A couple of weeks ago, we visited a customer for a leather cleaning and conditioning job. The customer had been maintaining the leather on his own. He had proudly been cleaning it with an “all natural” leather cleaning product designed for horse saddles and bridals. Otherwise known as saddle soap. This type of a cleaning product is designed for horse tack and boots.
Unfortunately, horse tack is made from vegetable tanned and sometimes oil tanned leather. These leathers are extremely durable, they are water resistant. They are made from thick and stiff pieces of leather, and they are designed to be cleaned and oiled regularly.
Furniture, in most cases, has none of these qualities. Your furniture is usually a chromium tanned piece of a much thinner consistency, and is generally not waterproof (it might be water resistant) or extraordinarily durable. It is designed to act like fabric. It’s supposed to be soft and pliable. So it’s only reasonable that a cleaning product designed for something waterproof, durable and very tough and thick is not going to be appropriate for a leather that has very different qualities on the more delicate side.
Unfortunately, for many people who purchase leather furniture, their furniture doesn’t come with warnings about the problems that can result from improper care. As I’ve stated before - people just assume that they can buy leather and it’s going to last - they don’t do their research or maintain their furniture. When something happens, they react and ignorantly take matters into their own hands. The attempt to DIY and save money ends up costing dearly.
The problem with saddle soap on leather furniture:
1. Too Harsh for Delicate Leather Finishes
- Saddle soap was originally designed for thick, rugged leather like saddles, boots, and tack—not the more delicate and finished leathers used on furniture.
- Furniture leather often has a protective coating or dye that can be stripped or dulled by saddle soap.
2. Can Dry Out Leather
- Saddle soap contains cleaning agents and mild abrasives that can strip natural oils from the leather if not followed by proper conditioning.
- Without replenishing those oils with a good leather conditioner, the leather may become dry, stiff, or even crack over time.
3. Residue Buildup
- If not thoroughly wiped off, saddle soap can leave behind a sticky residue or film, which can attract dust and grime.
4. Potential for Discoloration
- On light-colored or aniline leathers (which are more absorbent), saddle soap can darken or stain the surface.
Once you read this, and then look at the photos, you can see that it did exactly what was predicted.
Lesson learned and I figured it is a great opportunity to try to prevent this mistake for others.
If you are looking for good products to clean and condition your leather furniture, contact our office for suggestions and assistance. We are always here to answer your questions and help you in the best way possible.
Happy Cleaning!
