How To Clean, Care & Protect Aniline Leather

Aniline leather is full grain leather that is coloured all the way through with a transparent dye. It is porous without surface coating. Liquids penetrate and darken the surface. Some aniline leathers have a protective waterproofing.

Aniline leather has a natural, warm and soft grip but is also exremely sensitive. Aniline leather develops a typical patina with time. Stains become visible and the leather might also fade with time.

Due to the limited cleaning options, new aniline leather needs stain protection. Depending on the type of aniline leather, three different protection products can be used: The COLOURLOCK Aniline Cream, the COLOURLOCK Gloss Cream and the COLOURLOCK Waterproofing for Leather & Textile. If the leather is extremely porous and sensitive, use COLOURLOCK Waterproofing for Leather & Textile. The Aniline Cream and Gloss Cream can be used on less sensitive Aniline leather. The Gloss cream has a higher degree of gloss in comparison to the Aniline Cream. 

Leather without any protective layer is particularly stain-sensitive, especially when it is light coloured. In such cases, the Waterproofing for Leather & Textile is the first choice. The same recommendation is true for coarse and porous leather.





For fine pore leathers, depending on the degree of gloss, we recommend COLOURLOCK Aniline Cream and COLOURLOCK Gloss-Cream. These products offer intensive protection against stains for fine pore aniline leather when used regularly.

Important: Only a regular treatment from the beginning ensures high protection against stains. Stains caused by liquids that have already penetrated can’t be removed easily. Ask a specialist for help to avoid major damage due to improper cleaning attempts. Prevention is the best protection.

Exposed surfaces should be treated at least every three months. Before protection treatment, clean the area carefully with COLOURLOCK Mild Leather Cleaner. Test in a hidden area first. Ensure area is not too wet to avoid stains and rub gently. Always work from seam to seam. Ask for advice in case of difficult stains.

In case of extremely sensitive aniline leather, use the COLOURLOCK Waterproofing for Leather & Textile twice at first. Later, treat the leather, also depending on gloss grade, with COLOURLOCK Aniline Cream or COLOURLOCK Gloss-Cream (depending on gloss grade). With this method, you can achieve maximum protection. Important: Even with this double protection, aniline leather remains sensitive! The best protection for aniline leather is to handle it with utmost care.

To nourish old and dry aniline, treat the leather with COLOURLOCK Aniline Protector. The COLOURLOCK Aniline Protector contains oils and UV protection to preserve the leather.

Single coloured, older, slightly faded and lightly scratched aniline leather can be refreshed with COLOURLOCK Leather Fresh. Initially, degrease gently with COLOURLOCK Leather Cleaning Spirit. Most big stains from skin and hair contact that are not too dark can be improved with COLOURLOCK Grease Absorber. Please refer to our information text.

In case of heavily stained and faded aniline leathers, cleaning and protection should be carried out by a specialist. Our products for private households cannot solve such problems. Often the stains can get larger.