First clean the leather with
COLOURLOCK Mild Leather Cleaner. Important: Too much moisture can damage antique leather so it is advisable to use a foam, rather than liquid, cleaner and remove the residue with a slightly damp cloth. . Allow to dry naturally and away from heat and sunlight.
Next repair cracks and rips with
COLOURLOCK Liquid Leather before treating with
Leather Softener. This is important as
Leather Softener is oil-based, making it difficult for repair products to be absorbed.
Apply
Leather Softener with a sponge or a soft cloth. For best results, the softener must be applied on the reverse side (the layer facing the cushions on the inside). Because the surface is rougher, it is more receptive to treatment than the smooth side. Unless you are planning on carrying out further upholstery repairs, you are advised not to remove the covers for this treatment as old leather can tear or break easily.
Let the leather rest for 24 hours to allow time for it to fully absorb the Leather Softener, then repeat. One litre is sufficient for an entire vehicle area. For individual upholstery parts use 250 ml.
Next try and loosen the fibres by kneading the leather with your hands. Continue until the leather feels softer. But be careful as very old and shrunken leather can break easily. While the leather will never be as soft as it once was, you should still see a noticeable improvement. Professionals use a leather-softening tool to soften the leather (see video).
After the final application of
Leather Softener remove the residue with a soft cloth and let the leather rest for a week before carrying out further treatment and repairs. Before using repair products thoroughly degrease the area with
COLOURLOCK Leather Cleaning Spirit.
To nourish and protect the leather, use
COLOURLOCK Leather Protector and, if the leather is glossy or exposed to the weather,
COLOURLOCK Elephant Leather Preserver offers added protection. Depending on the level of use a care treatment should be applied once or twice a year. Further treatments with
Leather Softenerare not necessary.
