Colourlock Old Leather Softener 1 litre

There are two reasons why leather becomes hard:

• Ageing, drying out and lack of movement are common reasons for leather becoming stiff. Due to a lack of care and movement, the leather becomes increasingly firmer and stiffer over time. It lacks replenishing oils and regular use. Such leathers can be revitalised with Old Leather Softener and careful kneading to soften them.

IMPORTANT: Earlier leathers were mostly vegetable-tanned and somewhat firmer than today's leathers. Very old leathers are too sensitive for treatment. Such leathers can be recognised by their susceptibility to tearing. If the leather fibres are already too rotten, they can no longer be stabilised by replenishing oils.

• Another reason may be "gluing". Leather experts call this the shrinkage of leather caused by heat. The vegetable-tanned hides formerly used in vehicles hardened and shrank at temperatures from 70 °C onwards. The chrome-tanned hides used nowadays remain shrink-resistant up to between 90 - 100 °C. The less a leather is replenished with oils through care, the lower the temperature at which shrinkage begins. Once the leather has shrunk, this is irreversible. There is no magic remedy that will enlarge the surface again.

Please read the notes below carefully before every application!

First, carefully clean the leather with Leather Cleaner Mild.

IMPORTANT: Moisten the leather as little as possible during cleaning. Very old and brittle leathers can be additionally weakened and damaged by moisture. Therefore, always clean carefully and only with the foam.

Torn and/or broken areas must first be filled with Fluid Leather before applying Old Leather Softener. If repairs are carried out after application, such areas can reopen if the leather is too oily for the Fluid Leather to adhere.

Before treatment with Old Leather Softener, the leather must be completely dry again after cleaning. Apply the softener to a sponge or a soft cloth and work it evenly into the leather.

TIP: Application to the reverse side of the leather is particularly effective – however, covers should not be removed specifically for this purpose. If they are accessible anyway during upholstery work, it is advisable to spray the softener on from the back to avoid overdosing – a simple plant mister is well suited for this. In most cases, however, the treatment is carried out very simply from the top side.

Then allow the treated leather to rest for at least 24 hours at room temperature so that the Old Leather Softener can fully penetrate the fibre structure. Do not store it too cold or in direct sunlight. Repeat the process if necessary, but do not carry out more than three treatments in total, as overdosing makes the leather oily and greasy. For a complete, very dry vehicle interior, 1 litre of Old Leather Softener is generally sufficient.

After treatment, the leather has been replenished with oils, but it still needs to be kneaded so that the leather fibres become more flexible again. To do this, knead and massage the leather to loosen the fibres. But do not knead too firmly! The leather fibres of old leathers may already be too weak and tear!

CAUTION: Old Leather Softener is not a magic remedy; the leather will never be as it was before, but improvement is possible in most cases.

If no further improvement can be achieved through treatment or if the result is satisfactory, wipe off the remaining softener with a soft cloth. Then allow the leather to rest for a few days. Before further treatment with Leather Fresh or colour, the surface must be degreased again. To do this, use Leather Cleaning Spirit or Degreaser.

For subsequent care, we recommend either our Leather Care or Elephant Leather Preserver.

TIP: With regular and sparing follow-up care, further treatments with Old Leather Softener are no longer necessary. Important: it is better to apply care sparingly every 6 to 12 months than rarely and in excessive quantities!

• Always test the product first in a concealed area for changes.
• Never apply the product directly to the leather; always apply it first to the cloth or sponge.
• Protect from frost and heat (+40 °C)
• If you are unsure, do not hesitate to contact us.