Advice on restoring an old-ish and very dirty bridle

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Tash88

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To be honest I am embarrassed that my old bridle has got into this state as it has just been hanging in my tack room and I have seen it every day, but I am going to start lungeing my horse again so need to restore it and make it wear-able again. It is a lovely bridle and I only stopped using it because I bought a black saddle and needed a black bridle to match :)

The leather is still quite soft, but it is a bit mouldy in places and generally dirty. In my tack-cleaning kit I have koh-chi-line, traditional solid saddle soap, spray saddle soap (probably useless for this :o), soft saddle soap (like a gel) and some neatsfoot oil.

Any advice appreciated, and I can offer coffee and chocolate digestives :)

Tx
 
Tash88 said:
To be honest I am embarrassed that my old bridle has got into this state as it has just been hanging in my tack room and I have seen it every day, but I am going to start lungeing my horse again so need to restore it and make it wear-able again. It is a lovely bridle and I only stopped using it because I bought a black saddle and needed a black bridle to match :)

The leather is still quite soft, but it is a bit mouldy in places and generally dirty. In my tack-cleaning kit I have koh-chi-line, traditional solid saddle soap, spray saddle soap (probably useless for this :o), soft saddle soap (like a gel) and some neatsfoot oil.

Any advice appreciated, and I can offer coffee and chocolate digestives :)

Tx
Click to expand...

Koh chi line, smother it, leave for a day or 2 and then polish it. Remarkable stuff.
 
Another for Ko-cho-line but first, wipe the bridle with a dry cloth to move any mould/spores, then wash/wipe with warm water only, then when dry, smother with K. After a couple of days it should have soaked in but if not just work it in with your hands well making sure you do any bends in the leather very well. Will come up like new with a gorgeous colour.
 
Sorry to hijack but do any of you use oil on your leather ? I use horsemans one step and it does a good job but dont know wether to oil now and then ? when do you use the oil
 
I'm sorry but you need a new tack cleaning kit :cool:. Soap is the wrong ph for leather, glycerine is not a good soap or conditioner, and to answer the last question oil is no good for leather.

To remove mould you need to use a product that will kill mould spores - Leather Therapy cleanser, anything with phenol in it, a drop of tea tree in hot water used to clean....don't just wipe with a damp cloth. Then use a good conditioner that will contain a tiny bit of oil but more creams and waxes, enough that will soak in easily, then the next day add a bit more etc. Once you start to use it and condition it regularly it will soften up well.

Any one step product should not be used as such - you are simply rubbing the dirt into the leather. If you are cleansing then rinse after, and if conditioning only do that to clean leather.
 
I asked for advice on here before... I have had old tack I needed to get cleaned up. For mould baby bottle sterilizing tablets work a treat.

If the tack is really greasy and discusting I then used water and washing up liquid to get the grease off. This kind of works, but I think some kind of proper leather cleaner for removing grease would be better (normal leather cleaner doesnt seem to do it), then clean as normal.
 
Thanks for all the wonderful advice! I think that I will go down the route of wiping with a damp cloth and a little tea tree oil before using koh-chi-line as that seems to be the majority verdict, if the tea tree doesn't work will use a sterilizing tablet and maybe some fairy liquid.

I think that cleaning this bridle will ruin my manicure and hands, but I am looking forward to the result!
 
I would say a mixture of what has been said!!

Remove mold with a clothe and warm soapy water, wait for it to dry! Then I personally swear buy Car Day and Martin Leather Balsam. Rub it in - and then buffer off. You will need to put a pin through all of the eyelets and fastenings as is creamy and goes into every thing!

Might even do my tack this week!!
 
Tash88 said:
Thanks for all the wonderful advice! I think that I will go down the route of wiping with a damp cloth and a little tea tree oil before using koh-chi-line as that seems to be the majority verdict, if the tea tree doesn't work will use a sterilizing tablet and maybe some fairy liquid.

I think that cleaning this bridle will ruin my manicure and hands, but I am looking forward to the result!
Click to expand...

Use fake tanning gloves ;-)
 
A little vinegar in water (about 5 parts water to 1 part vinegar) will kill mould spores, just dampen cloth and wipe over. Then clean. Then "feed" with some sort of leather balm or cream (hate ko chi line, goopy stuff, but it does work).
 
Another good idea - thanks! And hopefully the smell of the leather cleaner will prevent my bridle from smelling like vinegar...
 
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