What's in your tack cleaning kit?

[kerlin]

I set everything out to clean and oil my (beyond filthy!) bridles and saddles in front of a movie tonight, and I started wondering what everyone else keeps for cleaning tack.

I have everything in a small tupperware, and it contains:

• 2-3 small round tack sponges
• 1 stiff dishwashing sponge (for really scrubbing the tack I don’t care about aka my plastileather trail bridle)
• 20 or so q-tips (great for getting
• small bowl
• soft rag (usually a diaper, for buffing)
• 2 hand towels (usually at least one white, so I can tell when it needs to be cleaned; the others to spread bridle pieces out on while I work)

In terms of cleaning supplies, I love, love, love the MOSS saddle soap for a basic saddle soap. I like the citrus basil scent the best. I also have some fancy Stubben saddle soap for my Stubben bridle. For oil, I swear by Leather Therapy’s Restorer and Conditioner.

I have to confess to also keeping the Lexol wipes in my tack trunk for quick touch-ups after a particularly dusty ride.

Anyone else?

[Shine]

My husband! No matter what I have, or how I clean, he ALWAYS has a better way! Once everthing is “centrality located” I walk away.:winkgrin:

[tikihorse2]

-Two or three little round tack sponges

-Two square tack sponges (Carr & Day & Martin brand)

-Leather Combi for everyday quick cleaning

-Leather balsam (CWD brand, came with my new saddle)

-Castile soap for a really thorough cleaning

-Pessoa gel glycerine soap

-100% neatsfoot oil and Pessoa leather oil (got the last free with my other new saddle)

A couple of old towels

I keep everything in plastic totes in my tack trunk, but I think I’m gonna start keeping my sponges in some sort of mesh bag so they dry better and don’t get musty smelling.

Kim

[indygirl2560]

I have…
-Belvoir Tack Cleaner
-Belvoir Tack Conditioner
-a few Belvoir tack sponges(which hold up amazingly compared to regular sponges)
-a cotton rag
-leather therapy cleaner and conditioner(which I only use to get a “quick clean” on my boots at shows, I never use it regularly nor on my saddle)
-black boot polish tin
-little glad plastic tupperware for holding water

All of this is in a pink dollar store basket in my trunk

[pattnic]

For quicker cleaning @ the barn:
Lexol Leather Cleaner Wipes
Supple
2 Tack Sponges

For more thorough cleaning @ home:
MOSS
Akene Conditioner
Hydrophane Leather Dressing (if needed)

For Bits:
Peppermint flavored bit wipes (for metal bits)
Apple flavored bit wipes (for Happy Mouth bits)

I actually have quite a large assortment of leather cleaning products (including Lexol, Passier, Effax, etc), but only a few that I truly like.

[Marcella]

Bucket, tack sponge, and a jar of jelly Murphy’s Oil Soap. I’ve been using this regimen for about 15 yrs…

[DeeThbd]

I’m going to ask, because hey, ya don’t learn unless you ask…
What is the best way to clean tack to keep it supple and rich-looking? I was using a quick wipe with saddle soap until someone told me that was bad, bad bad .
Here’s what I have in my arsenal…
Belvoir glycerine soap
Passier Lederbalsam
Black Rock cream (I bought this when I saw the brand-new condition of a vintage silver western breastplate from someone who showed on Ebay)
Any advice?
Dee

[Creaghgal]

Don’t forget neverdull/Simichrome for all those buckles!

[onelanerode]

In a grooming tote:

• a bunch of small round tack cleaning sponges
• a tupperware bowl for water
• Belvoir tack cleaner (the spray step 1)
• old toothbrush (great for really dirty places/scrubbing buckles)
• toothpicks (for getting grime out of small, tight places)
• Belvoir leather conditioner (comes in the tub)
• Duckback wax (for waterproofing boots, etc.)
• sealed Gladware container (for darkening oil)
• Hydrophane darkening oil
• small paintbrush for applying darkening oil
• Magic Eraser for scrubbing metal (bits, stirrups, stirrup pads, etc.)
• a few soft rags for buffing/wiping

[jeano]

a rag and some water, and a washing machine. First two items for the saddles (all synthetic) and the last for the other tack (synthetic strap goods and pads). I need to get a little bottle of leather therapy for the tiny amounts of leather on the saddles and webbing/rubber reins I use. I dont do leather care at all well. I live in the deep south and if I used more leather than I do it would all be thickly green and furry in no time.

