Adding Gloss and Film to Leather Cleaner
Question
I have a liquid cleaning solution for leather sofas with the following ingredients: liquid detergent, multipurpose cleaner, Oxiclean, fabric softener, galsoft (for foam texture), and water. I want the liquid to leave a shiny, film-like coating on the leather after cleaning. I added Clear-Cond™ (Quaternium-80) but it did not provide the desired gloss. What ingredients can I add to achieve a glossy, film-like finish?
Answer
Quaternium-80 (Clear-Cond™) is primarily a conditioning agent often used in hair products to provide slip and manageability. While it can offer some surface feel modification, it is generally not designed to leave a durable, high-gloss film on surfaces like leather.
To achieve a glossy, film-like finish on leather after cleaning, you would typically need ingredients that can form a continuous, shiny layer on the surface. Silicone-based polymers are often used for this purpose as they can provide gloss, water repellency, and a smooth feel.
Based on your goal of adding gloss and a film, consider incorporating silicone ingredients known for these properties:
- Silicone Shine Ultra170™ (Ultra Shine Silicone, Medium Viscosity): This silicone is specifically described as having "Extremely high gloss" and is suitable for products requiring high shine. It can help create a very glossy finish on the leather surface.
- Silicone Gel (High Gloss, Dimethicone Base): This is another silicone option designed to provide high gloss and luster, which would contribute to the desired shiny finish.
- Silicone Film (Soft Film, Low Viscosity, Isododecane Base) or Silicone Film (Soft Film, Low Viscosity, Cyclopentasiloxane Base): These products are designed to form a soft, long-lasting film. While their primary use is in makeup for longevity, the film-forming property could potentially help create a coating on the leather surface, which might contribute to the feel and appearance, although the gloss level might be less intense than the dedicated high-gloss silicones.
You would need to experiment with the concentration of these silicone ingredients in your formulation to achieve the desired level of gloss and film formation. Ensure the silicone is compatible with the other ingredients in your cleaning solution and disperses or emulsifies properly.
