Leather Care

How to take care of leather.... What we have found is that there really are no shortcuts to taking care of leather but if you have good tools, its not difficult. There are so many products on the market to choose from. But we try to keep it simple and inexpensive. What we have found is that products that promise to clean AND protect dont do either one very well. Its a 3 step process, first you clean, then you oil the leather to waterproof it and keep it from absorbing stains, then you seal the leather with Glycerin..
print out a PDF copy of our cleaning tips here.

• Clean with Kirks Castile soap and wet sponge for large areas - use a soft "tooth brush" (we sell an oversized one) to clean the nooks and crannys. Wipe off excess soap & water with a clean wet rag.
• Let the leather dry until its just damp, not soggy wet. Protect & seal the leather with a good leather conditioner. You can use Neatsfoot oil- available at most tack stores, or we have two kinds of paste conditioners. REMOSOL is the Sommer conditioner - very nice. Or, EQUIPS / Saddle Food is a traditional beeswax based all natural conditioner made in the US - excellent quality, it really seals the leather against water and dirt - a little goes a long way with either of these products. The small can should last you an entire year or more.
• Seal with Glycerin. (the big bar that you get at the saddle shop NOT the stuff at the grocery store!!) Dip the Glycerin bar into a pail of hot water. Rub the bar with a DRY sponge. the sponge should not be sudsy - its supposed to be dry. Then rub all over the saddle, top and bottom. This will seal the pores of the leather, give it a nice gloss, give it just a bit of anti slip too! and keeps dirt from getting into the leather. After riding just wipe off with a damp cloth. When the leather looks dirty, its time to start from step one again.

If you keep your leather conditioned, all you have to do after you ride is wipe off your leather with a damp cloth. The Glycerin not only prevents dirt from getting into the pores of the saddle, it also makes the saddle very easy to keep clean. You re-apply the glycerin about every 2 or 3 rides, and clean and re- condition when you see that the leather is drying out or is dirty.

Sommer Remosol Conditioner

150 ml / 5 oz.
Price: 15.00 click for more

Large Glycerin Bar

Price: 6.00 Click for more