Getting years worth of sweat off bridle?

[wench]

Got a noseband I bought second hand from eBay. Cleaned it several times using saddle soap/tack cleaning wipes, but it just still feels really "tacky" and you can scrape layers of crud off it with your finger nails.

I'm sure I've previously tried to clean it with my "normal" sweaty go to, water and washing up liquid, but this clearly hasn't worked.

Any more ideas for getting the filth from the leather?

 

[pansymouse]

It's probably been cleaned with glycerine saddle soap to make it that sticky in the first place so ditch any products containing glycerine. I would start with warm water with a little white vinegar and use a slightly rough cloth - an old towel or face flannel are great. Don't try and get all the goo off in one sitting - have a go at it once or twice a day until you can wipe it over and the cloth is clean and it no longer feels sticky. When it's properly clean wipe it over with a warm damp cloth and then while the leather is still slightly damp, massage in a animal fat and beeswax based leather conditioner (the Unicorn one is perfect).

 

[eggs]

I find that using a blunt knife and running it over the crud helps scrape a lot of it off.

 

[Cortez]

I use a nylon pot scrubber, gently, to remove the greasy stuff, warm water and some dish soap.

 

[Ladyinred]

The old fashioned way is a length of horse hair (mane or tail) scrunched up into a pad and used like a brillo pad. We used to call them 'bowzers' for no apparent reason, but they do work.

 

[cremedemonthe]

OP I've sent you a link to help, Oz