Tack cleaning methods in the USA?

[Santi]

I have a friend staying who says her yard in Colorado used to strip the leather with ammonia, then wash it with saddle soap... then remove the soap... (yeek!!) she'd never seen it done the BHS way (slightly damp sponge and elbow grease only to remove dirt and grease, then put soap on and leave it on)
Please tell me this isn't normal for the US?! I am going there in the winter!
:)

[Shadowlark]

Never heard of that in my life!

I am a good old saddle soap and elbow grease kinda gal - with natural based oils to nurish the leather..

You can buy any number of expensive and effective cleaners.. some that eliminate steps, some put out by the big name saddlers etc.

So don't worry you should be able to find whatever product you like.

[Grace O'Malley]

I've never heard of this technique either. I would think ammonia would be terrible for leather. Maybe the saddles got skunked or something, and they felt they had to go to drastic measures? :confused:

[Keket]

Ammonia? Good lord... That's certainly not a common practice!

From a website on cleaning leather:
Do not use cleaning solvents, oils, abrasive cleaners, detergents or ammonia on leather.

I just use saddle soap, followed by a coat of either oil or mink oil paste if it's needed, maybe some polish. But definitely not ammonia!

[dilaika]

I've never heard of that...just good old glycerin saddle soap (but hey, I'm from the eastern US, who knows what those crazy westerners do, lol)

[Shadowlark]

Simple, we dont' clean our tack :) You can tell the age of a saddle by the layers of dirt and sweat ;)

Show tack is of course different and babyd.. but daily use stuff.. is umm loved?

[showjumper-zoe]

Won't ammonia damage the leather?:confused: I like the sprays myself, nourishing and quick and easy.

[Santi]

Whew! thats a relief!
i think my friend will be disappointed to know she was taught wrong for so long. Thanks for the replies. :)

[QHLUV]

I have NEVER heard of that..

I just use the Leather New, and good old Passier to clean/condition my saddles and tack, and my tack always LOOKS BEAUTIFUL.. I am a bit of a nut about my stuff thought:rolleyes:

Gosh I think that would ruin the leather..

Yikes, I hope she didn't ruin her saddle..

[Joyscarer]

Gosh I didn't realise you had to clean tack. How foolish do I feel ;)

[stormy's mum]

as far as i know we don't clean tack like that her im in colorado and have never used ammonia

[Cicada<3]

Gosh I didn't realise you had to clean tack. How foolish do I feel ;)
What exactly do you mean by that?

[Joyscarer]

It's a joke. I am rubbish at motivating myself to get the saddle soap out so I have a synthetic saddle and a shabby looking leather bridle. Why? What did you think I meant :confused:

[KarinUS]

No way. What's next? Just p*** on it first (hey that's got ammonia in it too!)? :eek:
I really like the Leather Therapy products. I use their Laundry Solution for leather chaps and sheepskin stuff and I use their cleaner and conditioner for tack. It's pH neutral and has mold inhibitor in it (important when you are in a humid place like ours).

[Cicada<3]

It's a joke. I am rubbish at motivating myself to get the saddle soap out so I have a synthetic saddle and a shabby looking leather bridle. Why? What did you think I meant :confused:

I auctually thought you were serious!!! :cool::cool:

[Joyscarer]

:D:D:D Not too often you'll catch me being serious although I do try to believe that tack doesn't need cleaning so I don't feel quite so bad about my lack of motivation to do it. I also bought a new bridle and use the dirty one to lunge with :o

[roxycutie]

I've never heard of that. lol That doesnt sound good though. :eek: