Dr. Wack "A1" A1 "Leder-Set" set cura pelle 1 pezzo

The Dr. Wack leather care set turns two bottles into one work process

What is the Dr. Wack A1 "Leather Set"? A leather care set consisting of A1 Leather Cleaner and A1 Leather Care, each in a 250-milliliter bottle, plus a premium microfiber cloth in a folding box. It covers both steps required by pigmented smooth leather and synthetic leather. It is not a repair kit, not for suede or Alcantara, and cannot be completed with a single cloth.

The Dr. Wack A1 "Leather Set" is the leather care set of the A1 line: a folding box containing the A1 Leather Cleaner and the A1 Leather Care, each in a 250-milliliter dropper bottle, plus a premium microfiber cloth. What is sold here is not the sum of two bottles, but a sequence. The cleaner removes the grease film, the care product provides the protection, and neither step achieves anything on its own.

How closely the two belong together is stated in their respective product information sheets. The sheet for the Leather Cleaner lists four product advantages, and three of them are about the Leather Care: the cleaner prepares the leather ideally for the subsequent treatment, only deep-pore cleaning allows the care components to penetrate, and this results in protection against aging. A data sheet that dedicates three-quarters of its arguments to the other bottle does not describe a single product.

The same applies in reverse. According to its sheet, the Leather Care should be applied to a cleaned and dried surface, and directly under the application instructions, there is a tip from the manufacturer: Depending on the condition of the leather, Dr. Wack recommends using the Leather Cleaner beforehand. Two sheets, two references, one process. Both are developed and produced at the same location in Baar-Ebenhausen, so it is no coincidence that they are coordinated with one another. The set turns the process into a regimen.

• Two 250-milliliter dropper bottles. In the folding box, the cleaner and care product sit side by side in equal quantities, accompanied by the premium microfiber cloth. Neither bottle has a spray head. This is not a cost-cutting measure, but the condition for Dr. Wack’s explicit approval for use on perforated leather: whatever is dosed via a cloth does not run into the ventilation holes of the seats.
• The three test wins belong to the pair. The GTÜ ranked the combination 1st out of 10 with 239 out of 300 points in March 2014, 1st out of 12 with 227 out of 300 in November 2013, and Auto Bild Sportscars ranked it 1st out of 7 in issue 12/2013. testberichte.de summarizes this into an overall grade of 1.3. Each time, the combination of both bottles was evaluated, never just one. A note on this context: these tests are now over ten years old.
• One cloth is included, but the instructions list four tasks. Cleaning, wiping off, applying care, buffing care. For these four steps, both product information sheets name a specific tool: a cloth, fine-pored sponge, or soft brush. There is only one cloth in the box. Those who know this beforehand will keep two additional ones ready to finish in one pass instead of two.

Pro-tip from Detailing1: We often see the included cloth being used for all four tasks, getting dirtier from step to step. Assign it only one task: applying the care product, the cleanest step. A cloth that has previously carried the cleaner will drag surfactant residues into the fresh protective film, preventing the bonding you are applying it for. Two simple household cloths are sufficient for the cleaning phase. We mark the set's cloth with a stitch of sewing thread so it never ends up in the wrong pile.

The cleaner opens the surface, the care product closes it

Both bottles belong in the same session. Ideally, there should be a drying break between the last cleaning area and the first care application, not a whole weekend.

Freshly cleaned smooth leather is at its most vulnerable: the top layer is bare, the old protective film is gone, and there is no barrier against new jeans abrasion. It is a freshly sanded surface waiting for its varnish. Anyone who drives the car for two weeks like this hasn't slowed down the wear, but accelerated it for two weeks.

The other direction costs you protection immediately. A grease and surfactant film on the top layer acts as a release agent, just like the agent used in a mold to ensure nothing sticks. For you, this means: the care film will not bond to the leather, but will sit on the dirt and come off with the next sleeve. You expected it to last for months, but it lasted until Tuesday.

The sequence follows the same logic you know from car paint. Before any sealant is applied, a panel wipe is used on the surface—a degreaser that leaves the surface truly bare, because a layer is only as good as what it sits on. The cleaner’s second step, wiping down with a cloth dampened only with water, is exactly this step for the interior. You can also find both bottles individually in the leather care range from Dr. Wack.

For both bottles, work in small sections rather than over an entire seat, and both times it is the cloth, not the bottle, that does the dosing. On perforated leather, Dr. Wack explicitly prescribes a soft, absorbent cloth for the care product rather than a sponge, because a sponge releases more liquid than the surface can absorb.

