Koch-Chemie × COLOURLOCK COLOURLOCK "Pol Star" Cleaner Concentrate for Textile, Leather & Alcantara 1000ml

COLOURLOCK Pol Star cleans textile, leather, and Alcantara from one bottle

What is COLOURLOCK Pol Star? A pH-neutral cleaner concentrate from Koch-Chemie and COLOURLOCK for textiles, Alcantara, and surface-dyed smooth leather, diluted 1:5 to 1:20. Not suitable for anilines and open-pored suede leathers like nubuck or wild leather.

COLOURLOCK Pol Star is a cleaner concentrate from Koch-Chemie and COLOURLOCK for interior soiling on three material groups: upholstery fabrics, Alcantara, and pigmented smooth leather. Since Koch-Chemie acquired leather specialist COLOURLOCK in 2025, the classic Pol Star, with its unchanged formula, has been moved under the new label.

Same chemistry, different brand identity: The leather expertise now comes from the product name, while production remains with Koch-Chemie in Unna. Those familiar with the old Pol Star Po will find the same formulation here – only as a more economical concentrate instead of ready-to-use. A 1-liter container yields about 11 liters of cleaning solution at a 1:10 dilution, bringing the unit price per application below any comparable pre-mixed interior cleaner.

• Three materials, one bottle. Pol Star removes dirt from textile fabrics, Alcantara, and pigmented smooth leathers. pH value 7, without acids or alkalis, without bleaching agents. In everyday life, this means: one cleaner for seats, carpets, and door panels instead of three separate bottles on the shelf.
• 1:5 to 1:20 dilution, 1 liter yields up to 21 liters of ready-to-use solution. At 1:10, the ready-to-use cleaning solution costs about 94 cents per liter – the ready-to-use predecessor Pol Star Po costs 8.63 Euros per liter. For workshops, detailers, and regular interior cleaning, the concentrate makes all the difference.
• Conserver protects existing impregnations. The formulation contains a protective component that does not attack existing hydrophobing agents. Fabric coatings like GYEON Q²M Fabric or factory-applied upholstery impregnations are retained after cleaning.

Practical tip from Detailing1: The most common mistake is too high a concentration. Many start at 1:5 – however, the stronger solution leaves surfactant residues that become visible as light rings when drying. Always start at 1:10 and only increase to 1:5 if the dirt remains after the first pass. For leather, always stick to 1:20. Use distilled water – tap water brings lime residues, which are particularly annoying on dark Alcantara.

1:10 as standard. 1:20 on leather.

Pol Star is diluted differently depending on the material and contamination. 1:10 is the all-round value for upholstery and Alcantara with normal soiling – a 500 ml spray bottle then takes 45 ml of concentrate and 455 ml of distilled water. Before cleaning, vacuum thoroughly to prevent loose dirt from entering the solution and causing streaks.

For stubborn stains on carpets or footwells, go for 1:5. For leather, however, you stay at 1:20, because the top coat can react to higher surfactant concentrations with a loss of shine. The conserver in the formulation protects existing impregnations but does not replace a sealant after cleaning – if you want to rebuild a fabric impregnation, apply it separately after complete drying. The dwell time is 30 to 60 seconds; longer does not bring additional cleaning effect, because the surfactant action reaches its plateau after this time.

Apply with a fine-mist spray head, not directly with a cloth. The fine-pored foam lamellae need air to work into the fiber – too much liquid oversaturates the fabric and extends drying time to up to 12 hours. A short-pile microfiber cloth or a wet/dry vacuum cleaner is suitable for picking up during large-area upholstery cleaning. On Alcantara, work in the direction of the fibers – never in circles, otherwise the surface will look matted and duller than before.

After cleaning, wipe or vacuum thoroughly with clear water to prevent surfactant residues from remaining. Residues would act as dust magnets and cause the surface to get dirty again more quickly. Work at room temperature between 15 and 25 degrees – in the sun or heat, the concentrate dries too quickly and leaves streaks.

Pol Star can handle three materials. Not two types of leather.

Pol Star is approved for pigmented, surface-dyed smooth leather – which includes most modern automotive leathers from model year 2000 onwards. The top coat isolates the cleaning agent from the collagen, so the surfactants dissolve dirt without penetrating the material.

