Leather furniture can last for years with proper care. One of the most important things you can do to protect your leather furniture is to condition it regularly with a quality leather conditioner.
There are many different types of leather conditioners on the market, but one of the most popular is mink oil. Mink oil is made from natural ingredients and is said to be very effective in protecting and conditioning leather boots, saddles, and other leather goods.
But is it safe to use on furniture? And if so, how do you go about using it? In this article, we will take a look at the pros and cons of using mink oil on leather furniture.
To summarize, yes! you can use mink oil on your leather furniture if properly or carefully done. The best way to use mink oil on your leather furniture is to apply a very thin layer of mink oil, allow it to absorb, carefully buff, and allow the leather furniture to air dry before use.
But there are some things to keep in mind. There are a few upsides and downsides to using mink oil on leather furniture. Let’s take a look at them now:
The Pros of Using Mink Oil On Leather Furniture
Let’s begin with the pros of using mink oil on leather furniture.
1. Mink Oil Makes Leather Furniture Soft
One of the main primary benefits of using mink oil on leather furniture is that it makes the leather furniture soft.
Because mink oil is a natural lubricant, it helps to soften and protect the leather fibers, making them less likely to dry out and crack over time.
This is a great way to keep your leather furniture looking and feeling new for years to come. It does this by absorbing and nourishing the fibers of the leather material, leaving it supple and conditioned.
2. Mink oil Waterproofs And Protects Leather Furniture
Additionally, mink oil can help to waterproof your leather furniture, which is great if you have kids and/or pets.
Mink oil creates a barrier on the surface of the leather that helps to repel water and other liquids. This can help to prevent spills and stains from ruining your leather furniture.
Not only does mink oil help to waterproof your leather furniture, but it also helps to protect it from the sun’s UV rays.
The sun can cause the leather to fade and crack over time, but mink oil can help to prevent this by creating a barrier on the surface of the leather.
3. Helps To Restore Color
Mink oil can also help to restore the color of your leather furniture if it has begun to fade. Whenever you apply mink oil on your leather furniture, it darkens the leather.
This is due to the fact that mink oil contains a very high concentration of fatty acids. The fatty acids in the mink oil help to replenish the natural oils in the leather that have been lost over time.
As a result, your leather furniture will not only be better hydrated but will also have a rich darker color.
4. It Can Help Repair Dry Leather Furniture
Another important benefit of using mink oil on leather furniture is that it can help to repair dry leather furniture.
This means that you can gradually use mink oil to treat your leather furniture that has dried up over time.
But how do you know if your leather is dry? There are several ways to check if your leather is dry–as detailed in an earlier article I wrote on 7 ways to tell if leather is dry.
One of the main ways to determine this is by doing an absorption test. This is where you put a drop of leather conditioner or mink oil in an inconspicuous part of the leather furniture surface and then check to see how long it takes for the conditioner to disappear.
If it disappears quickly, this means that the leather is absorbent and most likely dry. If it takes a while for the conditioner to disappear, this means that the leather is still hydrated.
Once you have determined that your leather is dry, you can begin to use mink oil as a way to help repair it. By gradually adding mink oil to the leather, you can help to restore its natural oils and moisture levels.
5. Mink Oil Is Natural And Non-Toxic
One of the best things about mink oil is that it is completely natural and non-toxic.
Mink oil is derived from the fatty acids of minks. The oil is then refined to remove impurities and made into a product that can be used on leather.
Mink oil is safe to use on leather furniture around children and pets. Additionally, it is also biodegradable, so you can feel good about using it, knowing that it will not harm the environment.
The Cons of Using Mink Oil On Leather Furniture
Now let’s take a look at the downsides of using mink oil on leather furniture.
1. Mink Oil Can Darken Leather Furniture
If you have light-colored leather furniture, you might want to think twice before using mink oil on it.
This is because mink oil can darken leather furniture. Just as mink oil restores the color of faded leather furniture, it can also darken leather furniture that is its original color.
