Leather Care

[SuckerForHorses]

I know there are a million threads on this, but the search function is on the fritz for me, and I can’t find quite what I’m looking for.

I have in the past used Lexol Cleaner for cleaning my leather, and then either Neatsfoot or Lexol Conditioner to finish it off.

However, I see threads on here about “sealing” in the conditioner, and using glycerine bar to do it…

I guess I’m not on the up and up for leather cleaning and conditioning…I thought you used that glycerine bar (and a wet sponge) to CLEAN tack, and then used a conditioner as the final step?

Can you folks please educate me on the steps, and appropriate products, for good leather care?

I have the following products in my tack room for leather care:

Neatsfoot oil (but I hate the smell and the feel it gives the leather)

Fiebing’s Saddle Soap bar (which is glycerine)

And just recently picked up some Passier Lederbalsam

I do have Horseman’s One Step also, but because of suggestions on here, I have discontinued using it and would like to seek other, better, ways to care for my leather. I also don’t like the feel it gave my leather.

Okay, so educate away! It would be good if I could stick with the products I have on hand because, well, I already have them! :lol:

[SuckerForHorses]

I did just see another thread that someone used diluted Murphy’s Oil Soap in a spray bottle and just sprayed that on, and rubbed down with a damp cloth, to clean leather. Anyone have any pros/cons for this method? Seems the easiest as I could leave the spray bottle by my tack hook.

[inca]

I highly recommend Higher Standards leather care products. They are made by COTH member ben’smom and they are fantastic. The cleaner also has some conditioner in it so I mostly use it. But, she also sells a conditioner product that I use occasionally.

[FLeventer]

[QUOTE=SuckerForHorses;8003739]
I did just see another thread that someone used diluted Murphy’s Oil Soap in a spray bottle and just sprayed that on, and rubbed down with a damp cloth, to clean leather. Anyone have any pros/cons for this method? Seems the easiest as I could leave the spray bottle by my tack hook.[/QUOTE]

Try the leather new glycerine spray. Comes in a spray bottle, can be used without water or with which makes it very convenient for quick cleaning or at a show or what not, and it leaves a nice feel.

I use other soap, but if you want quick and convenient then thats what I recommend.

[Didi]

Don’t use neatsfoot oil regularly. It compromises the stitching on your leatherwork.

I clean with saddle soap after every use. I love Passier Lederbalsam. I spread it on with my hands periodically (at least monthly) and get it in all the nooks and crannies. I also mink oil twice a year for waterproofing.

[M_O_Connor]

My leather care involves:

Amonia
Hot water

Glycerine

Lexol
Neatsfoot (or any other kind of oil but extra virgin olive oil–because it’s expensive, and too valuable in the kitchen for me to be wasting on tack).

Dry leather needs to be thoroughly conditioned with oil. This is a separate operation from everyday cleaning.

Dirty leather (i.e. sweaty, gritty just off the horse dirty) should be wiped down with ammonia/hot water solution; how strong will depend on how dirty the leather is. This will get the dirt/salt out of the leather. Typically, I fill the bottom of a small bucket with very hot water, and add a dip of ammonia to it, then dip a sponge in it, squeeze it out, and wipe off the leather. Rinse the sponge and squeeze it out before dipping it back in the clean ammonia water.

Once cleaned, take a sponge with as little water as possible (or I sometimes use Lexol for this) and rub it into the glycerin bar…then apply the glycerine on the sponge to the leather using as few strokes as possible (so you don’t create suds).

DONE.

[M_O_Connor]

Leather used to have natural fiber stitching, but the stitching used now is of synthetic fiber that is unaffected by leather care products.

[SuckerForHorses]

[QUOTE=Didi;8003870]
Don’t use neatsfoot oil regularly. It compromises the stitching on your leatherwork. [/QUOTE]

No worries there, if anything, I don’t use leather care products ENOUGH. They get cleaned, once a year :lol: which is why I’m inquiring about some up to date methods that I can use, to start being better about this!

[SuckerForHorses]

[QUOTE=FLeventer;8003844]
Try the leather new glycerine spray. Comes in a spray bottle, can be used without water or with which makes it very convenient for quick cleaning or at a show or what not, and it leaves a nice feel.

I use other soap, but if you want quick and convenient then thats what I recommend.[/QUOTE]

I can keep my glycerine bar close to my tack hook and just use it that way. Do you just wet a sponge and suds it up and wipe down the leather? Leave to dry? Or…?

[SuckerForHorses]

I wasn’t kidding when I said I needed guidance! :lol:

My normal routine is to do nothing to my leather, and in the fall I clean it with Horseman’s One Step and call it good. Now you know why I’m seeking better ways!

[SuckerForHorses]

I wasn’t kidding when I said I needed guidance! :lol:

My normal routine is to do nothing to my leather, and in the fall I clean it with Horseman’s One Step and call it good. Now you know why I’m seeking better ways!

[yellowbritches]

I’m pretty simplistic in my leather care (though far better than you!). I wipe mine down with Higher Standards (or a similar high quality conditioning soap. But HS is the best) and a lightly damp sponge. If it gets sudsy, it’s too wet. I do that almost after every ride. Rarely do I feel anything needs an additional conditioner and oil with that process.

