I have yet to try Higher Standards products, but good ole’ castile soap works well for me.
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Another vote for Higher Standards. It is the only thing we use on all of our tack, including harness.
I recently converted to higher standards (thanks Bensmom smells delicious and leaves my very sensitive custom made bridle feeling luxurious!)
Prior to that I ised effax leathercombi to clean and oak wood conditioner (helps waterproof) or if it needed a good deep condition I used Ko-Cho-Line. http://www.cheshirehorse.com/mobile/Ko-Cho-Line-Leather-Dressing-P1047.aspx
It looks like red Vaseline and a little goes a long way but throw that top and bottom of the saddle and it stays nice and soft! TBChick it works great for that one!
I have a couple of Voltaires. Used Higher Standards on it. Love the balm especially. The soap is gentle. We wipe down the saddle pretty much daily. You shouldn’t have to deep clean it very often so use something mild for daily cleaning or nothing and follow up with a good balm once a week or so.
[QUOTE=Bristol Bay;7937105]
COTHer Bensmom makes it. There’s a link in her sig line. It’s great stuff!
I asked about the saddle leather because buffalo leather should just be wiped down and oiled with something like Effax or Bienenwachs once a week. You don’t clean buffalo with glycerine soap.[/QUOTE]
Is that Voltaire’s advice on their buffalo? Because it completely contradicts the advice I was given about my buffalo saddle from the manufacturer, which was never to oil it. I clean it with either Belvoir or Higher Standards, and periodically condition with Passier Lederbalsam. Actually, that’s the care routine I use on all my leathergoods, and they all look lovely.
I am another recent convert to Higher Standards. Before that, I was a big fan of the Passier Lederbalsam though, and still really like that as well.
Two more notes about Higher Standards OP:
From what I understand, you’re not likely to find it in your local tack shop. Bensmom does an outrageously good job shipping and taking care of customers, though (she even sent me a whole new tub after my dumb ass melted mine and thought I’d ruined it).
It comes with a tack sponge stored inside the lid. I think this is worthy of note (and my favorite feature) because I can never keep track of sponges. Now there’s always one available!
Add me to the Higher Standards addicts! I use it every time I ride. I used to use Leather Therapy, but I found that HS keeps the leather conditioned for a very long time. Not sure if this is good or not because then I don’t bring my tack home to take apart and do a thorough cleaning as often, haha!
My routine is HS for daily use and Leather Therapy and Lederbalsam for in depth full cleaning/conditioning. If the leather is extra grimy, I may use a combination of HS and Leather Therapy to get the gunk off.
Jeffers pet is also carrying HS and they have free shipping on orders over $49 (?) so I tend to buy the HS in bulk. You don’t get the choice on as many of the enticing scents, though!
I also just started using Higher Standards and love it! It gets the leather clean without being too harsh, and it smells wonderful. In fact, I just ordered some more today … Can’t wait to try out another “flavor”! Previously, I typically used either plain glycerin soap or Leather Therapy Wash. The Leather Therapy does a good job of cleaning, and has a built in mold-retardant … The only downside is it does tend to get pretty lather-y, which can be a PITA … The end results are good however!
Wow, seems like everyone is in love with Higher Standards! So the cleaner is mild enough to wipe down the saddle every day? Or would it be better to use a stronger cleaner and wipe down once a week (And just wipe down with a damp rag daily)? We have some Passier Lederbalsam and I’m not a huge fan of it. It seems so gunky and left residue on all of our tack 
Is the HS conditioner similar to the Passier?
Sticky Situation – I’ve wondered about a mold/mildew retardant – I wonder if tea tree oil added to the soap would make a difference? I’d be super uncomfortable advertising it as mold/mildew retardant though, unless we could run some tests to see if it really worked. I’ve also toyed with the idea of adding a mold/mildew retardant to the conditioner, since that is designed to stay ON the saddle. (p.s. I just printed the mailing label for today’s orders, but it remains to be seen if DH has enough stock to ship today, or if he’ll have to hold it until Monday. Trying for today though!)
