How to care & protect buffalo leather
Buffalo Leather is used mainly for production of furniture, bags and
accessories but it has also been used extensively by BMW for leather
seats. Buffalo leather is porous. So, when you rub a drop of water on
the surface, it penetrates and darkens the leather.
As with any type of leather, it has its pros and cons. The main advantage is they have a nice structure and are soft and warm to touch. Due to its structure, buffalo leather is robust and durable. However, the main downside to it is they are extremely sensitive. Buffalo leather becomes shiny and greasy over time, the colour fades and it can also stain easily.
To maintain brand new buffalo leather, we recommend using COLOURLOCK Aniline Protector Spray. It keeps the leather soft and protects it from drying and fading.
Due to the porous nature of the leather, stains cannot be simply wiped off. Most stains are not on the surface and have actually penetrated the leather. Crusty stains and stains that are on the surface can however be treated using COLOURLOCK Leather Sanding Pad or COLOURLOCK Nubuck eraser. It is best to clean the leather with the COLOURLOCK Degreaser. Fresh grease or oil stains can be removed with our COLOURLOCK Grease Absorber Spray. Please refer to our information text.
We recommend applying our care and protection treatments only after cleaning. Buffalo leather is a delicate leather and develops patina with time. It is important to note that this is expected with this type of leather. With the recommended products, however, you have the best possible way to look after such leathers.
With dark buffalo skins, you can freshen up the colour using COLOURLOCK Nubuck Fresh. It is important to degrease before with COLOURLOCK Degreaser and sand any rough areas with COLOURLOCK Leather Sanding Pad. As buffalo leather is highly absorbent, 1 litre of Nubuck Fresh is required. While the Nubuck Fresh can be applied using a sponge, we recommend applying it using a spray gun as it is substantially easier and gives a nice even finish.
Extreme fading and heavier stains are best treated professionally at a specialist workshop. Please contact us so we can assist you further.

