All About Saddle Soap On Your Boots (How, What, Why)

Using saddle soap to clean the leather boots is not a new concept. People have been using it for cleaning leather goods like saddles, tucks and boots since the 18^th century. But if you ask me if using a saddle soap on your boots for cleaning is good or not, I must say, it depends on how do you use the saddle soap on your boots.

A majority of people has an impression that it is a bad practice. Yes, it definitely is and kills the charm and life of your boots every time you use a saddle soap on them.

But, on the other hand, if used right, it can retain health and develop youthfulness of the leather for a longer period of time.

I explain both of the aspects here. Read on to know them and decide yourself if you want to place it in your boot cleaning kit or not.

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Is Saddle Soap Good For The Leather Boots Or Not?

It is a controversial topic, mostly, because of lack of data. Let me introduce you what happens when a leather and saddle soap comes into contact.

Water has a grade of 7 at PH scale and that is considered as a neutral point. Any substance with PH level higher than 7 is considered of an Alkaline nature. On the other hand, any substance with a PH-Level lower than 7 is considered of an Acidic nature.

Leather has a grade of 5 that means its an acidic substance. On the other hand, as a saddle soap is a mixture of many ingredients it doesn’t have a fixed PH Level but it remains at anywhere between 9-10 and that makes it an alkaline substance.

So what does that mean?

When an acidic and an alkaline substance comes into contact, a reaction occurs. Both tries to neutralize each other and it’s a strong reaction. As the intensity of saddle soap is higher so it overcomes the neutralization process.

As a result, it end up with harming the surface of the boots, damaging the leather and weakening the stitches. Overall, every time you use a saddle soap on your boots, you are killing them.

Additionally, the saddle soap is made of some mild soap ingredients in it, some cleaning oils like lanolin, and has some added wax to provide an extra layer of protection. All these things are rich in fatty acids that is used to provide some extra shine to the leather.

This extra shine is so apparent that it hides the damages that a saddle soap make to the shoes. As a result, you are unable to find that the boots are getting deteriorated. But under the hood, the leather is loosing its integrity and soon there will be the need for a new pair.

So That Means Saddle Soap Is Bad For The Leather Boots?

Umm. Can’t say like that. Although I mentioned a few reasons that how using saddle soap can affect the life of your boots and you should put yourself off of using it, but, at the same time, I can’t refuse that it enhance the instant look, shine and charm of the shoes.

There is always a right and a wrong way to do a job and using saddle soap is not an exception.

You can attain the shiny boots while avoiding the harsh impact of the saddle soap, only if you do it the right way. Let me show you how:

Of course, it contains some soap and dries the leather out but think it the other way.

Basically, our skin is also a leather. Don’t we ever use any soap on our face or body? Yes, we do in order to deep clean the skin. But, that’s not all. We further nurtures it with some nourishing creams or lotions. Just do the same for your shoes.

Here is a video well explains what and how should you use to protect your shoes and Why saddle soap can be a good option

Don’t use the saddle soap as a lone cleaner to your shoes but as a part of cleaning kit. After using it, just apply some nourishing cream or polish to the boot’s leather. Like a living human skin, boot’s leather can’t replenish its moistures itself so you have to use some nourishing cream.

If you do it this way, there won’t be any adverse impact on the lather’s look or life and you will get a well-cleaned, extra shiny boots.

MODERN SADDLE SOAPS – AN EASY ALTERNATIVE

The myth that saddle soaps kill the life of the leather took place because the earlier products, available during the 18th-19th century were only meant for cleaning the saddles.A Saddle is made up of very hard leather. So the soap was manufactured keeping softening the Saddle in mind. That’s why, the earlier products were very harsh. Once you use them on a less-harder leather like boot’s, it will produce disastrous results.Nowadays, many reputed brands have launched Saddle Soap Products that are carefully formulated keeping soft leathers like regular leather boots, cowboy boots, jackets, car seats etc. in the centre.

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The Alkaline nature of modern products is not much aggressive. On top of that, additional nourishing elements are already added within the product so as if the soap does any harm to the leather, the same is replenished, immediately, by the other ingredient of the product itself.

To further ease it down, I am here with some selected best Saddle Soap Products that you can just pick and apply without worrying much about the possible damage to your shoe.

The concern has been taken care of by the manufacturer itself:

Saddle Soap: All Natural Leather Cleaner by Otter Wax: 5oz Tin

That’s my favourite. A perfect blend of all natural ingredients- beeswax, castile soap and other essential oils for leather cleaning and nourishing.

The soap is far away from any harsh ingredients like chemicals, toxics, silicone and petroleum. That minimizes the chances chances of any damage to the leather in terms of colour-fading.

It cleans the leather shoes gently, makes it water-resistant, restores the moisture and resuscitates the strength.

You might experience that the product darkens the colour of the leather but that is temporary and the pair retains it’s original colour soon. The product is tough on dirt, easy on leather and friendly with your pocket.

There is no reason to hesitate using Saddle Soap made by Otter Wax.

Fiebing’s Yellow Saddle Soap, 12 Oz

Made in USA, following the high manufacturing standards. You can’t find the cleaning quality of this product in any of it’s competitive products.

It is formulated with an emphasise to provide the leather with suppleness and strength. It prevents the leather from any brittleness or fragility and removes even the finest dust mites.

The soap lubricates the fibres and eliminates any crispness. Fiebing’s Yellow Saddle Soap, 12 Oz. is formulated as a yellow-coloured paste. If you usually get stubborn stains on your boots then don’t look past this saddle soap.

You have two buying options: Either buy one pack or subscribe for monthly purchase. The later offers good discounts.

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Kiwi Saddle Soap, 3-1/8 Oz

Do you think Kiwi needs any endorsement in terms of quality. If it’s Kiwi, it must be good.

Obviously, a pretty quality saddle soap product with added quality wax. The wax not only makes your shoes water resistant but stain-resistant as well. Additionally, it prevents salt or dust finding the way to deep inside the leather pores.

Even if, you use the Kiwi Saddle Soap on some old boots, they will regain their shine and charm as some essential oils are used as the ingredients that nourishes the leather.

The product resolves a big problem. Although every saddle soap cleans dirt and germs but some left the soap ingredients into the leather pores that weakens it over the time.

Kiwi Soap is soft and flushes away on its own. That gives it an edge over other products.

How And How Often To Use Saddle Soap On Boots

Steps

1. Remove any excessive dirt or mud from the leather surface using a polish brush.

2. Rub a moist cloth on the soap surface to develop some lather.

3. Apply the soap, using the soft cloth, on the whole surface.

4. In case there is some sort of uneven pattern design on the boots, the cloth won’t reach to the deep. Instead, use a soft brush to apply the soap.

5. Let it dry overnight.

6. Next morning, just clean the surface with a moist cloth.

7. Buff it further to develop some shine and lustre.

8. Use the saddle soap on your boots once or twice in a month.

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Here below an instructive video on how to use saddle soap on boots 

FINAL ADVICE

The conclusion is pretty much obvious. People of earlier centuries have had a bad experience with using saddle soap on their boot’s leather. Reason being? There were not such products that were meant for shoe leathers. The same impression continued among the community and still remains there.Most of the people today, who advise against using a saddle soap, have never used it themselves and are just forwarding what they were got told.Honestly, I am not an Anti-Saddle-Soap guy and advise you not to be one. Just use it but make sure choosing a reputed brand’s product is crucial.Just use it without any fear and your shoes will be OK. Nothing to scare about.