[OnDeck]

Everyone has a different opinion. I am personally extremely basic. Oil for new tack only, glycerin daily, and conditioner when needed. I’m not picky about brands. I do use glycerin after oil or conditioner. I don’t like spray glycerin or any cream product because I don’t think you get the same “clean leather” shine. I have a jar of glycerin in my tack box and use that on a regular basis. Use a damp sponge (suds mean you have too much water) to apply the glycerin. It takes me five minutes to run over my bridle, martingale, and saddle every day. Trust me, it’s much easier than sitting down with a bucket of water and all of the tack you own once a year!

[avesane]

Higher Standards every time the tack gets used, with the dryest sponge I can make (I even squeeze it in a towel to get it really dry). My saddle gets oiled weekly with Equipe Soft Oil, which I love but you need to be aware it’s a darkening oil, and my tack gets a very occasional oiling with Higher Standards balm.

I learned here to use castile soap to get the pony grunge sweaty goo off the insides of my reins / martingale. So I might do that occasionally if I feel they’re really getting gunky. But then I use the Higher Standards soap after to restore the leather - don’t want to just scrub with castile and leave it.

If it’s raining or SUPER dry (and I live in a dry climate anyways), I hit the saddle with a thick coat of Equipe Grease or Higher Standards balm. It seems to keep the worst of the rain off.

My trainer says my tack is “immaculate”. Gold star for me!

[SouthernYankee]

[QUOTE=SuckerForHorses;8004013]
My normal routine is to do nothing to my leather, and in the fall I clean it with Horseman’s One Step and call it good. Now you know why I’m seeking better ways![/QUOTE]

Yeah me too… until I started using Higher Standards products. The leather cleaner smells amazing, so much that I’ve started cleaning my tack after most rides. I’m also hunting in it for hours every weekend and it’s getting muddy and sweaty so it really needs frequent cleanings. But HS leather cleaner smells so good that I bring my tack inside the house and make an evening of cleaning while watching TV.

[Pleased_as_Punch]

1. if you need to, do a one-time deep clean using a glug of ammonia is about half bucket of warm water, or castile soap. If you end up with suds, rinse your sponge and wipe off. I consider these products to provide a deep clean, but may be somewhat drying. Heck, the lexol cleaner you already have would work. If needed, condition afterwards with your lederbalsam or lexol conditioner.
   Note!! Do not over condition so that your tack is sticky. This will make upkeep harder.
2. after every time you ride, you can just wipe down with water. Once a week, I use glycerin or Higher Standards using a method where I first do the regular plain water wipe down, then apply the soap with a very wrung out sponge. I wipe off any suds with a non soapy damp sponge.

[FLeventer]

[QUOTE=SuckerForHorses;8004009]
I can keep my glycerine bar close to my tack hook and just use it that way. Do you just wet a sponge and suds it up and wipe down the leather? Leave to dry? Or…?[/QUOTE]

I use it on a dry sponge when I’m lazy with no issue but if you do that everyday, after a few weeks it gets gunky with no water. My trainer does it that way and it drives me mad. I do it like that when I get lazy and don’t want to get a bucket of water.

I use it with water most of the time though. It works well. I use Higher Standers Leather Care as I got a few tubs free at an event. It works well and smells good. I used MOSS before that and it also smells good, but does not work as well I feel.

When I do a deep clean I use ivory with hot water and I wipe my tack down and then I use some type of glycerin soap and lexol conditioner combo (the lexol to wet the glycerin) and wipe my tack down with that. I sometimes skip the water wipe down part and do lexol/glycerin just to condition my tack.

I wipe my tack down after almost every ride. It all depends if I have time what I do. The easiest way that I have found is the spray glycerin for everyday cleaning.

[SuckerForHorses]

Okay, so…this is my plan…

Use glycerin bar to clean all my tack right now (I used Horseman’s One Step a month or so ago and I don’t like how it left my leather).

Then, condition with my Passier Lederbalsam

Jumping ahead to riding season:

After each ride, use a very wrung out but slightly damp sponge to wipe down my leather with glycerine bar to keep it clean.

Use Passier Lederbalsam maybe half way thru summer, or at the very least, in the fall after riding season is pretty much over.

Does this sound like an okay plan? :lol:

[Dewey]

Glycerin saddle soap is not a great cleaner. It’s very good for leather, but I wouldn’t use it for cleaning. As several others have mentioned, you don’t want to have suds from the saddle soap.

Use plain water to clean. If your tack is really dirty, add a dash of ammonia to the water or use castile soap (suds allowed :)). When you’ve removed the dirt (and any remaining suds), then use your gycerine saddle soap with the minimum moisture you can get away with. The saddle soap will leave a slighty tacky, shiny finish on the leather, and your tack will feel soft and supple. That’s when you know you’ve done it right.

[SuckerForHorses]

[QUOTE=Dewey;8005122]
Glycerin saddle soap is not a great cleaner. It’s very good for leather, but I wouldn’t use it for cleaning. As several others have mentioned, you don’t want to have suds from the saddle soap…[/QUOTE]

I’m so confused. One person says to use the glycerin to clean, another says don’t.

The tack I need to clean has gunk on it right now. The black sticky gunk that you need to scrape off.

And at what point then would I use my lederbalsam???