How to Clean Boots With Saddle Soap

Saddle soap cleans more than saddles.

Saddle soap is a mild soap containing active ingredients such as lanolin, beeswax, glycerin or neatsfoot oil, which conditions leather as it cleans. Saddle soap also contains preservatives that protect the leather as it ages. Despite its name, saddle soap cleans more than just leather horse saddles and tack. In fact, applied to your favorite leather boots, saddle soap can remove ground-in dirt and restore the leather to its original luster.

Things You'll Need

• Saddle soap
• Stiff brush
• Several clean cloths

Instructions

1. Brush away any loose dirt on your boots with a stiff brush. Wipe the soiled area with a clean cloth dampened with warm water.

2. Dampen a second cloth with warm water. Apply a dime-sized amount of saddle soap to the cloth.

3. Work the saddle soap into the first boot using circular motions. The saddle soap will produce a lather as it cleans.

4. Wipe the saddle soap from the boot after cleaning, using another clean, damp cloth. Buff the boot dry with a clean cloth.

5. Continue the process on the second boot. Repeat the entire process whenever necessary.

Tips & Warnings

• Lay a drop cloth over your work surface. Cleaning with saddle soap can get messy.

• Do not apply saddle soap with a dry cloth. Doing so can be detrimental to the leather.

• Do not use saddle soap on suede boots.

References

• Stompers Boots: Boot Care Tips
• Altama: How to Care for Your Boots

Resources

• GarciaAviation.com Library: The Preservation of Leather Objects