How to treat shiny leather

Leather can have different degrees of gloss. Some prefer very dull leather, others like glossy leather. Most new leather and also a lot of old leather have been originally matt. A lot of shoes and patent leather are also shiny when new. Leather interiors in new cars are mainly very dull.

Due to care and polishing when sitting on the leather, the surface is polished and becomes shiny with time. This can be compared by observing the difference in the driver's seat of a vehicle to the back seat and the used and unused sitting areas of couches.

Occasionally, some of our customers express a desire to change the original degree of gloss. For example, parts of the leather are replaced but the original degree of gloss is not available on the market.

To remove unwanted gloss on pigmented leather, we recommend the following options.

Option 1: It is always best to reduce the gloss level by regular cleaning before attempting to do this with any other products. Clean with COLOURLOCK Strong Leather Cleaner and COLOURLOCK Leather Cleaning Brush. Apply COLOURLOCK Leather Protector after the cleaning to maintain the leather and keep the dullness.

Option 2: If this does not give the desired result, clean with the COLOURLOCK Strong Leather Cleaner and COLOURLOCK Leather Cleaning Brush. Then, degrease the surface using COLOURLOCK Degreaser. This will dull the surface completely. Apply COLOURLOCK Leather Protector/ COLOURLOCK Leather Shield (depending on the age of the car) to regain desired gloss level. Ensure you do not buff/polish the surface after applying the protector.

Option 3: COLOURLOCK Leather Fresh Neutral GLOSS and DULL are ideal for altering gloss levels. With these products, the degree of gloss can be changed. It`s easier to increase the degree of gloss on a particular surface. However, we recommend contacting a specialist to reduce gloss levels especially on large surfaces as there is a risk of producing visible smears. A specialist would have the required tools to spray the product and achieve a uniform result.

The preparatory work is extremely important if you decide to do this yourself!

STEP 1: Degrease the surface thoroughly with COLOURLOCK Degreaser.

STEP 2: Afterwards apply Leather Fresh evenly in thin layers. A spray gun application is recommended, but the work can also be done with a sponge. The smaller the surface is the less important it is to use a spray gun. Dry between layers with a hair dryer.

STEP 3: Recommendation for future maintenance: New dull leather should be protected with COLOURLOCK Leather Shield. Older Leather with COLOURLOCK Leather Protector. Important: If too much care product was applied, the surface gets shinier. Never try to remove by polishing! Use a slightly damp cloth to remove the excess. We recommend using COLOURLOCK Elephant Leather Preserver to protect and maintain glossy leather.

Interesting fact: A leather is dull, when it looks like a mountain and valley landscape in cross-section under the microscope. The reflection produces the dullness. The light is scattered on rough surfaces. Smooth surfaces reflect parallel and this looks shiny. Hence, when a dull surface is polished, it gets shinier.
Micrographs: Very matt leather in cross-section and slight gloss in cross section.

Recommended products

Leather Cleaning Brush normal
The Leather Cleaning Brush is ideal for:  Using with the Mild or Strong Leather Cleaner to remove ingrained dirt Using with the COLOURLOCK Cleaner for Artificial Leather to remove ingrained dirt from vinyl or plastics Brushing up nubuck and suede Polishing shoes and boots with COLOURLOCK Elephant Leather Preserver Amount: 1 piece. One brush is usually sufficient for cleaning a car interior or a set of furniture multiple times.With its durable bristles and high-quality wooden handle, the Colourlock Leather Cleaning Brush is great for removing dirt and stains effectively and gently from leather car seats, sofas, chairs, clothing and handbags. It can also be used to clean Alcantara and other Textile materials as long as it is used gently.
Brush Size

