Tack cleaning regimes

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Hello, please could you tell me all about your tack cleaning? What do you use, how often and do you clean any differently before competitions?

Just got a lovely new saddle and I WILL look after it properly, want to keep it in tip top condition.
:)
 
Bridle gets a wipe over once a week with a damp dish cloth and then using the Carr & Day & Martin spray products. Once a month it gets deconstructed and covered C & D & M leather balm.
Deconstructed bridle for competition cleaning, but as have a different bridle for comps which gets wiped over after use, it isn't much of a job.

Saddle only cleaned before comps or if it's noticeably dirty. Gets checked over everyday when tacking up anyway.
One thing I will say is don't polish your seat, I did once and wasn't wearing my grippy jods, slid all over the place!
 
Thanks for the reply, at the minute I use the same spray products and conditioner but I can't help wondering whether they are doing that much good for my tack. I have never oiled my tack before, anyone on here recommend it?
 
Okay the following is on saddlers advice-
Never use neatsfoot oil on tack. However new saddle came with instruction to use brands own special kind of oil on the calfskin leather once a month to 'feed' it.
Dont use Belvoir 1 step cleaner on tack (particularly saddles) it apparently makes them go horrid & all shiny and slippy long term.
I whip over with Horsemans onestep tack cleaner and conditioner regularly (saddler approves). Then amerigo soft clean and leather balsalm pre competitions/ when have time :).
 
I will have to have a look into that cream condition.
Becca can I ask what make your saddle is?
The barnsby website recommends using neatsfoot oil but as I haven't used it before I am a little wary.
 
Oh really, I can only go on what my saddler said I'm afraid! I think there is a few people on here who make/ repair leather items / are saddlers etc so they could probably help clarify :). Saddle is an equipe :) (calfskin leather version) they do their own oil for it I need to buy some now as just got the sachet that comes with it :).
 
im in the same boat - new saddle i want to take good care of. Everywhere you ask you get told something different. I wouldnt use neatsfoot oil but my RI recommended leather dressing instead as its lighter. Most saddlers these days say not to use saddle soap or oil and just to use a balm or creme. The Effax Balm is certainly really good.
 
Thank you for your help. Lovely saddle Becca, I wonder whether you are meant to treat calfskin any differently? I agree, keep reading and hearing different things hence the post.Thanks for the recommendation, will look at Effax balm.
 
I wipe over each time I use it and give it a proper clean every other week. I also use a balm to keep it soft and supple. When my tack was new I used the balm a lot which paid off, it'snow very supple and my bridle is easy to adjust, dismantle and put back together :D

I always use Albion products but that's personal prefernce :)
 
AFAICR one of the saddlers on here recommended only things like Effax and the Stubben leather care stuff. They advised against 'cleaners' of any kind, just wiping with a damp cloth to wash and then on with a conditioner. I think one recommended only light oiling on the flesh for very dry items, oiling makes the fibres stretch apparently.

I don't clean my tack that often, usually only before a show/fun ride/hunting or if it has got wet or particularly dirty. I take it all apart and clean it all thorougly with a damp cloth, then use Effax and/or Stubben soap. I do use a bit of oil if it gets really dry but try to avoid getting any on he stitching. Some of my tack if fairly old but still looks good so can't be going too far wrong :)
 
I can't stand the glycerine soaps or neatsfoot oil or the cleaners. I have an elevator bridle which came with my horse and it's totally wrecked as is all sticky, presumably was saddle soaped a lot :(

I clean with a wet sponge only. Then apply either Stubben Hamanol or Oakwood Conditioner, depending on what I feel like! Effax is also good. The best things are the cream type conditioners rather than the really greasy products.

I don't do mine that often, so will usually dismantle everything and clean then condition. If I do manage to do it more often then between conditioning I will just wipe over.
 
Tack cleaning?? Don't use tack in wet, muddy weather - and just buy new if its minging!!

I bought Grand Prix leather gloss on lots of recommendations but hate it - much prefer the Stubben tack cleaning gel, works wonders.
 
I use Joseph Lyddy Liquid Saddle Soap to wipe over my bridles once a week.

Once a month all bridles and all saddles are pulled apart and cleaned with the same saddle soap. They are then all given a good going over with Oakwood Conditioner before having their covers put back on and put away.

Before competitions I clean the same as I do for my once a month clean.
 
Effax (the one in the brown tub, not the yellow tub, that's nothing like as good imho) is fantastic.
I wash/wipe bridles immediately after use and then when dry use effax. Ditto girths Saddles get Effaxed too, but not after every use. Don't want them going too soft, especially the flaps.
 
I use a damp cloth on mine, and occasionally use the glycerine tack cleaner on it if its really greasy. Then gets conditioned with the effax stuff in the brown tub. The yellow rubbed effax is a great cleaner, and should be used as a soap, but use very sparingly!!
 
another who hates glycerine based tack cleaning stuff. Nothing worse than sticky, claggy leather

For cleaning I use a damp sponge and a small amount of amerigo soft clean (or keiffer do a nice one too) then for conditioning either the effax in the brown tub or amerigo soft grease (LOVE this stuff)

Gets done when its either really been rained on or got very dirty/muddy or if not just taken apart fully and done for comps so on average once/twice a month??
 
Mine generally gets cleaned just before competitions or if I'm not competing for a few months then it will get a clean every now and again. I take it apart every time I clean it unless i'm just wiping it over after it has got wet which I always do as can't abide stiff tack!

I use what ever leather stuff I have at the time, at the moment it's naf and it's like soft gelly in a pot. I don't clean the tack with water first I just shove the saddle soap straight on with a damp sponge give it a good old rub and scrape any greasy bits off with my nail :o. The tack looks nice and shiney afterwards.
I don't use oil or water.

When I was a little girl my mum used to religiously clean her tack with warm water and a sponge. Then oil it with neatsfoot oil and then put saddle soap on it. Too much faffing for me but must have worked as 20/30 odd years on those bits of leather are still going strong!
 
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My gets cleaned every time I use it...warm water on damp sponge and then Effax (brown tub) and then every once in a while (about once a month) I completely strip it down and ive it a really thorough clean
 
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