Tack cleaning

[wondergirl]

What products do you swear by?

I was going out to buy some tack cleaning products at the weekend when I realised that buying saddle soap is a bit of a minefield. There's solid soaps, soft soaps, oils, balsams, sprays, wipes etc etc - then you have all the different brand names to contend with.

So I figured out it would be easier to ask you guys wht you use. :D

[blueroan12:2]

carr day and martin 2 step spray is good for a quick clean but i use albion soap in a tub when it goes really manky.

[flashy33]

carr day martin spray soap use it all the time

[alanalovesfinn]

stubben saddle soap and effol leather softener

[*Sez*]

I always used a tin of Propert's Leather and Saddle Soap and Carr, Day & Martin's leather balsam or Ko-Cho-Line leather dressing. My friend left me bottles of Carr Day & Martin Tack Cleaner and Tack Conditioner sprays, so I've been using those up, but it's just not the same :rolleyes: So I think once the bottles are empty, I'll go back to my usuals.

[Bessy]

Good old normal solid saddle soap by Carr, Day etc etc, and tub of Koholin - that's on the rare occasion my tack see's "cleaning products". Usually a quick once over with a damp cloth and check on stiching/ strength for safety - other than that it only gets a good clean once in a blue moon!

[crazyhorse97]

i use carr and day and martin, naf leather feed and effol lederbalm most of all =]

xXx

[xloopylozzax]

glycerine saddle soap (the orange packaging cant remember brand) and neatsfoot oil for 'new' stuff to soften it and on my reins because they get sweaty, wet, muddy and everything else that leather hates so need more heavy duty care.

for the rest i use hydrophane leather dressing, its brill stuff and not expensive.

[Ace87]

I used the solid Carr Day & Martin stuff, in the little circuluar tub, always have! And I use Albion's leather balm - wow it's amazing! Sometimes also used a little Gold label magic black to tart up scuffs for shows.

[BeachRiding]

While were on this subject anyone know how to get jean rubs out of a saddle?!
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/willielove/Saddle.jpg

I've tried glycerine saddle soap and leather renew.

[lauraandsolo]

they aren't jean rubs- there the rubs from your stirrup leathers.

[Soot]

Glycerine saddle soap for a wash, wipe off & allow to dry, then Naf Leather Food ... Smells sooo nice. All my leathers are like butter :D.

[chickyd444]

whats tack cleaning ? :D

[iloveshearer]

ditto above :p

Really ought to clean mine a bit more :rolleyes: I love having a synthetic saddle! :D

[BeachRiding]

they aren't jean rubs- there the rubs from your stirrup leathers.
Erm... :confused: either way, how do you get them out.... :)

[Trewsers]

I like the Belvoir saddle soap - lasts ages and ages and works well.

[Flony_Pony]

I personally dont like the sprays, i find it sticky.

We used the car day and martin solid soap (in orange packet) at work

I use Renapur leather balsam stuff. I love it, its £10 a pot but iv only ever used 2 pots in 4/5 years, and i clean my tack a fair bit - not as much as i should but i still do it!!

http://www.renapur.com/balsam.htm - the handcream is good too!!

[keep the faith]

beach riding:

unfortunately you don't get them out, Thats the problem with tan coloured saddles. If im not mistaken thats a henri de rivel? My saddle is same colour but the event style and it is now really dark where stirrup leathers have rubbed.

[No_Angel]

I use spray saddle soap, but spray it on the cloth and not the leather, neastsfoot oil on the underside of the leather as i soaks in better that way, once soaked in I polish it all with a yellow duster so its shiny.

[Portia]

uh...
weak solution of washing up liquid to shift the dirt and grease, then neatsfoot oil rubbed in and polished off.

when I remember to clean it that is :o

[baybabe]

:eek: i feel so lazy, i use that new new naf stuff, its meant to clean and soften in one. it goes on with a damp sponge and the leather comes up great, really shiny. occasionly if it rains ill use some oil.

[acw295]

Old tack - spray cleaner and conditioner for quick cleans and Stubben Hamanol for thorough cleans.

New tack - neatsfoot oil, usually 2 thin coats a few days apart then Hamanol regularly until it's softened :)

Oil everything if it gets really, really wet too so it doesn't dry out

[eml]

I was brought up tack cleaning with warm water and then oiling but lots of modern leatherwork comes with a 'do not oil' instructions.

We use gycerine bar or spray for RS tack and various 'dressings' for the competition tack.

[Chip]

It really is a bad idea to use oil on tack. I personally find sprays make leather hard. Your best choice by far is a leather feed such as Effax leather balsam, Hamanol etc.