What is saddle soap?

Saddle soap is a cleaner for smooth leather. Historically, it has been used primarily to clean saddles and bridles, but it is also applicable to leather seats in vehicles. leather furniture, Dog leashes, leather shoes or leather bags, In the past, natural oil or fat based soaps were used. beeswaxor carnauba wax were added to the substance leather careand refatting attached. Tanning processes take place in the acidic area, so the recommendation for cleaning and care today rather turns away from the alkaline products. Modern leather care products contain glycerol and use long-chain alcohols.

As is saddle soap used?

Leather is a sturdy material. Nevertheless, it requires continuous cleaning and care. Leather fabrics with deep graining are particularly affected. In addition to the mechanical stress, the substance is subject to the influence of weather, general pollution and body sweat. The saddle soap has a slightly humid one spongeabsorbable consistency. It is thoroughly incorporated into the leather with little water. It is important to penetrate with coarse-grained leather into the deepest notches. For this purpose, a soft brush may also be used. The result is a discreet foam, which is wiped off after cleaning together with the excess soap. Then the material should dry. In order to achieve a tolerable pH level, the leather can be rubbed dry with a soft cloth and a mixture of water and vinegar essence (1:50). Depending on the surface treatment of the leather, undesirable reactions may also occur here, so this procedure should first be tried on a non-visible surface. If the leather is dry again (Caution: do not help with the hair dryer!), A moisturizer should be applied sparingly and rubbed. This is important to maintain the elasticity and to close the pores in the surface. Otherwise the leather will quickly become brittle and unsightly. Important is: no cleaning without subsequent care.

Advantages and disadvantages of saddle soap in the leather cleaning

Saddle soap is easy to use and extremely economical to use. To make the care process perfect, many traders already offer their products in combination with a post-care product. The saddle soap is also a very cost-effective purchase. Basically, all smooth leather surfaces can be cleaned with the product in indoor and outdoor use. However, some suppliers of leather goods also warn against the use of saddle soap , In this case, it is worth to take a closer look, because sometimes the surfaces of shoes or bags are treated and sealed with chemical substances. The disadvantage is that the use of saddle soap, including the necessary aftertreatment takes some time. On a sunny day in the open air, the drying process between the individual operations can proceed very quickly, but a car with leather seats may need a break for one or two days.

Where can I buy saddle soap?

Saddle soap is especially everywhere, where leather products are distributed. In online shops there is a whole range of these products. Due to their economy in consumption usually 500ml containers are offered. The manufacturer „Bense & Eicke“ offers a glycerin saddle soap both solitary and in combination with a beeswax fattening grease. These combinations are usually cheaper than the single purchase of soap and greasy product. Own products are also offered by the equestrian accessory supplier „Loesdau“ or the saddle manufacturers „Kieffer“ and „Stuebben“. Most saddle soaps are offered in resealable plastic cans. However, some manufacturers also offer paper-wrapped soap bars. Since the saddle soap is moist after use, it should be stored in a closable box. In any case, the purchase of a branded product with high-quality and transparent ingredients is recommended.