Leather Care.

Well maintained leather is leather that gets more beautiful as it ages and lasts for generations. If you want your leather to last and look good while doing so, you are going to need to do a bit of basic maintenance.

But don't worry. I'm going to show you how.

The first step to maintaining your leather is to treat it well. Don't overfill it. Don't let it get soaked in water. If you get something on it, take a second and wipe it off.

The next thing you need to do is condition it. Leather is a porous, natural material. Over time and use the oils and fats in the leather will dry out. This is bad because it's those oils and fats that keep the leather strong and prevent it from cracking. Once those oils are gone it is very difficult to get them back into the deepest parts of the leather.

So how do you prevent this?

Leather conditioner applied every six months.

I like to do my conditioning with the changing of the seasons. Once in the spring and once in the fall. When the sweaters come out so does the conditioner.

Start with a natural conditioner. Avoid anything that comes in a spray, smells like alcohol, has mineral oil or petroleum jelly in it. A good conditioner smells like beeswax. I have used Obenauf's Heavy Duty LP and Skidmore's Leather Cream in the past and have been pleased with both.

How To Condition Your Leather

To condition your leather:

• Take a soft cloth (an old tee shirt works great) or saddle brush and brush off any surface dirt or grime.

• Get a little conditioner on your fingers, or a soft cloth if doing a large area. Your hands work best for this as the warmth from your hands will help melt the wax as you apply it. You don't need much. Make sure to take off any jewelry that might leave scratches on the leather.

• Gently rub the conditioner onto the surface of the leather.

• Pay close attention to getting into high wear areas. Like along any stitching and where the leather bends.

• Once the leather item is covered in a light coating let it rest for 3-5 minutes.

• Take a soft cloth and buff off any conditioner that is still on the surface.

Depending on the oil vs. wax content of your conditioner the surface of your leather may have a dull finish. This will go away with a few days of use as the oil penetrates deeper into the hide.

I find treating leather to be very relaxing. It's pretty straight forward and once you are done the difference is pretty clear. Not many tasks like that around. Enjoy and happy conditioning.

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A Quick Leather Care F.A.Q.

Can I use neatsfoot oil to condition leather?

Sure. Just go light with it. I prefer waxes and creams since it’s harder to use too much with them. You don’t want to saturate the leather with oil.

How can I tell if my leather needs conditioning?

Well conditioned leather feels supple. Like healthy skin. As leather dries out it will feel lighter, more papery or cardboard like, and will show fine cracks in areas where the leather bends.

How often should I condition leather?

I tell everyone once every six to twelve months. It all depends on how you are using it. Use hand lotion frequently? You might only need to condition every 12 months. Live somewhere dry? 6 months.

Can I use saddle soap instead?

Saddle soap conditions leather but not as much as an actual conditioner. If your leather is soiled or unusually dirty clean it lightly with saddle soap, let it dry for at least 24 hours. Then condition it. I like Fiebing’s Saddle Soap.

How can I tell when the leather is dry?

Wet leather feels cool to the touch. Water evaporates taking heat from your hand as it does. If you put your hand to the leather and it feels cool then it’s still drying.

How long should I let the leather conditioner soak in / dry?

A few minutes. If you are working on something larger like a bag, by the time you get to the end you should be able to go back to the beginning and buff off the excess. If it is a small item, like a wallet, apply the conditioner, wait 3-5 minutes, and then buff off any extra.

Will neatsfoot / saddle soap / leather cream / conditioner darken my leather?

Yes. To a degree. It depends on the type of leather and the wax/oil content of what you are applying. Generally oil darkens more than wax. I recommend starting in an out of the way area on the item to see how the leather will respond before doing the whole piece.

Can I use too much leather conditioner or condition too often?

Yes. Too much conditioner is just as bad for leather as not conditioning it at all. Don’t condition more often than every six months. Don’t saturate the leather if using an oil. The leather will become very dark, almost black along edges and bends, and will have a dull appearance.

Will leather conditioner, neatsfoot, mink, or other balms and creams make my leather waterproof?

No. They will make it water resistant. A nice layer of wax and oil on the surface of the leather will repel some water. If you have to make a mad dash to the car in the rain, take a second and wipe any droplets off your nice leather bag when you get there. To make it waterproof you’d have to seal the leather with something impermeable. This would also seal all the pores on the leather causing it to not be able to breathe moisture in and out. This would make the leather either mold or dry out and become brittle.