You cannot be a complete professional detailer if you do not have a thorough knowledge of the leathers used in so many of today’s automobiles. I say this from personal experience. Until I got into the detail industry, I could not tell vinyl from leather and certainly knew nothing about the different types of leather.
Sure, I could tell the difference between suede used for a sport coat and the “shiny” leather used for other clothing, but I sure was surprised when I found a “suede” sport coat in a store for only $49.95. I knew something was wrong. Upon closer examination, the suede was not suede leather at all; it was cotton made to look like suede. Similarly, a “leather” suitcase I bought turned out to be vinyl.
If you are a true detail professional, then you must gain the knowledge necessary to properly clean and treat the interior leathers used in automobiles today.
Types of Leather
There are three main types of natural leather that detailers may encounter: aniline, nubuck and protected. Let’s take a quick look at each.
All leather used for upholstery is first treated with an aniline dye. This translucent dye allows the original character of the leather to be seen through the new color. Generally speaking, though, only the finest hides with the fewest defects and markings are pure aniline leather. These leathers are treated with a clear, protective coating but do not receive a pigmented coating.
Nubuck leather also is dyed with aniline, but it is buffed to create a nap, reminiscent of what you might call “buckskin.” Both of these leathers are susceptible to fading from the sun’s ultraviolet rays, as well as perspiration. It also is important to note that aniline dye can be damaged or removed with many of the cleaning and spotting agents used in the detail business, including some products specifically formulated for cleaning leathers.
Lastly, protected leather is also aniline-dyed but has an additional coating of pigment. Unlike pure aniline leather, where the dye simply colors the leather and reveals its natural markings, the pigmented coating used on protected leather covers the surface just like a layer of paint.
Detailers should be aware that these coatings include a plastifier and polyurethane material for additional durability. However, the pigments may not always be colorfast to various cleaners and treatments used in the detail business, which is why detailers really need to know their stuff when it comes to caring for leather.
You must be especially careful with what is called sauvage leather. This is a protected leather with a darker overtone, often black. The color can be pigment, but is often aniline dye. These darker tones often are not as colorfast as the base color and can be removed by chemical products not specifically designed to clean this type of leather.
To avoid damage, customer claims and expensive repairs, detailers may want to consider using the following inspection and testing procedures that are used by professional leather cleaners:
Identification
Almost without exception, protected leather is used in automobiles because it is the most durable and the easiest to maintain and clean. It is the least absorbent and most resistant to chemicals and dirt. For the record, aniline and nubuck are the most difficult to take care of for detailers. Both are very absorbent and less durable than protected leather. They are particularly susceptible to damage because dirt and oil are directly absorbed into the leather. If you are a detailing professional you must be able to identify and distinguish between leathers.
Inspection
Before cleaning any leather, you must check for any markings or physical damage. For example, you need to be able to distinguish the difference between a fingernail scratch and a natural blemish in the leather itself. Aniline and nubuck leathers are easily scratched and scuffed and will fade and discolor from body oils, liquids or sun exposure.
Markings in leather that cannot be removed should be brought to the attention of the customer before they leave the vehicle.
Cleaning
Protected leather can be cleaned with virtually any gentle shampoo on the market. The best and safest is something like Neutrogena or Ivory Liquid, with warm water and a damp cloth. Be very careful about using