[FlightCheck]

passier saddle soap
passier conditioner
castile soap
1 bar saddle soap
misc sponges and rags
toothbrush
sos pad(s)
brass/metal cleaner

I try to at least swipe my bridle every time I ride with the passier saddle soap.

Once a month (or the week of the show), I break down the entire bridle, use the castile soap, then the passier saddle soap, then the passier conditioner.

[Jane_Honda]

In the bucket:

*Murphy’s Oil Soap
*Clean rag (buffing)
*Very soft toothbrush (great for cleaning around stitching)
*Lexol Conditioner
*Sponge (MIA)
*Haggerty’s Silver polish

I’m not sure where my sponge went, so it’s time to buy a new one. It was my last one out of a package I bought a while back. I’m so anal about taking care of my stuff that it all lasts a long time.

I think my sponge got used for varmint bedding…

[billiebob]

My tack cleaning essentials:

–Castile soap
–Effax Lederbalsam for normal conditioning(also good for your hands when they’re dry and cracked)
–old soft towels (I’m not a fan of sponges–they get too gross for me)
–Australian beeswax leather stuff that the cute guy who sold me my paddock boots at Dressage at Devon also talked me into. Only used to waterproof said boots.
–Glycerine soap
–A small bucket
–Neatsfoot oil for darkening and deep conditioning.

I also make use of the barn’s kettle in the winter and clean my tack with hot water so my hands don’t get as cold.

[Vesper_Sparrow]

rags and sponges for cleaning and turkish towels for drying
kitchen scrubby for scouring bits and neoprene girths; a vegetable brush also works great
glycerine saddle soap (some French brand that smells like lemon)
Oakwood liquid saddle soap
Carr Day and Martin Leather Balsam for conditioning

[Go_Fish]

Sponge
Glycerin
Warm water

That’s it.

About twice a year I’ll condition with neatsfoot oil.

I’m pretty good about cleaning tack regularly, but will occasionally take everything home over a weekend, take it apart and “spring clean” it.

Start off with good quality leather…it’s not rocket science to keep it lasting for years with minimal care if you have good stuff to begin with.

[Tiffany01]

ummm… A spouge,saddlesoap,condishner

[lauriep]

Small tack sponge, preferably natural
Ammonia
Glycerine bar
Lexol
Neatsfoot oil
Wadding metal polish

40 years of using the same things.

[AnastasiaBeaverhousen]

what…

tack cleaning? :eek:

[Good_Old_Sledge]

Sponges, whatever - I go through them pretty quickly, so I don’t expect much from them.
Bar of glycerine saddle soap
Take everything apart - undo all buckles
Saddle soap, water (lots of soap, not much water) - make lather, rub into all leather with hands and sponges.
This soap and a toothbrush will also address most buckle-yuck.
Towels - old ones if my wife is looking - again, whatever, as long as they’re clean and dry (to start)
Wipe off residual soap lather with towels - blowing it out of buckle holes until I’m light-headed.
Carr & Day & Martin’s Belvoir leather balsam - work in, rub on everywhere.
Let bits and stirrups soak in warm water and dishwashing liquid as I’m doing this. Rinse thoroughly.
Reassemble.

[CowgirlDressage]

@Shine;4639442

My husband! No matter what I have, or how I clean, he ALWAYS has a better way! Once everthing is “centrality located” I walk away.:winkgrin:

Exactly what I was going to say as soon as I read the title of this thread lol!:lol::lol::lol::lol:

He finds it relaxing and will clean tack while listening to some radio, or even to a show on tv. It works for us!