How to Clean Leather
Step 1
Start with a horsehair brush, a microfiber cloth, or simply a rag and knock off as much dirt as possible. At this point, if the leather seems to be clean, continue to the CONDITIONING section.
Step 2
Using a dampened cloth, small detail brush, or dauber, work some Leather Cleaner or Saddle Soap onto the leather. Do not use dish soap or other cleaners as these can be too harsh on the leather. Use a scrub brush such as the plant-fiber-bristled Tampico brush to remove stubborn dirt, mud, grease, and debris.
Step 3
Thoroughly rinse leather with a dampened rag.
Step 4
Let the leather dry naturally. It’s ok to stuff newspaper in your shoes or boots, but do not put near a heat source as this can dry the leather too quickly, leading it to become brittle and crack. Think of what happens to a field of mud when the sun comes out and dries it up! You don’t want that happening to your leather.
Step 5
Once dry, it is important to use a Leather Oil or Leather Conditioner product to restore oils that can get stripped away when cleaning the leather.
How to Restore / Condition Leather
Step 1
Make sure the leather is clean. You don’t want to work a conditioning product into dirty leather as this can push the dirt further into the pores of the leather.
Step 2
Once the leather is clean, massage a Leather Oil or Leather Conditioner product into the leather. Typically, oils should only be used sporadically, when leather is really worn. Leather Conditioner can be used more frequently. Both products can have a tendency to darken leather, but the oil will more so, which is another good reason to use it less frequently.
Step 3
Allow the oil and/or conditioner to fully soak into the leather, buffing the conditioned leather with a clean, dry rag or horsehair brush to remove any conditioner that is not soaking in.
How to Protect Leather
Step 1
After the leather has been oiled / conditioned, it’s a good idea to add a Leather Wax or a Boot Wax to it to help repel moisture and to keep grime from getting into the fibers of the leather. Use a dauber or a cloth, to pick up some of the wax and transfer it onto the leather, thinning it out as much as possible as you go. The idea is to create as thin of a layer as possible.
Step 2
Allow the leather to soak up the wax.
Step 3
Use a horsehair brush to buff the leather until it develops a leather.
Step 4
Enjoy your freshly cleaned, conditioned, and protected leather.