How to Make Cheap & Easy Saddle Soap

Saddle leather can be damaged by commercial soaps that contain too many improper ingredients. Leather can become dull and cracked if not rubbed down regularly with a quality saddle soap, which can be costly when purchased retail. Instead, make it in your own home and bring your leather saddles to life, for a fraction of the cost. This recipe makes approximately 24 ounces of saddle soap.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 2 medium steel pots
• Steel spoon
• 6 tbsp. beeswax
• 1 tbsp. lemon oil
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 tbsp. tea tree oil
• 20 ounces water
• 2 tbsp. Castile soap flakes
• 8 tbsp. turpentine
• Airtight Containers

1. Combine beeswax and 10 tbsp. of water in a large iron or steel pot, along with the lemon oil, olive oil and tea tree oil. Bring this mixture to a slow boil and let simmer for 5 to 8 minutes.

2. Melt Castile soap (purchase this in a hardware store) in 20 ounces of water in a second pan. Do not bring this mixture to a boil. Heat slowly, stirring frequently until all the Castile flakes have melted thoroughly. Add the turpentine to this mixture and stir thoroughly.

3. Add the Castile soap mixture to the beeswax mixture, stirring as you pour them together. Blend completely.

4. Pour the saddle soap mixture into containers. The mixture has a cocoa butter texture and will keep for as long as two months, provided you use airtight containers and store in a cool place.

5. Use this saddle soap to clean horse saddle or other leather products. Wipe it on and off in a circular motion using two soft cloths, one for applying and one for removing. The soap will keep your leather clean, soft and smelling fresh.