American “Icon” Leathers- “Boston”, “Baseball” (BMW), “Chaparral”, “King Ranch” (Ford F-Series) leather, despite their different names they are all types of (Aniline) leather, which have little or no protective finish on the surface of the leather which means that any spills, body oils etc will soak into the leather hide Use a specific aniline leather cleaner that that will clean the surface of the leather. How to Identify Aniline Leather Aniline Leather is immersion dyed, which completely colours the hide with a transparent dye. Because the finish is transparent and shows the natural markings of the leather, only top quality hides can be used. It is absorbent and has a random shade colours and grain pattern; lightly scratch the surface to see if it reveals a lighter colour, water drops will darken its colour (temporarily) Alkaline upholstery leather should be routinely cleaned to remove light dirt and dust with a pH balanced, non-alkaline cleaner to loosen and lift grease, without overly drying the leather or affecting the hide’s natural pH. In addition to regular cleaning to remove abrasive debris and oils, leather requires regular replacement of its moisture (re-hydration) by regular use of a damp micro fibre towel Aniline leather is moisture sensitive, so avoid the use of liquid, oil-based or wax-based products; water-based products will hydrate and maintain the necessary moisture balance. The oil secreted from your skin is slightly acidic and may cause the Aniline leathers pigmentation to lose its colour prematurely, taking away the effect of a premium leather interior. Removing these oils is paramount to leather care, but limiting the amount of bare skin you expose to your seats and interior is a great way to prevent discoloration. Recommended Products - a) Leather Master™- Foam Cleaner. Always apply the following products to a pre-cleaned surface (b) Soft Touch and (c) Protection Cream (d) 303™ Aerospace Protectant Removing Stains • Surface dirt and dust – use a soft brush, vacuum and then use a clean, damp cloth • Spills – use a dry micro fibre towel to absorb liquids, and then wipe clean with a damp micro fibre towel. • Stains – use a mild leather cleaner (test on an inconspicuous place before use) using very little pressure and do not ‘scrub’ to remove • Be aware that certain stains may not be removable, i.e. dye transfer, coffee, sun tan oil, food sauces, citrus fruit drinks, etc are especially difficult to remove. It is very important with this type of leather to use a protective water-based type product, which will inhibit dirt and body oils etc from being absorbed into the leather in the first place; these can then be cleaned from the surface easily. Aniline leather fades at a faster rate than protected (pigmented) leather, so ultra violet (UV) protection is of paramount importance. Cleaning and Protection Remove surface dirt and dust – use a soft brush, vacuum and then use a clean, damp cloth The advantage of foam over liquid is the minimum amount of moisture, very important for cleaning absorbent (Aniline, Nubuck, etc) leathers. Leather Master™ Foam Cleaner is a solvent free pump action product, which is extremely efficient for the cleaning of general soiling and water based stains. Always pre-test the product on an inconspicuous area. This cleaner is an aerosol version of Leather Master™ Strong Cleaner. The advantage of foam over liquid is the minimum amount of moisture, very important for cleaning absorbent materials. The foam created by this aerosol has the consistency of shaving cream, making it ideal for sensitive leather Application a) Shake the container thoroughly b) Spray the product at a distance of 12 inches from the leather c) Using the sponge, work the foam gently into the leather. With a clean micro fibre towel wipe away excess foam d) For heavily soiled areas, or where the leather has become ingrained such as in creases in the leather, a soft brush can be used to agitate and loosen the dirt. This is NOT a conditioner per se but is used to improve the tactile feel (patina) and to ensure the leather remains soft and supple; apply Leather Master™ Soft Touch (ex Soft Vital) and allow to dry Application a) Shake the bottle well before using. b) Apply the product to a clean, micro fibre towel and wipe a thin layer evenly on the leather. c) Allow each layer to dry and absorb into the leather Leather Master™ - Protection Cream increases the durability, resistance against; stains, spots and spillages and provides the hydration necessary to keep the leather soft and supple. Application a) Shake the container thoroughly b) Apply the Protection Cream to a soft micro fibre towel, spread product evenly; paying particular attention to high use areas like seating area, arms, front railings and backs. c) Apply first coat and allow to dry, and then apply second coat Ultra Violet (UV) Protection 303™ Aerospace Protectant - (UV) Protection is a sacrificial / renewable component; this is due to the UV protection layer being degraded by exposure to the elements (sun, sand, road or sea salt, and etc) it is also water miscible, so it is imperative that you renew it and needs to be re-applied on a regular basis (dependent upon location climatic condition) There is no such thing as a permanent UV stabilizer, it a matter of physics, not chemistry. Providing protection from ultra violet radiation is very important to avoid photo synthesis (colour fading) particularly in an open-air roadster/convertible. UV Penetration of Auto Glass, UV radiation is present in the sun’s rays throughout the year in varying amounts. Ordinary car window glass filters out about 97% of the UV-B radiation and about 37% of UV-A radiation. It is approximately equivalent to a good sunscreen, which means that if you’re sitting in the sun during a long trip you could still get burnt from the amount of radiation coming through the glass. Laminated windscreens block all of the UV-B radiation and about 80% of the UV-A radiation UVR protection is a sacrificial / renewable component; this is due to the UV protection layer being degraded by exposure to the elements (sun, sand, road or sea salt, and etc) it is also water miscible, so it is imperative that you renew it and needs to be re-applied on a regular basis (dependent upon location climatic condition) There is no such thing as a permanent UV stabilizer, it a matter of physics, not chemistry. Providing protection from ultra violet radiation is very important to avoid photo synthesis (colour fading) particularly in an open-air roadster/convertible. Application a) Use 303™ Aerospace Protectant on a clean surface (there are no cleaning agents in this product) spray product onto a cloth and the surface to be protected should be wet, not just damp. b) Using a clean, dry cloth and agitate to ensure the protected surface is dry (this product does not air-dry) c) After application allow 60 minutes for product to cure, then using a 100% cotton cloth to lightly buff surface Streaking (No, not the kind you see at Rugby matches) ensure that you are not using too much product; a thin layer is all that's required. Be sure also that both your surface and the applicator is clean and has not become saturated. In general, a quick wipe down with a microfiber towel should remove the excess Scheduled Maintenance Once every 30-60 days, Arizona, Florida and Texas, especially in summer, for northern climates between 90-120 days. Maintenance / Care 1. After removing any surface dust by vacuuming, hydrate cleaned surfaces with distilled water and a clean microfiber towel to ensure the leather remains soft and supple. Remove surface dirt and dust – use a soft brush, vacuum and then use a clean, damp cloth 2. Leather Masters™ Foam Cleaner is a solvent free pump action product, which is extremely efficient for the cleaning of general soiling and water based stains. Always pre-test the product on an inconspicuous area. This cleaner is an aerosol version of Leather Master™ Strong Cleaner. 3. Allow product to remain in place, amount of remain in place time will be dependent upon level of soiling) and then gently agitate, and then remove with a damp micro fibre towel 4. To ensure the leather remains soft and supple apply Leather Masters Soft Touch and allow to dry 5. Apply Leather Masters Protection Cream with a dry micro fibre towel and allow to dry TOGWT ™ Ltd (Established 1980) © Copyright 2002-2010, all rights reserved
