Leather cleaning & care?

**Korea** · 19th November 2005, 03:46

Just cleaning the splattered bugs and road grime off my leathers.
Need some advice and a quick search turned up nothing...

What's the best method for cleaning and after-cleaning care?
Soap and water? Wire brush? Dubbin? Ear wax? Mink oil?

**SixPackBack** · 19th November 2005, 05:47

Warm water and soap for cleanup, avoid getting the leathers to wet, I use a combination of my fingernails and soaking for the crusty bits. Once dry apply 'mothers leather conditioner' with a rag, rub it into the leathers and wipe excess away.
The primary component of 'mothers' is lanolin, if 'mothers is not available in Korea.

Your leathers are now clean, shiny and soft.

**Pixie** · 19th November 2005, 10:58

Originally Posted by Korea

Just cleaning the splattered bugs and road grime off my leathers.
Need some advice and a quick search turned up nothing...

What's the best method for cleaning and after-cleaning care?
Soap and water? Wire brush? Dubbin? Ear wax? Mink oil?

weasel water-soak 1 weasel for 6 months and drain into goblet.
A leather manufacturer recommended Neopol furniture polish to condition the leather after cleaning.I also use Jay-el Beeswax leather dressing

**sunhuntin** · 19th November 2005, 11:10

i use neopol as well, and have also been told to put my leathers out in full sun and let the pores open up and then rub vaseline into them...this helps soften and also waterproof them...havent tried it yet, but likely will once the sun is really here to stay.

**ducatilover** · 19th November 2005, 19:50

Originally Posted by Korea

Just cleaning the splattered bugs and road grime off my leathers.
Need some advice and a quick search turned up nothing...

What's the best method for cleaning and after-cleaning care?
Soap and water? Wire brush? Dubbin? Ear wax? Mink oil?

never never never use dubin, it softens the leather.

i have some 'elephant wax' that waterproofs it for a few hours riding

**Mental Trousers** · 19th November 2005, 22:04

Shaving foam and a damp cloth. The shaving foam is a very mild soap/detergent that isn't strong enough to damage things

**Katman** · 19th November 2005, 22:45

Nikwax. Smear it on and use a hair dryer to warm it up. Watch the leather soak it up!

**Jackrat** · 20th November 2005, 06:32

I use saddle oil,have done for years.
It softens the bugs an they just wipe off as your wiping the oil on.

**Korea** · 22nd November 2005, 13:20

Some great advice - thanks all.

I've heard that as leather gets older it dries out and is more prone to tears etx. I also read on one website that keeping it young and supple can be done with moisturiser (like Vaseline Intensive Care hand cream) which is supposed to get soaked up by the leather and doesn't clog the pores like Dubbin can.
But then I get to thinking, what about if you've got coloured leathers? Aren't the 'pores' already clogged from the paint? Are they full of BS?
Apparently supple is also stronger.

http://www.davidmorgan.com/leathercare.html
http://kyky.essortment.com/leathercaretip_rico.htm
http://IforgetthelastplaceIwaslooking...

**Matt Bleck** · 22nd November 2005, 13:27

I like bug splatter, looks like you've been riding hard out!

**Devil** · 22nd November 2005, 13:50

Originally Posted by Korea

Some great advice - thanks all.

I've heard that as leather gets older it dries out and is more prone to tears etx. I also read on one website that keeping it young and supple can be done with moisturiser (like Vaseline Intensive Care hand cream) which is supposed to get soaked up by the leather and doesn't clog the pores like Dubbin can.
But then I get to thinking, what about if you've got coloured leathers? Aren't the 'pores' already clogged from the paint? Are they full of BS?
Apparently supple is also stronger.

http://www.davidmorgan.com/leathercare.html
http://kyky.essortment.com/leathercaretip_rico.htm
http://IforgetthelastplaceIwaslooking...

Thats correct, it does dry out. I can at least recommend Mothers Leather Conditioner for at least the car seats! Haven't tried it on my leathers though.

**venam** · 21st July 2009, 19:04

my mom always get's this stuff at wlmart in the cleaning area and it is called i frogot the name but it say's on it clean leather hardwood floors and bathroom floor please that is the best thing to do if you ask me or more updates on this site http://www.chemdryclean.co.uk/ofliverpool

**Owl** · 21st July 2009, 19:14

Baby wipes!

**mitch.ww** · 21st July 2009, 20:25

slightly off topic but what about cleaning the inside?? The jacket i have now has been sitting around for a while and i have cleaned and conditioned the outside so the leather is nice and supple again like has been described here but the inside has a musty smell and i've tried a few ways to get it out all to no avail.. Any chance I could just turn it inside out and have the inside dry cleaned?? or is that a big

??