Tack Cleaning - whats the secret to getting rid of that horrible grease....

Perissa

Perissa

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that collects at the bottom of the saddle flap?

I wash the leather with warm water with a little fairy liquid in it before using Wilf Whites Leather Soap - very old fashioned but brings the leather up lovely.

Anyway I always end up scraping the grease off with my finger nails which collects at the very bottom of the saddle flap, under where your leg rests.

Is there a secret to getting is off without practicly using a scouring pad on it?!!
 
the spray tack CLEANER (step 1) from carr and day and martin is pretty good for it - its not a soap or a conditioner (thats step 2-different botttle!) but a cleaner. But, to save money just scrub away!!!
 
Obviously don't let it build up, however a pad made from mane/tail hair scrubs it off with tepid water. I expect you could use nylon kitchen scourer too , but horsehair will not scratch leather and only remove grease. Clean with soap afterwards as normal
 
Rowenna said:
the spray tack CLEANER (step 1) from carr and day and martin is pretty good for it - its not a soap or a conditioner (thats step 2-different botttle!) but a cleaner. But, to save money just scrub away!!!
Click to expand...

Agree with this. It's brilliant. Gets all sweat/dirt/grease off very easily
 
Now I didn't think I cleaned my tack that often and I have never seen grease on my saddle flaps or anywhere else on it!! I do get a little on the inside of the noseband that thats it really, and I do ride!! 6-7 days a week and we work hard!! I do use babywipes to wipe it over every couple of days and clean it properly every couple of weeks or so :D
 
Azmar said:
Obviously don't let it build up, however a pad made from mane/tail hair scrubs it off with tepid water. I expect you could use nylon kitchen scourer too , but horsehair will not scratch leather and only remove grease. Clean with soap afterwards as normal
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Yep that's what we used to do way back when! Works better than anything else and never scratches.
 
Lincoln do a 2 sided sponge for £1.99, slightly rougher one side than the other but far softer than a kitchen scourer, that with spray tack cleaner and it comes straight off.
 
Microfibre cloth rinsed in plain hot water as hot as your hand can stand and wrung out. Beware though it not only strips the grease from your tack but also your hands.
For really dirty greasy tack after hunting etc, a drop of fairy in the water. If you have to immurse the leather in water to get the mud off, wipe as dry as possible and soap as it drys out natuarally.
Some of my tack is over 30 years old and still in use.
 
honetpot said:
Microfibre cloth rinsed in plain hot water as hot as your hand can stand and wrung out. Beware though it not only strips the grease from your tack but also your hands.
For really dirty greasy tack after hunting etc, a drop of fairy in the water. If you have to immurse the leather in water to get the mud off, wipe as dry as possible and soap as it drys out natuarally.
Some of my tack is over 30 years old and still in use.
Click to expand...

me too find water has to be really as hot as you can stand it!! after all you would not wash greasy dishes in tepid water and expect them to be clean
 
A tiny drop of washing up liquid in the water you use to clean the leather first. Stubborn bits - use a kitchen scourer (gently). I used to clean v dirty hunting tack!!
 
I use a non-stick pan scourer, you can rub it hard even on the good side of the leather and it shifts the grease without marking the leather. I use wasjing up liquid on the really stubborn bits.
 
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