On open-pored leathers, this is different. Aniline, semi-aniline, and nubuck leathers do not have a protective pigment layer – the concentrate penetrates directly into the fiber and can cause stains or discoloration. For these materials, the special Aniline & Nubuck Cleaner from the same COLOURLOCK series is the right choice, formulated for exactly this application. Suede and velour also fall into this category and require a dry or enzymatic cleaning approach instead of a surfactant solution.

Before each use on leather, check colorfastness in an inconspicuous area: dampen a cotton swab with a 1:20 solution, place it on the test area for 30 seconds, and check for color transfer. If the swab discolors, the leather is not suitable for Pol Star. This is not an effort the manufacturer highlights – but it prevents costly mistakes, as discolored leather can usually only be saved by re-dyeing. For heavily soiled pigmented leather with ingrained skin oils, the COLOURLOCK Leather Cleaner Strong is recommended instead. If you regularly clean all interior materials, use Pol Star. If you specifically treat heavily soiled leather, opt for the specialized cleaner.

Target group: Detailers, workshops, and weekend detailers

Pol Star is suitable where interiors are cleaned regularly and a concentrate is more economical than ready-to-use spray bottles. Detailing businesses use the 1-liter container and refill their own spray bottles, while private users start with the 100ml or 250ml version for one to two vehicles per year. The 1-liter bottle, when diluted 1:10, is sufficient for around 20 complete car interior cleanings.

Pol Star is not the right choice if you exclusively care for leather – for this, the COLOURLOCK series offers the specialized Leather Cleaner in Mild and Strong versions, tailored to the degree of soiling and leather type. The concentrate also reaches its limits with dried-in stains older than one week or with organic contaminants such as milk, blood, or vomit – here, enzymatic cleaners work more reliably because they break down protein bonds instead of just dissolving them.

Regarding the workflow: As a concentrate, you need a suitable spray head with fine atomization. The Koch-Chemie spray head and bottle set is designed for this – the Canyon CHS-3AN emits a uniform mist that supports fine-pored foam formation instead of flooding the surface. Once set up, a complete vehicle interior cleaning is covered with 40 to 60 ml of concentrate – that's the practical difference between concentrate and ready-to-use solution. Those who use the concentrate in daily detailing also rely on a wet/dry vacuum cleaner after cleaning to specifically remove residual moisture and avoid drying marks.

Application of COLOURLOCK Pol Star

Three materials, three dosages

Before cleaning, vacuum thoroughly to prevent loose dirt from getting into the solution and causing streaks. The concentrate is diluted differently depending on the material and degree of soiling: 1:10 is the all-round value for upholstery and Alcantara, 1:5 for stubborn stains on carpets and footwells, 1:20 for pigmented smooth leather. A 500 ml spray bottle holds about 45 ml of concentrate and 455 ml of distilled water at a 1:10 ratio.

Use distilled water instead of tap water - lime will leave white marks after drying, especially on dark Alcantara. The working solution is stable for about seven days, after which the surfactants lose their effectiveness and the solution should be renewed. Work at room temperature between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius, not in direct sunlight or heat, otherwise the concentrate will dry too quickly and leave marks.

Apply with a fine-mist spray head. Even mist from a distance of about 20 centimeters - the Koch-Chemie spray head and bottle set is designed for this. After spraying, let it soak for 30 to 60 seconds, no longer: the surfactant effect reaches its plateau within this window, additional time does not bring any additional cleaning effect.

Pick up with a short-pile microfiber cloth in the direction of the fibers. Never work in circular motions on Alcantara - this will visually felt the surface and make it appear duller than before. For large-area upholstery cleaning, a wet/dry vacuum cleaner helps to remove residual moisture and avoid drying marks.

After cleaning, wipe thoroughly with clear water to ensure no surfactant residues remain. Residues would act as a dust magnet and cause the surface to become soiled again more quickly. Allow the cleaned area to dry for at least three hours with the window open before the vehicle is used again. On leather, apply the usual leather care afterwards to rebuild the topcoat.

Notes: Pol Star is not suitable for aniline, semi-aniline, nubuck, suede, and velour - for these, there is the specialized COLOURLOCK Aniline & Nubuck Cleaner. Before each use on leather, check colorfastness in an inconspicuous area with a cotton swab: leave it on for 30 seconds, check for color transfer. For dried-in stains older than one week or organic dirt such as milk or blood, enzymatic cleaners are more reliable. Store frost-free between 5 and 30 degrees Celsius, shelf life in an unopened container is 24 months, after opening 12 months.