Alcantara Treatment

• Products: Alcantara, leather & textile waterproofer, leather abrasive pad.
• Manufacturer: FICTECH, COLOURLOCK.
• Packaging: 750ml (Alcantara), 500ml aerosol (Waterproofer).

Alcantara is a very delicate material to maintain. It is not leather at all, nor is it a natural material — it is in fact a silky synthetic microfiber structure, yet one that is very difficult to maintain properly and tends to age poorly over time. Over time, alcantara pills, becomes shiny from abrasion and tends to discolor with UV exposure.

Therefore, it is very important to care for it regularly to prevent rather than cure.

The products and accessories presented here will be very useful and important for maintaining your alcantara as well as possible and keeping it looking its best for as long as possible.

Alcantara:

The first product presented is Fictech "Alcantara". A specific product, dedicated solely to alcantara or sensitive textile fibers. It is a pH-neutral product, very gentle, with no risk to this material.

It will allow you to clean and remove various marks from your alcantara without making the surface feel rough.



For light soiling or a veil of dust, simply spray Alcantara onto the areas to be treated to create a fine mist on the surface. Then let the product sit for approximately 3-5 minutes before wiping directly with a microfiber cloth.





If the product spills onto textile or leather areas, this is absolutely not harmful. Simply wipe those areas without delay.

The first thing to note about Alcantara is the fresh scent of the product. In addition to effectively cleaning everyday soiling, it literally perfumes your cabin. Very pleasant.

In the case of a more stubborn stain (a liquid spill, for example), do not hesitate to treat it locally with Alcantara by spraying a little more product, letting it work, and then very gently brushing with a soft-bristle brush.







Be careful not to press on the brush — only surface action is important to enhance the cleaning action of the product. Then wipe immediately with a dry, clean microfiber cloth.
The marks come out without issue.

If you notice some slight pilling (normal after agitating and brushing the surface), do not panic — this can be corrected very easily with the accessory presented below.



COLOURLOCK leather abrasive pad:



The leather abrasive pad is well known to those who practice leather restoration, even partial, as it is a very useful accessory for removing slight leather fraying, but that is not all...
Indeed, this abrasive pad is the indispensable accessory for removing pilling from alcantara, however slight.

Its grain, which may seem quite abrasive at first glance, is just right and sufficient to deal with wear defects on alcantara.

On the previously treated area where some slight pilling had occurred due to the brushing performed, it is now simply a matter of gently rubbing the pad over the surface and letting it do its work while regularly checking the result.



The advantage of working with the leather abrasive pad compared to shaving with a traditional razor as is often seen, is the ability to better regulate the amount of material to be removed to achieve the desired result. A straight shave immediately removes all the material.

After passing the pad, you will notice that it picks up pieces of alcantara. This is normal — you will then need to brush the pad with a leather brush to clean it.



The result after the operation is impeccable, just as it was originally. The alcantara thus regains its beauty.



Some examples on other heavily marked or even badly worn areas (driver's backrest).
The result is often very convincing.










Leather & textile waterproofer:

This product offered by COLOURLOCK is an excellent product for its versatility and effectiveness. Available as a 500ml aerosol at a modest price, it is perfect for waterproofing leathers, including aniline leathers, but above all textile surfaces (soft tops, carpets, mats) and alcantara as well.



It should be used once the surface has been perfectly cleaned with Fictech's Alcantara, as presented above, and is perfectly dry to the touch.

Shake the can well, and spray at a distance of approximately 20-30cm from the surface in thin coats.



Above all, do not dry the product — allow it to fully impregnate the fiber until completely absorbed. Ideally repeat the operation a second time 2 hours later, to achieve a layer dense enough to penetrate the fiber deeply and ensure proper waterproofing.



Once your surfaces have been treated, you will obtain a hydrophobic layer that will prevent accidentally spilled liquids from penetrating deeply and marking the alcantara.

Note the rather strong odor of the waterproofer. Therefore, make sure to ventilate the cabin well once treated.

Conclusion:

This trio of products/accessories is an absolute must-have for maintaining your alcantara, even when it is new. Of course, the leather abrasive pad should not be used if your alcantara is brand new and shows no defects, but regular cleaning with Alcantara and waterproofing are required.

The abrasive pad is a truly very practical tool, almost "magical". Do not be afraid to use it, just be sure not to press too hard and to go little by little.

Fictech's Alcantara is a product that proves very effective at tackling all types of soiling (surface or ingrained). A pleasant fragrance that perfumes your interior as a bonus.

Do not let your alcantara deteriorate — maintain it or save it if the damage is already done, and your interior will regain all its sporty appeal.

Advantages

+ Overall product effectiveness!
+ Moderate prices.
+ Fragrance (Alcantara).
+ Unbeatable effectiveness/price ratio.

Disadvantages

- Odor (leather & textile waterproofer)