Drycleaning color combinations
n the Royaltone leather cleaning process, the
key to safely drycleaning suede, leather or cloth items
containing combinations of light and dark colored panels, is to
chemically condition the drycleaning fluid with a detergent
plus conditioner. The color of the darkest panel on the item
determines the minimum percent concentration of the detergent
plus conditioner that must be used to avoid color loss,
bleeding or stiffening.
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Although the minimum concentration of two
percent required for the light-colored suede and leather panels
is significantly exceeded, there is no adverse effect.
Furthermore, if a light-colored cloth item
was trimmed with black, blue and tan suede or leather, it must
be cleaned in a minimum of six percent concentration of the
detergent plus conditioner to prevent the black and blue colors
from bleeding on to the tan suede or leather and the
light-colored cloth.
The same would be true if the cloth item
were trimmed in fur. The fur should be cleaned in a minimum
concentration of six percent to prevent the fur skin from
drying out, becoming stiff or cracking.
The only ex-ception is for rabbit fur,
which requires only a two percent concentration.
If the cloth item is trimmed with only a
tan or light pastel suede or leather or with rabbit fur, a
minimum two percent concentration of the detergent plus
conditioner would be required to protect the skins from drying
out and the color from becoming chalky looking.
In summary, for combinations of light- and
dark-colored suede or leather panels or fur trim on the same
item or on cloth items, the color of the darkest panel of the
suede or leather and the type of fur trim on the item
determines the minimum percent concentration of the detergent
plus conditioner that should be used.
For example, if a leather, suede or cloth
item had panels of black, blue and tan suede or leather or fur
trim, it must be cleaned in a minimum of six percent
concentration of the detergent plus conditioner to prevent the
black and blue colors from bleeding on to the tan suede,
leather or cloth and to keep the fur skin from drying out,
becoming stiff or cracking.
Notice that the cloth will not be
adversely affected when cleaned in either a two percent or a
six present concentration of the detergent plus conditioner
because it contains no fatty acids nor other undesirable
ingredients.
In fact, the color retention property of
the detergent plus conditioner is also effective in stabilizing
colors in the cloth portions of the item, even if the cloth is
red velvet, red corduroy, blue denim, surface prints, silk or a
sleeping bag.
Therefore, there is a color retention
bonus provided by the detergent plus conditioner for
troublesome color sensitive cloth items even when they are not
trimmed with suede, leather or fur.
Frank Lucenta is president of Royaltone
Co., Inc., a firm that manufacturers the products he developed
to make it possible for any cleaner to safely and profitably
dryclean, wetclean and finish any suede, leather, fur and
trimmed cloth garment. He also wrote related instruction books
that document the process, entitled “Handling Leather and
Suede” and “Cleaning and Finishing Leather and
Suede.” He also teaches small groups of plant owners and
managers how to identify, accept, spot, dryclean and wetclean,
press and recolor suedes, leathers, and furs using his
Royaltone procedures and products. The next Royaltone Leather
training session is scheduled for June 10-11 and Sept. 9-10 at
the Royaltone Suedemate Leather Cleaning Center in Tulsa, OK.
For more information on training sessions or on spotting charts
in either English or Korean, call (800) 331-5506, (918)
622-6677, fax (918) 665-6017, or e-mail frank@royaltone.com. Information is also available on the Royaltone
web site, www.royaltone.com.
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