Make Your Own > CleaningSeptember 11, 2004

Saddle soap is an effective leather cleaner. Especially for saddles, saddle shoes and other thick leather. Please read the cautions before using.

Ingredients:

• 3 1/2 cups water
• 1/4 cup neat's-foot oil
• 3/4 cup soap flakes (not detergent)
• 1/2 cup beeswax or paraffin

Directions:

In a pan bring water to a boil and than lower the heat to a simmer. Slowly stir in soap flakes until the soap is disolve.

Then place neat's-foot oil and paraffin (or beeswax) in a double bowler, heat until melted. Once melted slowly add to the simmering soap. Stir until the soap becomes thick. Pour into storage containers and let cool before storing.

Using Saddle Soap:

Apply to leather with a damp sponge or cloth and then buff with a dry cloth.

Locating the Ingredients:

The soap flakes that many do-it-yourself recipes call for are no longer sold by Ivory so you will need to grate your own. Just use bars of plain Ivory soap. Neat's-foot is light yellow oil obtained from the feet and shinbones of cattle, used chiefly to dress leather (Source: Bartleby.com). Gun shops and hardware stores are a good place to look for neat's-foot oil. Paraffin is sold at most grocery stores. Beeswax is sold at most craft stores.

Cautions:

This solution may darken some leather and make some leather hard to polish. Anytime you are cleaning leather clother or an item that is very important to you, make sure to test your cleaning solution on an out of the way place.

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