Colourlock Old Leather Softener 250 ml

There are two reasons why leather becomes hard:

• Ageing, drying out and lack of movement are common reasons for leather becoming stiff. Over time, lack of care and movement make the leather increasingly firm and rigid. It lacks reconditioning and regular use. Such leather can be revitalised with Old Leather Softener and by carefully working it soft again.

IMPORTANT: Older leather was usually vegetable-tanned and somewhat firmer than modern leather. Leather that is too old is too delicate for treatment. Such leather can be recognised by its susceptibility to tearing. If the leather fibres are already too rotten, they can no longer be stabilised by reconditioning.

• Another reason can be "gluing". This is what leather experts call 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 today remain shrink-resistant up to between 90 - 100 °C. The less a leather is reconditioned through care, the lower the temperature at which shrinkage begins. Once leather has shrunk, this is irreversible. There is no magic remedy that expands the surface again.

Please read the notes below carefully before each use!

First, carefully clean the leather with Leather Cleaner Mild.

IMPORTANT: Moisten the leather as little as possible during cleaning. Leather that is too old and brittle can be further 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 using Old Leather Softener. When carrying out repairs 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 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 solely 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, treatment is easily carried out from the top side.

Then leave the treated leather to work for at least 24 hours at room temperature so that Old Leather Softener can penetrate the fibre structure completely. 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 is reconditioned, but it still needs to be worked so that the leather fibres become flexible again. Work and knead the leather to loosen the fibres. But do not work it too vigorously! The leather fibres of old leather 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 success can be achieved through treatment or the result is satisfactory, wipe off the remaining Softener with a soft cloth. Then leave 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 solvent or Degreaser on the leather.

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 care for it sparingly every 6 to 12 months than rarely and then overdose!

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