Hmmmm.
And, you guys make me blush – I’m so glad everyone likes the products!! 
Rideaselle – the soap is designed to be used for a daily wipedown. I know that is how the O’Connor folks that used it for years used it, and it is also how I use it.
I have never liked the other balms/balsams because I apply the products with my hands, and I didn’t like the smell that it left behind. So HSLC is made with the same ingredients that I’ve used in human hand/body balm, though in different proportions, and it lets you condition your hands, as well as your tack. This time of year it is stiff, and the warmth of your hands is necessary to soften it up enough to apply it.
So my stallion’s rider is sponsored by both Voltaire and Higher Standards… They use the HS to wipe down the saddles every day (and have for about a year now) with no problems. I believe that Voltaire also sells tack soaps 
If you are wiping down the tack every ride and using the conditioner every so often (I’ll be honest I tend to use it only when the leather looks like it needs it which tends to be once every few months lol) I have found you don’t need to do a “deep clean” on the leather as it stays clean and supple. Just my two cents.
[QUOTE=Bensmom;7937575]
Sticky Situation – I’ve wondered about a mold/mildew retardant – I wonder if tea tree oil added to the soap would make a difference? I’d be super uncomfortable advertising it as mold/mildew retardant though, unless we could run some tests to see if it really worked. I’ve also toyed with the idea of adding a mold/mildew retardant to the conditioner, since that is designed to stay ON the saddle. (p.s. I just printed the mailing label for today’s orders, but it remains to be seen if DH has enough stock to ship today, or if he’ll have to hold it until Monday. Trying for today though!)
Hmmmm.
And, you guys make me blush – I’m so glad everyone likes the products!!
Rideaselle – the soap is designed to be used for a daily wipedown. I know that is how the O’Connor folks that used it for years used it, and it is also how I use it.
I have never liked the other balms/balsams because I apply the products with my hands, and I didn’t like the smell that it left behind. So HSLC is made with the same ingredients that I’ve used in human hand/body balm, though in different proportions, and it lets you condition your hands, as well as your tack. This time of year it is stiff, and the warmth of your hands is necessary to soften it up enough to apply it. :)[/QUOTE]
doesn’t castille inhibit mold growth? or am i wrong? i wouldn’t mind being the guinea pig to any mold-retardant soap you make… i’m constantly battling mold on tack in my trailer :ugh:
[QUOTE=Bensmom;7937575]
Sticky Situation – I’ve wondered about a mold/mildew retardant – I wonder if tea tree oil added to the soap would make a difference? I’d be super uncomfortable advertising it as mold/mildew retardant though, unless we could run some tests to see if it really worked. [/QUOTE]
I VOLUNTEER AS BETA TESTER!! I live in a freakin swamp, perfect test ground 
And OP in case that wasn’t obvious enough, another vote here for HSLC.
Castille is a pure, olive oil only soap – it is made by mixing olive oil and lye. As such, it takes quite a long time to become hard enough to use – it has, I think, the longest cure time, or close to it.
I wouldn’t think it would inhibit mold/mildew better than any other product, unless, because of its gentle nature and availability, it just gets used more.
Interesting idea to develop!
[QUOTE=Bensmom;7937575]
Sticky Situation – I’ve wondered about a mold/mildew retardant – I wonder if tea tree oil added to the soap would make a difference? I’d be super uncomfortable advertising it as mold/mildew retardant though, unless we could run some tests to see if it really worked. I’ve also toyed with the idea of adding a mold/mildew retardant to the conditioner, since that is designed to stay ON the saddle. [/QUOTE]
I’ve used tea tree oil to get rid of tons of mold/mildew issues with total success, so I think this is so great idea. You could even make a rinse-type solution for pre-existing mold in addition to the soap and conditioner. Testing would be good to find the right balance, as tea tree does have some drying properties. Only took a few drops in the washing machine to completely anti-mold my shower curtain though!
