What do you clean your tack with?

JDChaser

JDChaser

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I was given dressage saddles for Christmas which are lovely and new, and i'm determined to look after all my tack better from now on... i.e. clean it more often than the night before an event :rolleyes: So, any suggestions for tack cleaner or soap you can buy, or maybe you use something more original which you feel works better? Thanks in advance :D
 
on the rare occasion that i clean tack i use the amerigo stuff- they do a cleaner stuff that you put on a wet sponge and lather all over it to remove dirt and muck and then i use the leather conditioner/balm to hydrate it/make it shiney- i put that on with a dry cloth and buff in (i actually use a pair of underpants- clean ones :o ) -it smells really nice (the balm, not the underpants :p )
 
for new leather than can tend to be a bit stiff i use neatsfoot oil which really helps to soften it up!
then as a general tack cleaner i use the carr day & martin sprays (number 1 for dirt & number 2 for Condition!) with a toothbrush handy for when it gets stuck down the cracks!
also every now and then if my tack gets a bit stiff i neatsfoot it again makes it lovely!
also for really dirty tack a damp cloth with warm water is great for rubbing away the dirt!
i do alot of showing so know how to get lovely tack :o
 
Effax every time!

On new tack saddles and bridles I use Effax Ledersoft which is great at softening new tack, and doesn't rot stitching. You just brush it on with a hoof oil brush.

I then use effax leder-balsam after cleaning with slightly soapy water for a real good thorough clean and condition, it really soaks into the leather especially if its got a bit stiff from getting wet.

For an every day wipe off for not too dirty tak I also use Leder-combi which can be used straight onto slightly dirty tack to clean and condition.

The whole range is great and I even use it on my boots!!
I was recommended it by Nathaniel Underwood who is master saddler when i bought a new saddle from him, and have used it for about 10 years now and all my tack looks really good!
 
Use and always have used, glycerine soap - various brands followed by 'Hydrophane' (the stuff in the metal blue bottle).

Keeps the leather nice soft and flexible in tough conditions (Chilean and Australian summers), though I think my old leather jumping saddle has developed a Hydrophane 'habit' as it drinks the stuff by the gallon if you let it... :cool:

Have borrowed a friends Effax conditiner(?) for my boots & chaps and was impressed.
 
This stuff seems to get good reviews:

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

I got some freebie stuff when I got my Butet and it's great, like a white-ish cream that has lanolin in and it really feeds the leather. I'm sure you can get something similar that's non-greasy and well absorbed.

Day to day I use Horseman's One Step as a real timesaver, with Effol if it gets sodden and needs a proper soaking in something nourishing.
 
I have always used old fashioned glycerin bar saddle soap and occasionally use a drop of neatsfoot oil. I don't clean my tack very often, but when I do, I strip it and clean it very thoroughly. I am often asked what I use to clean it 'cause it looks so good! Some of my tack is thirty years old and still going strong.
 
i use stubben soap and albion conditioner(cant think of what its called)' oohh its 'BALM'. On really soft leather i use the stubben balm as it doesnt make the leather over supple!!

It last forever (think that may be an indication of how often its NOT used ooopppss)!!!
 
Hi, Always use NAF leather cleanse (foams up lovely and cleans dirt and grese off) then leave it to dry and use NAF leather feed on my calfskin dressag saddle and Oakwood crean (same as Dubarry cream) on bridles, headcollars etc
It's amazing stuff!
 
I really rate 2 products and swap between them.

Grand Prix Leather Gloss

and

Gold Label Soft Soap

If the leather has really dried out or is going to be stored I think you can't beat Ko-Cho-Line.
 
Effax always, the butter-consistency one in the brown tub, not the yellow tub though.
I sponge all tack with hot water immediately after use, leave it hanging up to dry, and then apply Effax last thing before finishing stables. It's much better applied to dry tack than wet. It smells gorgeous and you can see that it really feeds the leather. It's gotten rather expensive (used to be £6 a tub, now £10) but it lasts a long time and it's worth it, I won't use anything else.
I do all bridles and girths every time they're used, but only treat the saddles occasionally, don't want them getting too softened up on top.
 
I use neatsfootcompound too, but my saddler told me to stop oiling my 80 year old saddle as the leather is falling appart. She warned me most oils contain an acid that softens the leather by breaking down the fibres. If that is the case with neatsfoot I don't know. I've used it for years. Could be that my saddle is just too old now. Just don't use too much oil.
Glycerine saddle soap works well too.
 
peewit said:
Hi, Always use NAF leather cleanse (foams up lovely and cleans dirt and grese off) then leave it to dry and use NAF leather feed on my calfskin dressag saddle and Oakwood crean (same as Dubarry cream) on bridles, headcollars etc
It's amazing stuff!
Click to expand...

I use this too. Have tried other stuff then always gone back to it!
 
I never use any water or water based products on the saddles.
My personal favourite is Oakwood conditioner but also Renapur to soften stiff leather.
I bought Grand Prix Leather Gloss but thought it was waaay overrated as it was nothing special :o
 
Just has to be Grand Prix Leather Gloss, the best stuff I have ever found and I have been cleaning tack for over 45 years now.

It lasts for ages, you do not need to oil, just clean grease off with hot water and apply GPLG with a dry sponge.

I cleaned some spare tack with it a year ago and put tack in loft, got it down the other day and it looked like it had been cleaned yesterday, no mold still shiney etc. fantastic stuff.
 
ok i switch between, NAF leather cleanse, Stubben saddle soap, or CDM saddle soap. i also have NAF soft soap and koa-cha-line for stiff stubborn leather
 
As a lover of tack cleaning - odd I know...have used many products. I was a fan of NAF leather cream until I found GPLG. The reason that GPLG is good is its NOT sticky..there are some products that give you a shine...but its sticky, attracts more grease etc.....GPLG supples and shines and is economical

but if you want sticky tack - perhaps use something else
 
Another recommendation for Grand Prix Leather Gloss - quick and easy to use, smells lovely and leaves leather in fantastic condition - can't rate it highly enough and would never use anything else ....
 
I'm another Grand Prix Leather Gloss fan. Very economical to use and brings it up a treat. There is no need to use oil with new leather either and it isn't a horrible 'chemical concoction' just natural ingredients.
 
My first post on this forum was about tack cleaning.... and having received so many posts suggesting Grand Prix Leather Gloss I brought some, never to go back!!!!!! OMG great stuff, just wish I had found it sooner as would have brought pots of the stuff for xmas presents, I know what all my tack owning friends are getting for Birthday presents this year !
 
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