Roger Koh
Leather Doctor® System

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Politics aside Roger's stuff really works on the more tedious leathers, I have cleaned UGG boots and a Jimmy Choo hand bag both expensive (non pigmented) and the end results were out of this world.Endoresement meant but unpaid

Shaun

[*paul_moss]

Doug, nightmare. Unless you have an offsite area and plenty of time and the customer will pay big bucks then walk.
I have not tried Rogers kit on Nubuck yet, still trying to get hold of some to play around on.

Unless your confident on doing it then I would not test any of these methods out first time on a customers suite. You may end up owning it  .

Oh if you do end up owning it  can you send me a chair to mess with please