How to Clean and Oil a Leather Bridle

Refurbishing that old leather bridle can not only save you money, but after you have finished, you may be amazed as to how great it looks and performs. By the time you are done with the bridle, you will have the confidence to clean other leather goods as well.

Things You'll Need

• Saddle soap
• Neatsfoot oil
• 2 soft sponges
• Soft toothbrush
• Lint-free cloths

Instructions

1. Hang the bridle from a hook in the ceiling and remove any unnecessary knots or loops in the leatherwork. Using a damp sponge with warm water, gently sponge off the bridle of any heavy dirt. This will also aid in the application of the saddle soap.

2. Work the damp sponge in a circular motion into the container of saddle soap. A small lather should appear, which will indicate that you have enough soap on the sponge. Gently apply the soap to the leather bridle, working in long strokes to clean and remove any dirt or old oils from past applications. Rinse with a clean sponge using warm water. Rinse the sponge often. Repeat until the sponge begins to come clean after rinsing. For more difficult stains or heavy dirt, utilize the soft toothbrush. Cover the brush in soap and gently work into the leather. Rinse often with the sponge.

3. Take one of the lint-free cloths and thoroughly dry the entire bridle. You may have to really work the cloth into the metal loop areas to absorb any retained water. It is extremely important to dry the leather bridle as thoroughly as possible so rot will not set into the leather.

4. Oil the bridle by pouring small amounts of neatsfoot oil onto another dry, lint-free cloth and working the oil into the leather. This procedure may take a number of coats to really absorb into the leather. You should expect to give at least four to five applications over a two-day period. Once the oil has time to fully absorb into the leather, you should notice a new workability to the bridle.

Tips & Warnings

• Application of neatsfoot oil should always be done to new leather. This type of oil will greatly extend the life of all leather products, especially if they are cleaned on a routine basis.

• Always allow any leather products to fully absorb the neatsfoot oil before any use. If you encounter a situation where the leather is actually dripping oil, use a dry cloth to absorb any of the excess.