So if you have light-colored leather furniture, you might want to consider using a different leather conditioner or mink oil alternative–which I will discuss later in this article.
2. Mink Oil Can Make Leather Furniture Very Sticky
Mink oil also has the tendency to make your leather furniture sticky. In fact, this is one of the biggest challenges with using mink oil on leather.
The sticky feeling is caused by the fact that mink oil contains a high concentration of fatty acids. These fatty acids will eventually evaporate, but it can take a few days for this to happen.
In the meantime, your leather furniture will feel sticky to the touch.
This will usually happen if you over-condition your leather or do not buff your leather furniture properly or allow it to dry thoroughly.
So while this can happen with mink oil, it is one of the downsides of using mink oil you can actually manage or avoid by using the right application techniques–which I will discuss later in this article.
3. Mink Oil Can Go Rancid
Like all natural oils, mink oil can go rancid over time. Rancid mink oil will have a bad smell and can actually damage your leather furniture.
So it is important to make sure that you store your mink oil in a cool, dry place away from heat or sunlight.
You should also check the expiration date on your mink oil and make sure that you do not use it after it has
4. Not So Easy To Apply
Last but not least, one of the biggest challenges most people face when using mink oil is that it can be difficult to apply–especially when compared to something as easy as a spray on leather conditioner.
Mink oil is very thick and sticky, so it can be challenging to apply it evenly to your leather furniture without making a mess.
Additionally, because mink oil is so thick, it will require that you melt it down before you can apply it to your leather furniture.
You can do this by using a hairdryer or placing the mink oil container in a bowl of hot water for a few minutes. Once the mink oil has melted, you can begin to apply it to your leather furniture.
Although the result is worth it, it can be a very tedious and time-consuming process.
How To Use Mink Oil on Leather
As you can see, the benefits of using mink oil on leather furniture far outweigh the mostly manageable cons.
Now let’s take a look at how to properly use mink oil on your leather furniture so that you can avoid the sticky mess and get the most benefits from it.
Step One:
- Start by cleaning your leather furniture with a good leather cleaner.
- This will help to remove any dirt, dust, or debris that might be on the surface of your leather furniture.
Step Two:
- Once your leather furniture is clean, heat up your mink oil so that it is in a liquid form.
- As I mentioned earlier, you can do this by using a hairdryer or placing the mink oil container in a bowl of hot water for a few minutes.
Step Three:
- Once the mink oil is in a liquid form, apply it to your leather furniture using a clean, soft cloth.
- Start by applying a small amount of mink oil to a small section of your leather furniture.
- Then, use circular motions to rub the mink oil into the leather.
- Make sure that you do not over-condition your leather furniture. A little bit of mink oil will go a long way.
Step Four:
- Once you have applied the mink oil to your leather furniture, allow it to sit for a few minutes so that it can absorb into the leather.
Step Five:
- After a few minutes have passed, use a clean, dry cloth to buff your leather furniture.
- This will help to remove any excess mink oil and give your leather furniture a nice shine.
Step Six:
- Allow your leather furniture to dry completely before using it or placing anything on it.
- It is best to let your leather furniture dry in a warm, well-ventilated area.
Best Alternative to Mink Oil For Leather Furniture
Personally, mink oil is not my go-to product for my leather furniture. There are a few better alternatives, in my opinion, that can do the job just as well without some of the downsides that come with using mink oil. Here is one of the best alternatives to mink oil for leather furniture:
Leather Conditioner
It is a lot safer to use a leather conditioner on your leather furniture than it is to use mink oil. Leather conditioners come in various forms, but they all work to help restore moisture and nutrients to your leather furniture.
Most leather conditioners are made with a blend of natural oils and waxes. This helps to nourish your leather furniture without over-conditioning it or making it sticky.
All you need to do is to pick a leather conditioner that is of good quality, like the Leather Honey Leather Conditioner.
There are a lot of good leather conditioners on the market, so you should have no problem finding one that works well for you and your leather furniture.
Also Read: 5 Best Non-Sticky Leather Conditioner