US$5.99*
Tip
Leather Cleaner with sponge
Ideal for cleaning leather car and furniture upholstery, bags, suitcases or garments.The Leather Cleaner is provided in a foam dispenser bottle. Foams clean the leather more efficiently than liquid agents, the consumption is considerably smaller, and the leather does not become wet, which could otherwise become hard after drying.Firstly, clean the leather thoroughly before refreshing the colour or applying care products. Use COLOURLOCK Mild Leather Cleaner against normal soiling. Cleaning before treatment prevents the dirt sticking to the leather's surface. Our COLOURLOCK Leather Cleaning Brush effectively removes ingrained dirt (use circular motions and work from seam to seam). After cleaning, it is always best to apply a care product to protect it against general wear and future staining.Amount: 200 ml Mild Leather Cleaner. This is usually sufficient for the cleaning of a whole car interior or set of furniture.Amount: 1 litre Application of Leather CleanerAlways test any products first on a hidden area in case they affect the colour.Dispense some foam on a sponge or brush. Do not apply to the leather directly! Clean the leather from seam to seam using the foam; repeat several times, if necessary. Remove dirty foam residue with a slightly moistened piece of cloth, then allow to dry.On older leathers, stains might sink into the surface, or perceived dirt might actually be colour damage. Such stains cannot always be removed by cleaning, in which case, use COLOURLOCK Leather Fresh for refreshing the colour, or ask us for advice.These products are also suitable for "Cool Leather/SRT (SunReflective Technology) Leather"!
Available Sizes

US$27.73*
Leather Protector
To maintain the surface, we recommend our Leather Protector. It contains antioxidants, which stops the leather's decay, and its UV filters protect the surfaces from colour fading and will make them supple once more.Amount: 150 ml. This is usually sufficient for the one-time treatment (minimum) of a complete car interior or a set of furniture.; 1litreApplication: Always test any products first on a hidden area in case they affect the colour!Use COLOURLOCK Leather Protector when the leather has dried completely from cleaning or colour refreshment, ideally on the following day. Apply with a soft cloth and let dry without polishing. One application is sufficient. Strained surfaces (heavy use or in sunlit areas) should be treated every three months. Clean before use to prevent dirt sticking to the surface.These products are also suitable for "Cool Leather/SRT (SunReflective Technology) Leather"!
Available Sizes

From US$22.69*
Degreaser
Degreaser is used in various situations for degreasing. The degreaser is a solvent-free product, yet powerful and gentle to the surface. It does not dissolve the color and is therefore excellent for degreasing all types of leather. Areas of application: for degreasing smooth leather and removing care product residues before repair for the professional and end user. for degreasing grease spots in the headrest and armrest areas of furniture, steering wheels, handles and gear knobs on vehicles, handles on handbags and suitcases, etc.for cleaning/degreasing of "spackled" rough leathers in the furniture tradefor degreasing greasy collars on jackets before washing with leather detergentfor degreasing greasy areas before professional dyeing in the workshop   Amounts of COLOURLOCK Degreaser: 30 ml is enough for steering wheels or handbag handles. 150 ml is sufficient for a furniture set or car interior. 250 ml and 1 liter for more extensive degreasing work or for several objects. APPLICATION Always test all products first on a concealed area for changes! Although COLOURLOCK Degreaser does not dissolve colors, it may cause a lightening of colors in open-pored leathers or if too much was used on smooth leather. Therefore, pre-testing is always advisable. Dampen a clean, soft cloth with the degreaser and go over the greasy areas. Plain smooth leathers can be degreased thoroughly after a test. For open-pored leather (suede, aniline leather, etc.), only briefly dart over the leather with the cloth in order to avoid edging and stains caused by the cleaning attempt. Allow the leather to dry between all treatments. Do not blow dry. Not all grease spots can be removed completely. Areas of contact with skin or hair and areas greased over long periods of time are particularly difficult. In some cases, grease remover spray might help. For large areas, deeply absorbed oils, or heavy greasing, seek professional advice. After cleaning with the COLOURLOCK Degreaser, re-condition and protect the leather with a care product suitable for the type of leather.

Variants from US$9.45*
US$18.59*
Elephant Leather Preserver 125 ml
Ideal for the care of leather which is exposed to the weather, or for conserving extremely dry or antique leather.Designed for treating genuine "Pull Up" furniture leather (oiled leather). Do not use on Bycast or polyurethane-coated (PU) leather.ApplicationAlways test any products first on a hidden area in case they affect the colour.Rub some preserver onto a clean, soft piece of cloth and apply to the leather. If required, use the cloth to give a final polish. The fat is difficult to use when it’s cold, so be sure to work at room temperature or warm it slightly with a hair dryer.COLOURLOCK Elephant Leather Preserver protects and waterproofs all types of nappa leather.

US$22.69*