Cleaning and Revitalizing Old Leather

This process was received from Doug Cox
custom saddle maker, Gardnerville, NV

• Remove loose dirt, manure, hair, etc. from the leather. May want to use a scraper or mild scrub brush for removing hardened dirt, manure, hair, etc.

• Clean the leather with sudsy Ivory or Dawn soap. Lather up both sides of the leather with generous amounts of soap suds. Let leather with soap suds sit for approx. 3-4 hours.
  

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  Rinse all soap off the leather with clear water. 

• Let the leather dry to a point there is still a small amount of moisture in the leather.  

• Apply Castile soap. Rub Castile soap on both sides of the leather. Let the soaped leather sit for approx. 1-2 hours. Wipe excess soap from the leather using a soft cloth.

• Apply Fiebring’s Glycerin Soap. Lather up both sides of the leather with generous amounts of soap. Let the soaped leather sit for approx. 1 day. Wipe excess soap from the leather using a soft cloth.

• Apply Olive Oil. Rub sparing amounts of olive oil onto the leather (top side only). Wipe excess oil from the leather using a soft cloth. Let the oiled leather sit for approx. 1-2 days.

• Apply R.M. Williams or Ray Holes saddle butter. Apply generous amounts of saddle butter to both sides of the leather. Let the leather sit for approx. 1-2 days (absorbs best in warm temperature). Wipe excess saddle butter from the leather using a soft cloth.

Your renewed leather is now ready for use!