How to Make Saddle Soap

People use saddle soap to clean boots, saddles, belts, harnesses and any other thick leather product they want to keep looking its best. This soap not only cleans leather, but it also supplies it with the oils and wax needed for long-lasting protection. Make your own inexpensive saddle soap by following these few easy steps.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 3 1/2 cups water
• 1/4 cup Neat's Foot oil
• 3/4 cup soap flakes
• 1/2 cup paraffin

1. Boil water in a large metal pan. Reduce the temperature to a slight simmer and add soap flakes slowly. Stir with metal spoon until all flakes have dissolved.

2. Heat the paraffin with the Neat's Foot oil in a double boiler until it is completely melted. Next, add the melted contents in the double boiler to the soap mixture.

3. Stir on low heat until the soap thickens.

4. Remove the soap from the heat and allow to cool just slightly before storing. Use short, wide-mouth jars or empty commercial saddle soap containers to store the soap. Keep containers covered and in a dry environment to keep the saddle soap for years.

5. Apply your saddle soap to your item with a slightly damp cloth or sponge, using circular motions when rubbing the leather. Rinse your cloth or sponge and remove any lather that remains. Use a second dry cloth to buff your leather to the look you desire.

Tips & Warnings

• You can find Neat's Foot oil in gun stores or hardware stores since it is primarily used with leather.
• You can make your own soap flakes by grating a bar of plain Ivory soap. Don't use detergent.
• Beeswax may be used in place of the paraffin.
• This soap may slightly darken your leather. Test a small portion of your leather before cleaning the entire item.

[krking]

on 6/17/2008 soap flakes are hard to find - here's one source:
DwellSmart http://www.dwellsmart.com/Soap-Flakes

[nikkimsu]

on 4/9/2008 I've heard that saddle soap can actually damage leather over time. I've switched to Linda's Miracle Soap, and I love it. lindasmiraclesoap.com.