Can Leather Colors Rub Off on to Clothing?

One of the most common questions I get asked about a Do It Yourself or professional leather furniture restoration project is: Will the color rub off on my clothes?

It’s a worthy question because there are certain types of coloring agents that will transfer, and others that won’t.

The short answer is that leather dyes transfer, and leather pigments don’t.

Apply a true leather dye (metal complex or aniline dye) to the surface of leather, and dye transfer will occur. The next time someone sits on the leather they’ll be wearing the dye on their clothing.

Whereas apply a pigmented coloring system and there will be no threat of color transfer.

Dyes

The reason is that dyes are free floating, tiny molecules that migrate. They are not made color fast. The dye cannot be “locked” in place if its simply applied to the surface. With a newly tanned hide, the leather can be processed at a tannery such that there is a minimal potential for dye transfer. This is accomplished through heat. The hides are typically dipped into vats of heated dye. The heat sets the dye to the best possible degree. However, take a damp, white cotton cloth and rub it across tannery processed dyed leather and you’ll pull some of the color. In an after market application of dye, you can't stick a leather sofa into a vat of heated dye. So you can't set the dye. The dye will transfer, and quite easily.

One consumer called me in a panic. She purchased Fiebing's leather dye (green) and applied it to her leather sofa. Two weeks later a little girl spilled juice on the sofa. The juice ran off the sofa on to the carpet, carrying the green dye with it. So, not only was the sofa ruined, but so was the carpet.

Pigments

Pigments on the other hand are carried in a specialized chemistry called a “binder” that locks the pigment molecule in place. Most binders are a resin blend of urethanes and acrylics. The combination of pigment and binder is often referred to as a "leather finish." This coloring chemistry renders a topical film on the leather with appropriate adhesion and cohesion properties and when fully cured does not allow color migration or transfer. The key is using a specific type urethane and acrylic chemistry and then getting the blend ratios correct. So if you are going to mix your own coloring system, you should have a solid understanding of chemistry. Use the wrong binders and the color coating will crack and peel.

If a leather technician says he will “re-dye” your leather, he/she probably doesn’t know the difference between a dye and a pigment. If he/she is really using dyes as a coloring agent, then expect the color to rub off. In most cases, the tech is actually using a pigment based coloring system and is referring to it as a dye.

There are two additional Blog entries that offer greater detail explaining the difference between dyes and pigments. They are entitled “Leather Furniture – Dyes or Pigments” and “Leather Color and Attributes.”

Of course you can learn more at our web-site http://www.advleather.com or http://www.DIYLeatherSolutions.com. You can also call our tech line to get more information about Advanced Leather Solutions, or if you simply have a question, we’ll gladly respond. We can be reached during normal business hours in the US at 510-786-6059. For time zone calculations, we’re located in California.

Copyright 2009, Kevin Gillan

Aniline Leather Color Change Slide Show

Pure aniline dyed leather furniture is a challenge to maintain. The words "pure aniline dyed" means there is no protective coating applied to the leather. This classifies the leather as unfinished where the color presentation is strictly a dye in the leather. It's initial beauty both visual and tactile can't be beat. The problem is that it fades (UV sensitive) and stains (very absorbent) easily. To learn more about aniline dyed leather, click this link Leather Care.

As leather furniture restoration professionals we're often required to restore faded or stained aniline dyed furniture. And, the next logical question from the client often is, can the color be changed?

The answer is yes. The color can be restored to the original, or the color of your leather furniture can be changed. Its a procedure that we do professionally, or can supply you with the do it yourself (DIY) color enhancement system provided by Advanced Leather Solutions.

The procedure offers additional advantages in that the coloring system provides a protection addressing the two vulnerable issues with an aniline dyed piece.

1. Fading - The coloring chemistry is pigment based, not dye based. Pigments fade far more slowly than dyes. So, leave the furniture in the same environment for the same time period, and you will not see any where near the same fade rate.

2. Staining - The coloring restoration process also applies a protection to the leather. Think of it as a moisture hold out feature. So if something spills, it doesn't immediately soak in. You have the opportunity to blot the spill up before a stain develops.

The process not only can create a different color for your leather furniture, but it can create a mottled coloring affect. This means that the end result mimics what is naturally seen with aniline dyed leather furniture. With this system, the coloring process creates an organic look and feel consistent with what you'd expect on fine leather furniture.

View this annotated slide show to see the step by step process for a color change.

Aniline (unfinished) leather to color coated (finished) leather with color change to brown.

For more information, contact Advanced Leather Solutions at 800-541-5982, or send an e-mail to Kevin@ADVLeather.com. Visit our web-site for detailed information about the care and maintenance of leather furniture. www.advleather.com

Copyright 2009, Kevin Gillan