How do you prefer your tack cleaning products?

[Tharg]

Now, I like to use a well wrung out sponge that had been in hot water to remove dirt/grease.

Then I use saddle soap (Celtic one, Heritage range I think) which is pretty much solid.

I'm thinking of switching (as I am almost out) to Red Rum's two in one saddle care or another similar product.

This comes in runny form. I will still be doing the first step with the hot water (Man Hands too precious for cold) Is there anything to know about using runny saddle soap/conditioner? I just have a horrible notion that I will use too much or it will go flying everywhere when my heavy fisted self grapples with it.

Thank you all

 

[Joss]

Yup, I sponge off first with a just damp sponge in warm ish water. Then when its dried off I use the the Carr Day & Martin Belvior Tack Conditioner (liquid soap to you & me!) I put this on with a DRY sponge. Squirt it onto the sponge for bridle bits & squirt the saddle & wipe about!

Never slippery & leaves the tack nice & not sticky.

http://www.tds-saddlers.co.uk/ProductDetails.asp?PCLinkID=11330

 

[HLB]

We use the Naff Leather Cleanse it takes of dirt and thick grease without using loads of water or a knife, it also leaves leather lovely and soft with a slight glow. my tack looks as new with it.

 

[peanut]

I like the Stubben tub of saddle soap with a nice bit of old fashioned spit.

 

[Hollycat]

I use warm water and sponge to remove dirt and grease. For jokeys on the girth and reins I use a washing up sponge for pots that is still a sponge but has an abraisive side too. This gets rid of the jockeys but is not abraisive enough to harm the tack. I then put on effax (brown tub) which smells gorgeous (keep lid on or dogs try and eat it!!!!). The effax leaves everything very shiny and supple and sort of waterproofs it (so it won't get stained or hard in the rain). My Amerigo saddle is new and I got some sachets of oil and soft grease with it so I am cleaning it with that until it runs out.

 

[CBAnglo]

I use Stubben Hamanol - you just wipe with a damp cloth, apply then clean off.

I hate cleaning tack and detested using soap and then oil. Using a cream is so much easier and takes half the time.

 

[RachelB]

I use the Belvoir 'step 1' cleaner (not tried the NAF stuff yet but plan to) and up until now I've always struggled with using bog-standard Belvoir glycerine soap bars (I always get them too darned wet!) At work we have recently started using NAF soft soap which is fantastic stuff - no need to wet it/sponge, smells nice, and leaves tack soft and clean. It's on my Your Horse shopping list for the weekend, along with the NAF leather food which I recently used a sample bottle of to rescue a mouldy old leather headcollar with fantastic results. That will be used for after rain/once in a blue moon, and the soft soap for general use. I always, always use the cleaner before I soap/oil!

 

[kerilli]

i use water, and then a separate dry sponge for Effax, brilliant stuff, have never gone back to saddle soap since discovering it.

 

[Tharg]

HHhmm, thanks everyone seems good! I like tack cleaning, its the routine of it I enjoy.

 

[Shantor1]

Warm water and a piece of towelling to clean my tack with. Then I use Belvoir saddle soap stick, with a dollop of good old fashioned spit (doesn't make the soap lathered) which allows you to rub well in to the leather. If pushed for time I use some Belvoir spray soap.

 

[FigJam]

I use Leovet Oil Soap to clean and then Oakwood Leather Conditioner after. It's meant to help waterproof the leather.

I really like both products.

 

[xSandraMx]

I use the Belvior sprays - one for cleanign and one for conditioning.

 

[Tharg]

The one I use waterproofs the leather as it has Bees wax in it. Also doesn't rot stitching.