Everyone seems to use something different.
I love the Effax line. I use the 1-step leather creme (yellow tube) for daily post-ride cleaning. I use the combi/mildew spray for deeper cleaning, followed with the leather balm conditioner.
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Castille soap & olive oil. They are about all we use, and we’ve brought some leather back from the edge with it. DD did, however, pick up a nice pair of FILTHY reins recently for almost nothing. After we scraped the gunk from them (yes, they were taht bad) they were scrubbed with Dawn dish soap & a toothbrush. Now they’re nice again and will get the normal.
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Water and a towel for cleaning. Sometimes an old toothbrush to help get into the crevices. Lederbalsm for conditioning.
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Higher Standards! It was recommended on COTH and is made by a COTHer. I thought it might be all hype, but it really works. Once I tried it I’ve completely switched. She sells on Etsy.
Prior to buying Higher Standards, I used the Effax products, which are also high quality. If you need a little extra stick in your saddle, Effax lederbalsam is the product to use!
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There’s a saddlefitter at my barn that has us using the Effix line…the combi cleaner and the lederbalsam
Guy who repairs my harness (and makes Western saddles) recommended Black Rock cleaner:
https://www.blackrock-leather.com/
I was skeptical - love my Stubben Hamanol, but it smells like bacon - then used it on brand-new stiff-as-cardboard harness.
I am a convert & it’s around $10
I wipe everything down with a wet rag every day, and once a week I use Higher Standards on my bridle and Lederbalsam on my saddle.
And Higher Standards is now available at Riding Warehouse. :yes:
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I started using Higher Standards leather cleaner and conditioner. It works fairly well. Smells great. My favorite conditioner depends on the type of leather and how it was processed. I typically use Leather honey which is a fantastic product and conditions beautifully. On my higher end tack, I always use Oakwood to condition. I have a ton of Freedman’s tack so I follow what they say to use on it, which is Oakwood and plain ole saddle soap.
General glycerine soap and Effax lederbalsam
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I use the Effax Combi stuff to clean, though it’s a little harsh for every day, so the Higher Standards stuff is on my list.
To condition I use the Oakwood stuff or Rapide Leather Gel. Can’t decide which I like better, the both work really well. The Oakwood has tea tree oil, which makes it super if you get caught out in the rain or during really humid weather, it keeps the mold away.
Damp clothe/shoe shine brush on saddle then condition with Lederbalsm
Tattersall saddle soap + Lederbalsm for bridle.
I keep a canister of leather wipes made for car interiors or leather furniture and the barn and use them to give my girth/boots or whatever needs it a quick swipe. For actual cleaning, I use Oakwood’s leather soap, and Passier lederbalsam (I actually have another brand now and it works about the same, but I don’t like the smell). I use Effax Ledersoft on things I don’t want to use the heavier balsam on.
I use glycerine soap or Feibings soap in a can, and Passier ledersbalm (beeswaxy) or a locally made oil based cream, Sweetwater, which is probably similar to Higher Standards. For very old stiff tack I most recently used mineral oil. I used to use neatsfoot oil I believe way back when on the leather we used to buy that was very thick and stiff. All that leather had survived well.
However I have two questions these days.
One is how to keep the mold down in winter. Some bits of tack never grow mold, some all the time. Have used vinegar and Lysol with only some success.
Another is about how fast my current black bridles get dusty. They just seem like dust magnets, one use. I’ve switched from the stickier ledersbalm to the oil based conditioner but hasn’t totally solved it.
By contrast the 45 year old brown Western headstall that has been soaked in oil over the years doesn’t seem to pick up dust the same way.
I use Higher Standards to clean and Oakwood to condition. 
Common gripe of mine as well, I’m afraid it’s just part of having leather on horses. I’ve found that castile soap + sparing applications of Belharra Saddle Soap Conditioner keep the dust at a minimum; sticky petroleum or fat-based conditioners will collect more dust, so avoid things like Hammanol, Oakwood Conditioner, etc. I also noticed that baby wipes contributed to the problem. Generally, I think that two thinks contribute to stickiness on leather: soap residue & oil. Make sure after cleaning with a soap that you wipe down the area with a wet rag to get any of the soapy off. Overtime it accumulates and it does lend to the dust-collecting abilities of leather.
My favorite conditioner/cleaner depends on the type of leather and the need. Generally, however, my go-to and favorite is the Belharra line. It is EXPENSIVE, but it is really worth it - it’s very versatile and works with just about all leather types, never leaves a residue, doesn’t collect dust like other products, and develops a rich patina easily.
For getting that enviable patina on well-loved leather:
Belharra Saddle Soap
Passier Leaderbalsam
For the best clean:
Supple Soap (the BEST smelling and such a soft cleaner, I love it)
Castile Soap (great for funky/sweaty leather)
Dawn Dish Soap (best for old cruddy reins, etc)
Seventh Generation Soap or Ivory (excellent daily cleaner, mild)
Passier Bridle Soap (really topnotch cleaner, leaves nice buff)
Generally, my tack box has the following:
Belharra Soap
Supple Soap (which is always used up quickly)
Effax Combi (good for a show finish)
Dr Bronner’s Peppermint Castile Soap
Higher Standard’s Soap
Tad Coffin Saddle Buff (spicy smell but works so well)
I don’t tend to like the goopy conditioners too much so use them very sparingly: that’s the Effax Leaderbalsam, the Passier Leaderbalsam, Stubben Hammanol, etc. They can make leather look beautiful but I find that they leave a residue that seeps and collect dirt.
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Stubben Hammanol is very rich and smells of smoke. I have to warm it up in a bowl of hot water to make it go on at all well. No, it is still too sticky. Using it up on the underside of my saddle.
I soap my bridles with bar soap, or Passier and then touch them up with a bit of Leather New spray as it buffs up on the noseband and brow band nicely.
Another person how uses the Higher Standards products.
Higher standards!
and Passier balsm for conditioning, sparingly
To get rid of mold, use Oakwood, it has tea tree oil in it. I actually started wiping down tack with a combo of tea tree oil, olive oil. Heat it up, apply, soak over night, wipe and pack away the tack in bridle/saddle bags. I didn’t have any issues with mold when I store items like this. I only clean my harness about 3-4 times a year since I rarely use it and it takes hours.
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