What Does Neatsfoot Oil Do for Leather?
Leather is used in making clothes, upholstery and furniture because it can last a long time through proper care and maintenance. Well-maintained leather should feel soft. You can condition your leather with Neatsfoot oil to prevent your leather from drying and cracking. Does this Spark an idea?
-
Function
-
Neatsfoot oil is a lubricant used to preserve leather by keeping it soft and supple and restore stiffened or scratched leather to its original softness and flexibility. Neatsfoot oil also acts as a natural water repellent.
Effects
-
While Neatsfoot oil is effective in keeping leather soft, it darkens the leather. As the Neatsfoot oil soaks into your leather, the darkness will lighten somewhat. You can also expect the Neatsfoot oil to emit an odor lasting up to a week after application.
-
Warning
-
Do not use Neatsfoot oil for suede as it will stain.
Lacquered leather
-
Lacquered leather is identified by its shiny surface. On leather where the lacquer has worn off, Neatsfoot oil will work if the lacquer is a dark color, but you will need repeated applications to penetrate any tiny wrinkles. For lacquered belts, apply Neatsfoot oil on the inside area and wait for the odor to disappear before wearing.
Application
-
Use a clean paint brush to apply Neatsfoot oil over your leather good. Let the leather dry overnight and reapply Neatsfoot oil in any areas you missed. You can repeat applications up to 4 times to fully penetrate the leather. Your leather good should be soft and pliable in about a week or two.
-
