You might have heard lots of people mention conditioning their leather goods with saddle soap. But the name saddle soap is very misleading. So, in this article, we’ll explore what saddle soap is and whether it can actually help to condition your leather products.
To summarize, while saddle soap contains mild soaps, leather softening ingredients like lanolin, preservatives like beeswax, and other nourishing and conditioning ingredients like neatsfoot oil, it is still important to condition your leather after applying saddle soap.
Continue reading as I delve into more details below!
What’s In Saddle Soap?
To be able to understand whether saddle soap can help to condition your leather products, it’s important to know what ingredients are in saddle soap.
Typically, saddle soap generally contains three main groups of ingredients: mild soaps, leather softeners and conditioner, and preservatives. Let’s take each of these one by one.
1. Mild Soaps
The first group of ingredients in saddle soap is mild soaps. These help to clean the leather without damaging or stripping away any of its natural oils.
Some common mild soaps that are used in saddle soap include:
Potassium oleate
This is a soap that is derived from fatty acids found in plants. It’s gentle and effective at cleaning leather.
Potassium stearate
This is another soap that is derived from fatty acids, but this time from animal fats. It’s also gentle and effective at cleaning leather.
Sodium palmitate – This is a soap that comes from palm oil. It’s good at removing dirt and grime from leather.
All of these soaps are very mild and won’t damage or strip away the natural oils from your leather products.
2. Conditioners And Protectors
The second group of ingredients in saddle soap is conditioning ingredients. These help to soften, nourish, and protect the leather.
Some common conditioning ingredients that are used in saddle soap include:
Lanolin
This is a wax that is secreted by sheep and other animals. It’s often used as a leather conditioner because it helps to soften and protect the leather.
Glycerin
This is a sugar alcohol that is derived from fats. It’s a humectant, which means that it helps to keep the leather moist. Glycerin also helps to soften and protect the leather.
Beeswax
This is a wax that is secreted by bees. It’s often used as a leather conditioner because it helps to waterproof and protect the leather.
All of these ingredients found in saddle soap help to condition the leather, keeping it soft, supple, and protected.
3. Oils
The third group of ingredients in saddle soap is oils. These help to lubricate the leather, making it more supple. One of the most common oils a lot of manufacturers use in saddle soaps is neatsfoot oil.
Neatsfoot oil is derived from the feet of cattle and other animals. It’s a natural lubricant that helps to keep the leather supple.
4. Water
The fourth and final ingredient in saddle soap is water. This helps to carry the other ingredients into the leather, making it easier for them to do their job.
Now that we know what’s in saddle soap let’s take a look at why saddle soap can actually help to condition your leather products.
Reasons Saddle Soap Conditions Leather
Now that we have looked at some of the ingredients found in saddle soap let’s explore some of the reasons why saddle soap can help to condition your leather products.
Saddle soap is effective at conditioning leather because it contains conditioning ingredients.
As we have seen, saddle soap contains conditioning ingredients like lanolin, glycerin, and beeswax. These ingredients help to soften, nourish, and protect the leather.
Beeswax, in particular, is effective at waterproofing the leather and helping to protect it from the elements.
Lanolin is also effective at helping to keep the leather moist, which prevents it from drying out and becoming brittle.
Glycerin, meanwhile, helps to soften the leather and keeps it supple.
All of these ingredients work together to condition the leather, keeping it soft, supple, and protected.
How To Use Saddle Soap To Condition Leather
Now that we know a bit more about saddle soap and why it can help to condition leather, let’s explore how to use it.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use saddle soap to condition your leather products:
Step One:
- Start by wiping down your leather product with a dry cloth to remove any dust or debris.
Step Two:
- Next, wet a cloth with warm water and gently wipe down the leather. This will help to open up the pores of the leather and make it more receptive to the saddle soap.
Step Three:
- Apply a small amount of saddle soap to a damp cloth and rub it into the leather in small circles.
Step Four:
- Once you have applied the saddle soap to the leather, buff it with a dry cloth to remove any excess.
Step Five:
- Allow the leather to air dry.
- Once the leather is dry, you will notice that it is softer and more supple.
- The saddle soap has helped to condition the leather, keeping it soft, supple, and protected.
Can You Condition Leather After Using Saddle Soap?
While saddle soap can do a good job of conditioning your leather items, it’s a good idea to follow up with a dedicated leather conditioner in some instances.
1. If The Saddle Soap Does Not Contain Conditioning Oils
The first instance where you might want to use a leather conditioner after using saddle soap is if the saddle soap does not contain conditioning oils.
As we saw earlier, some of the ingredients in saddle soap, like neatsfoot oil and lanolin, can help to condition the leather.
However, if the saddle soap does not contain any conditioning oils, it’s a good idea to follow up with a dedicated leather conditioner. This will help to ensure that your leather product is properly conditioned and protected.
For example, if the saddle soap you’re using doesn’t contain neatsfoot oil or other conditioning oils, you might want to consider using a separate leather conditioner like the Bick 4 Leather Conditioner. This will help to ensure that your leather items are properly conditioned and protected.
Leather conditioners help to replenish the natural oils in the leather, keeping it soft and supple. They also help to protect the leather from the elements, keeping it looking its best for longer.
2. If You Are Conditioning Leather Boots
The second instance where you might want to use a leather conditioner after using saddle soap is if you are conditioning leather boots.
Boots are subject to a lot of wear and tear and can often become dry and cracked. As such, it’s important to condition them on a regular basis.
Saddle soap can help to condition leather boots, but you might want to consider using a dedicated leather conditioner even after you have used saddle soap with all the essential ingredients.
This will help to ensure that your leather boots are properly conditioned and protected, keeping them looking their best for longer.
3. If You Want To Add An Extra Layer Of Protection
The third instance where you might want to use a leather conditioner after using saddle soap is if you want to add an extra layer of protection.
While saddle soap can help to protect your leather products, it’s always a good idea to add an extra layer of protection. This will help to keep your leather products looking their best for longer.
A dedicated leather conditioner can help to add an extra layer of protection, keeping your leather products looking their best for longer.
4. If The Leather Looks Dry After Application
There are different brands of saddle soap available on the market, and not all of them are the same.
In fact, some of them can be quite drying. If you notice that your leather product looks dry after applying saddle soap, it’s a good idea to follow up with a dedicated leather conditioner.
Final Thoughts
Saddle soap can be a great way to condition your leather products. However, there are some instances where you might want to consider using a leather conditioner after using saddle soap.
This includes if the saddle soap doesn’t contain conditioning oils, if you’re conditioning leather boots, or if you want to add an extra layer of protection.
Additionally, if you notice that the leather looks dry after applying saddle soap, it’s a good idea to follow up with a leather conditioner.
All in all, using a leather conditioner after using saddle soap can help to ensure that your leather products are properly conditioned and protected.
