How do you look after your leather?

[Ziggy_]

I'd like to know
1) if you treat new leather before you use it, and if so, with what
2) how you look after your leather from day to day
and 3) what you would do with really neglected old tack to try to restore it to its former glory!

Product reccomendations much appreciated also.

 

[Snowysadude]

Good old saddle soap for day to day/before i use it (used to use all sorts of lotions and oils etc until my saddler told me off and said saddle soap was best for new/undamaged tack!!). Clean it when its dirty or gets rained on/once a week/ before shows, whatever comes first.

Really neglected stuff i actually got this chelsea leathercare product when i was at olympia last year, it was brilliant stuff, restored my 13 yr old saddle brilliantly!

 

[millyspaniel]

My saddle is a few years old - that just gets a wash down with saddle soap approx every 2 weeks, bridle and martingale stiff as old boots! that gets washed with warm water then soaped every 2 weeks too.
Just got a lovely budget bridle from ebay - its really stiff though!
Heard neatsfoot oil is good for scratchs?
My mum has given me a lovely GFS saddle which am hoping will fit her, having the saddle man out in jan so he can try the both of them or swop both for something that fits

 

[Ravenwood]

Ko-cho-line is my best friend

Its invaluable for keeping leather water proof and in good nick for years

 

[Sit_Up]

Used to use Ko-cho-line and Neatsfoot until I found this stuff

http://www.grandprixleathergloss.co.uk/

Was sceptical but was given a tub as a present...and got to say was surprised that it "does what it says on the tin". It even smells good, is not impossible to get off your hands and does not discolour competition jods!!

The woman that makes the stuff is a small cottage industry. She started off making for herself and friends and believes in the product so much that she gave up work to start up the business.

P.S. I am not the woman who makes it, or a relative etc LOL

 

[Ashgrove]

[ QUOTE ]
Ko-cho-line is my best friend

Its invaluable for keeping leather water proof and in good nick for years

[/ QUOTE ]

I second this, there's nothing better, I'ved been using Ko cho line for about 30 years. Fab stuff.

Saddle soap in between times.

 

[PapaFrita]

[ QUOTE ]
Ko-cho-line is my best friend

Its invaluable for keeping leather water proof and in good nick for years

[/ QUOTE ]
Do you not find it a bit sticky...? Or have I been using too much?

I've got a tin somewhere.... I should dig it out to waterproof my new blundstones

 

[PapaFrita]

[ QUOTE ]
Used to use Ko-cho-line and Neatsfoot until I found this stuff

http://www.grandprixleathergloss.co.uk/


[/ QUOTE ]
Is it a pale colour and smell of honey? If so I think my dad might've bought some at a stand at a polo match in England. He loves the stuff and it's lasted for ages (probably because he only uses it on his shoes!!

) I wonder if I can pinch some without him noticing...

 

[unicornleather]

Aussies leatherfood by fiebings, great stuff!
Been using it for years on new leather as well as tallow, Oz

 

[JLav]

[ QUOTE ]
Used to use Ko-cho-line and Neatsfoot until I found this stuff

http://www.grandprixleathergloss.co.uk/

Was sceptical but was given a tub as a present...and got to say was surprised that it "does what it says on the tin". It even smells good, is not impossible to get off your hands and does not discolour competition jods!!

The woman that makes the stuff is a small cottage industry. She started off making for herself and friends and believes in the product so much that she gave up work to start up the business.

P.S. I am not the woman who makes it, or a relative etc LOL

[/ QUOTE ]

Also use this as do most of my friends. It's brilliant and I use it on boots, shoes, tack and my leather car seats!!

I'm also nothing to do with the lady who makes it.