One cloth in the set does not cover four tasks

The box covers the chemistry completely, but not the tools. Two bottles, one cloth, and the two sets of instructions specify four separate tool roles.

The cleaner sheet specifies a sponge or a clean, soft, lint-free cloth for application and a second, damp cloth for wiping down. The care sheet specifies a fine-pored sponge for the surface, an absorbent cloth for perforated leather, and a cloth or soft brush for buffing. Neither a sponge nor a brush is included in the set.

With only one cloth, you drag the loosened dirt through all four steps. This is how you lose a leather cleaning session without noticing it on the same day: the surface looks good when damp, and two days later the dark line along the seam is back where you wiped it.

Two other limitations are set. Dr. Wack excludes suede, nubuck, and Alcantara for both bottles, and the folding box does not change that. And nothing is being repaired here. If the top layer on the bolster is worn through and the backing is exposed, color is missing, and there is no color in either bottle. That belongs in the hands of a leather specialist.

The third limitation is a blank space in the data sheet. Dr. Wack does not quantify a durability period—that is, how many months the protective film lasts—and we do not speculate. If you want a layer that you apply once a year and leave alone, you are looking for a leather sealant. If you want to keep the factory surface clean and supple, this pair is built exactly for that.

You buy the set once, and the refills individually

Two bottles of the same size, two unequal consumption rates. Which one runs out first is decided by your vehicle, and this also decides your second order.

The cleaner goes where there is a grease film: steering wheel rim, entry bolster, center armrest. The care product goes over every surface that needs protection, including the rear bench seat and door panels, which the cleaner often never even sees. Per pass, the care product therefore covers many times the surface area. Anyone who cleans more frequently than they care for the leather will reverse this ratio.

This leads to a simple purchasing rule. The set is the right initial purchase because you get both steps, two coordinated quantities, and the cloth in one box, and you don’t yet know your own consumption. Refills are the right second purchase: if the A1 "Leather Cleaner" is still half-full on the shelf while the A1 "Leather Care" is empty, order the care product individually and not a second leather care set.

You also buy individually if one of the two bottles is already in your possession, if only the steering wheel rim in your car is real leather and the rest is fabric, or if your upholstery is predominantly Alcantara. In all three cases, the set contains a bottle you will barely touch.

The leather care set is the right choice for vehicles with pigmented smooth leather or synthetic leather that is still intact, and for anyone who is treating their leather thoroughly for the first time. The first pass over the steering wheel, front seats, and doors takes longer than you plan because you work in small sections and change cloth sides in between. The second time, you will be significantly faster. That is part of the process and not a sign that you are doing something wrong.

The strongest indication this set gives you is on the two empty bottles at the end. If the cleaner is empty first, your interior has a contact problem, and it is better to clean more often than you care for it. If the care product is empty first, it is mainly sun and heat working against your leather, and then your main maintenance appointment should be at the start of the warm months rather than in October. You won't get this diagnosis from any data sheet, only from your own consumption.

Using the Dr. Wack A1 "Leather Set"

Four steps, two bottles, one session

Before you start, lay out three cloths, not just one. One will apply the cleaner, one is dampened only with water for wiping down, and the included premium microfiber cloth must remain clean for the care product. First, test on an inconspicuous spot of the same leather section, such as behind a rear seat backrest, to see if the cloth picks up any color, and only judge once the spot has dried again.

Then, soak the first cloth with the leather cleaner. Apply it to the cloth, not the seat: both bottles drip, they do not spray. Work in small sections without pressure, starting where the most skin oils accumulate: the steering wheel rim, the seat bolster, and the center armrest.

Immediately wipe down each section with the second, water-dampened cloth while the loosened dirt is still wet. The section is only finished once a fresh side of the cloth remains clean. Allow the entire surface to dry completely before using the second bottle, as the manufacturer states that care should only be applied to cleaned and dried leather.

Shake the leather care product well, apply it sparingly to the third cloth, and spread it in a thin layer. Depending on the absorbency of the leather, let it flash off briefly, then buff with the dry side of the cloth. Work more thinly on the steering wheel rim and buff more thoroughly until the grip is matte again. You can find refills for both steps individually in the Dr. Wack leather care range.

Notes: Direct sunlight and heated surfaces are not suitable for either product, so open the doors and move into the shade. Suede, nubuck, and Alcantara are not suitable for either product. On holed and perforated leather, move the cloth flat over the holes instead of pressing into them, and use the cloth instead of a sponge for the care step in those areas. Cleaning and care should be done in the same session: between the two steps, your leather is without protection. Store both bottles tightly closed in a dark, frost-free place and do not leave them in the car over winter.