Buffalo leather by BMW, dark brown, sun-bleached

Typical older furniture buffalo leather, greasy after use

Buffalo leather is sensitive against stains
Recommended products
Leather Sanding Pad
US$29.31*
The Leather Sanding Pad is ideal for: Smoothing rough areas before applying COLOURLOCK Leather Fresh or COLOURLOCK Liquid Leather. Cleaning greasy areas on nubuck and suede. Careful sanding during professional colouring in the workshop. Amount: Pack of 5 Application Rub the leather gently with the pad in a circular motion. Avoid gouging and deep scratches. Both faces of the pad can be used. It can be washed out with water. Before colouring nappa leather, the surfaces should be sanded carefully. Our Leather Sanding Pad is ideal for this step.
Variants from US$5.99*
Degreaser
US$18.59*
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*
Suede & Nubuck Eraser
US$10.40*
The Nubuck Eraser, along with the Leather Sanding Pad, will remove stains from suede and nubuck. The Sanding Pad should be applied to larger areas, while the Eraser is more appropriate for individual crusty stains. The Eraser can also be used to remove dirt on hard surfaces (such as shoes) and sleeve/collar edges of leather clothing. Application Localized soiling is often not easy to remove. Using a corner of the Eraser, rub the affected area in a circular motion. If a stain proves too resistant, you may have to stop to prevent damaging the leather surface.
Aniline and Nubuck Cleaner
From
US$27.19*
Aniline and Nubuck Cleaner is suitable for
open-pored, fine-grained smooth leather, aniline leather, suede, velvety buffed
leather and nubuck leather, as well as oiled and greased leather. They must be
re-oiled or greased after cleaning.
In particular, nubuck and aniline leather
are very susceptible to stains and dirt and quickly become greasy. The leather
absorbs liquids very quickly, which often results in water marks. With this
product, which is a further development of the popular COLOURLOCK Aniline
Cleaner, water residues almost never form on the leather after cleaning, even
with a "wet" cleaning.
COLOURLOCK Aniline and Nubuck Cleaner is
used in the furniture and automotive sectors.
Aniline leathers and nubuck are open-pored
smooth leathers. Nubuck absorbs moisture and dirt more quickly due to its
extremely opened surface. These open-pored leathers are more sensitive to
soiling than surface-dyed leathers.
COLOURLOCK Aniline and Nubuck Cleaner frees
aniline and nubuck leather from dirt without leaving water residues on the
leather.
The cleaner does not contain any solvents.
It is made with plant-based active ingredients and does not contain synthetic
odors. COLOURLOCK Aniline and Nubuck Cleaner is gentle yet effective. It is
gentle on both colors and materials.
Because leather types are very sensitive,
test the product on a hidden area before first use.
If you are unsure, contact our customer
service by phone and send us photos to info@lederzentrum.de. We will be glad to
help you!
Application
As the product is easy to apply, both
private customers and commercial customers can use it comfortably.
Nevertheless, if you have very heavy soiling, contact a specialist company in
order to avoid even greater damage. Here, too, we will be happy to help you
with recommendations.
Although the product is gentle, test it in
a non-visible area when using it for the first time. After testing, use
COLOURLOCK Aniline and Nubuck Cleaner as described below.
DO NOT apply the cleaner directly to the
soiled area. Instead, apply it onto a sponge or a leather cleaning brush
wrapped with a microfiber cloth, cotton cloth or terry cloth, lathering it up
slightly. Apply the product “wet” and work carefully in a circular motion from
seam to seam to avoid streaking. This process can be repeated if
necessary.
CAUTION: When using a leather cleaning
brush, do not rub too hard in order to avoid damaging the sensitive leather and
to avoid rubbing off the color of open-pored leather. Check for color abrasion
during use.
After cleaning is complete, let it dry at
room temperature.
Due to a small addition of a neutral synthetic
resin, the product binds with the dirt in a fine crystalline form. As a result,
the cleaner acts as a drying aid as well as an anti-soiling agent and prevents
the formation of water spots.
Make sure that the leather is completely
dry before applying a care or re-greasing product. After it is dry, use the
appropriate care products to nurture it and protect it against new soiling.
With the correct products, the leather becomes less sensitive, and the next
cleaning will be easier.
The appropriate care product depends on the
type of leather. We carry a range of products such as Aniline and Nubuck
Protector and Elephant Leather Preserver. Ask us
for advice!
Hazard statements
In case of contact with eyes: Rinse
cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove existing contact lenses if
possible. Continue rinsing.
Shake before use! Do not allow to freeze!
Keep away from children!
Nubuck & Suede Fresh
US$75.63*
Nubuk Fresh is a gentle water-based tint suitable for
refreshing and re-tinting suede and buffalo leather that is not too faded.
1 liter is sufficient for one leather set. In rare cases the
need may be higher. 250 ml is sufficient for smaller objects or for blending.
Nubuk Fresh 250 ml is only available in the basic colors for
self-mixing. From one liter also special colors and colors F001 - F046 are
mixed.
ADVANTAGES
Nubuk Fresh is easy to use and can easily correct light
fading of dark suede. In case of strong fading and dark stains on light
leathers, the covering power is not sufficient! Recoloring is not possible!Nubuk Fresh can be applied either with a sponge, a pump
spray bottle or with a spray gun. Application with a spray gun is always the
first choice.Nubuk Fresh has a pleasant feel with very good adhesion.
Nubuck, velour, aniline and buffalo leathers regain their color freshness after
treatment.
APPLICATION
Always test all products first on a concealed area for
changes!
Always thoroughly clean and degrease the smooth or nubuck
leather to be treated before dyeing! If possible, dry-clean the leather first,
especially if it is very greasy. Otherwise clean with the leather cleaning
petrol and/or the grease remover spray and/or with the leather sanding pad.
Leather that is too heavily spotted or leather that has been soaked with sweat
is not suitable for color refreshing. The tint would not be accepted evenly and
would not adhere sufficiently to the leather fiber.
Spray Nubuk Fresh thinly from seam to seam and allow to
dry. After drying, carefully brush or rub the surface with a terry cloth towel.
Repeat process as needed. Be careful of drips. They will cause stains. Redyeing
or lightening of rough leathers is not possible. For very dark leathers used in
cars and furniture, Nubuk Fresh can also be applied with a sponge.
Rough leathers - when they are new - always give off color
slightly. Even after treatment with Nubuk Fresh, a white cloth will produce a
slight abrasion. However, this is harmless. If a fixation is still desired,
Nubuk Fresh Neutral can be applied after the color refreshment. In addition to
the impregnation, this also fixes the color. In extreme cases, add 1%
Crosslinker IC2.
Always treat nubuck leather with Aniline & Rough
Leather Protector and Leather Impregnation. This maintains the leather, keeps
it supple, and reimpregnates the leather.
Variants from US$35.63*