What do you use to clean your leather?

[WMarshy]

Hi guys, I have a distressed brown leather jacket and was wondering what you all use to clean your leathers. Mine has bug guts all over it from last year and I just a damp cloth isnt enought to clean it off. Is there a chemical or leather cleaner that you can recommend so It doesnt look like some large animal sneezed all over me? Thanks.

[psycoreefer]

My dad likes the bickmore products. I've used them on my leathers and they work well, I also have some stuff called leather CPR that seems to work good. I just use whatever I got for Christmas until its gone, then whatever I get at the next Christmas.

[yadada]

Meguire's leather wipes from the auto parts department. Did a good job in my opinion.

[CatatonicBug]

Here are 2 posts I've seen with the most helpful, detailed information I've found:

Having spent my formative years on a working cattle ranch, I learned the following three things about this topic.

1. Clean is King. Saddle soap is your best friend. Don't skimp on the cheapo crap. It is true that you get what you pay for.
2. Time is important also. Take your time and really work in the soap and oils, get into all the creases, especially when oiling. The creases on a saddle (or saddlebag) are the first places that will leak through.
2. All oils are not the appropriate oils. Be sure to buy an oil that doesn't stain the contents of you bags. A dual purpose oil can both keep the leather supple and water resistant. Be sure and read the labels.

I have used mink oil on my working boots for years.

Got to an equestrian supplies store and get a good quality saddle soap, some neatsfoot oil and some beeswax.

Spread out lots of newspaper or such on your lounge floor, or outside on a warm day, but not in direct sunlight.

Wash your leather with a soft cloth and warm soapy (saddlesoap) water, use a soft boot brush for seams and hard to get places, dry it thoroughly but slowly, never use external heat to dry leather, you will dry out any natural oils left and it will crack. Use a paintbrush or a rag and lightly coat the leather with neatsfoot oil, dont saturate it. When it soaks in and the surface had dried out again, usually around 30 minutes or so, give it another coat. Really dry leather may need a third coat. Let it dry for a couple of hours in a warm, not hot, place and then wipe off any excess oil on the surface. Leave it over night in the warm place to dry completely. Next day, with a clean, soft cloth vigorously rub down the surface of your leather as is you were polishing it, give it lots of elbow grease and press hard, (not hard enough as to split seams). This serves two purposes, It does polish the surface to a degree, but more importantly it drives the oil deep into the pores of the leather and keeps it supple and strong. Leather is skin and it needs the oil to survive, just like our skin. Next step is optional but I always do it, especially on old neglected saddles. Warm the leather in front of the fire or out in the sun and apply a good quality beeswax polish to protect the surface. Just be careful when sitting on a freshly polished seat, they are slippery for the first day or so.

Done properly the above steps will restore your leather to 'almost' it's former glory, badly cracked and torn leather sometimes has to be given last rites, and if done at least annually it will last for years. Remember, leather is skin and just like ours it requires regular upkeep. It can be time consuming and laborious but the end result is almost always worth it. Faded leather can be re-dyed with raven oils between step 1 and 2.

This can be used on any surface tanned (shiny) leather, including jackets, handbags, horse tack, boot's, shoes, seats etc. For bike jackets i recommend the final polishing step be done with a good quality wax shoe polish, not the liquid stuff. This not only waterproofs and protects the leather but it also maintains the colour.

Saddle restoration is a hobby of mine, shared with my wife and we have used this method for many years and never been dissapointed.

Hope it helps

[cywelchjr]

Hi guys, I have a distressed brown leather jacket and was wondering what you all use to clean your leathers. Mine has bug guts all over it from last year and I just a damp cloth isnt enought to clean it off. Is there a chemical or leather cleaner that you can recommend so It doesnt look like some large animal sneezed all over me? Thanks.

I have always used Kiwi Saddle soap to clean my leather products. It cleans stuff up nicely and keeps it soft and supple without destroying the strength of the leather.

[Geezer]

Over at Langitz leathers, they told me to use saddle soap and warm water on my jacket.

Geezer

[yadada]

Here are 2 posts I've seen with the most helpful, detailed information I've found:

Those two posts are why I have textile gear now. And a synthetic saddle for my horse. And vinyl on my motorcyle seats. And why I prefer cloth seats in the car.

I have too much stuff to do besides spending hours cleaning leather.

I do have lots of time to surf the net though!

[Ken Talbot]

Ditto again on the saddle soap. And, buy it from a place that really specializes in horse stuff!!

[WMarshy]

Ditto again on the saddle soap. And, buy it from a place that really specializes in horse stuff!!

Cool, I already have some. My g/f's a horse woman.

[jwhughes3]

g/f's a horse woman...

My g/f's a horse woman.

Like this?



John

[b.walker5]

Thanks Bug, saved me a whole lotta typing.

A Golden rule with leather is '"Dont use any chemicals you wouldn't put on your own skin"

Preferably no chemicals at all. Natural is best.

And Yadada, A synthetic saddle . Obviously not a real cowboy then.
Ya don't live anywhere near Brokeback Mountain do you ??

[GaleB]

Wow, WMarshy, your girlfriend is beautiful! But how do you...uh.... umm.......never mind

Saddle soap is best. Mink oil is great cuz it helps shed water too.

[CaptonZap]

Some interesting reading is here.
<http://www.leatherhelp.co.nz/leather-report.pdf>
<http://www.skidmores.com/>

[hamjam]

what leather??

[Elevener]

Y'all clean your jackets? I just let the old ones fall off while collecting new ones. Leather and textile.