Make a Homemade Leather Conditioner
Use beeswax and oils to make homemade leather conditioner. Use a small amount on a soft cloth to rub into the leather and buff it to a shine. Melt the mixture over water on medium heat, stirring constantly, until it is completely melted.
Leather Conditioners come in many forms, creams, oils, and waxes. Mink Oil, Lanolin and Neatsfoot Oil are commonly used to condition and soften leather. Mink Oil is a naturally derived substance from the mink animal and has been used for centuries to help soften leather and give the fibres flexibility.
Fetch a little bit of warm water and add a little amount of baby soap and some drops of vinegar to it. Dip a clean cloth into the mixture very well for some seconds. Wring it out strongly. Now wipe down the surface of your leather product with this damp piece of cloth and let it air-dry.
Flaxseed Oil, Coconut Oil & Petroleum Jelly
Though coconut oil would be especially good for leather furniture, flaxseed oil can do the trick as well. Petroleum Jelly is a pretty well-known product, but did you know that this, too, can be used for conditioning leather?
Prepare a conditioning solution by combining one part white vinegar with two parts linseed or mink oil. Apply with a chamois cloth in circular motions. After 10-15 minutes, rub the area with a dry chamois towel.
Apply a dime-sized amount of designated leather conditioner (like mink oil) to a soft cloth (microfiber is best but not necessary). Avoid using DIY leather care products, like olive oil or coconut oil, which can potentially harm your item. Begin rubbing the clean leather in circular motions with the cloth.
Out of all the leather oils we sampled, mink oil showed the best result, removing surface scratches and subtly darkening the tone of the leather for a uniform finish. In addition, mink oil is a natural leather softener, provides temporary waterproof resistance and improves flexibility by lubricating cracked fibres.
Using household oils — like olive oil or mink oil — on your leather will damage it. Instead, use a leather cleaning and conditioner product, like Leather Honey Leather Cleaner and Leather Honey Leather Conditioner.
Household items like vinegar and oil can be used to repair small scratches on your favorite leather goods, while glue and sub-patches can be used to fix small tears in your leather furniture.
DIY Leather Conditioner Ingredients:
- Solid Beeswax (protects the leather) - Coconut butter or Shea butter (conditions the leather) - Sweet almond oil (softens & moisturizes the leather) - substitute grapeseed oil if you have a nut allergy. - Castor oil (shines the leather)
You may get darker leather if you use coconut oil, albeit temporarily. But what it's best known for is leaving a spotty, patch-like appearance to the leather and sticky feeling. Treating leather with coconut oil does have a few upsides: it will soften the leather and provide a thin layer of waterproof protection.
Beeswax Rejuvenates, Nourishes, and Protects Leather
If you've been wondering how to protect leather boots, beeswax leather dressing is your answer! Beeswax is not just for waterproofing boots; it also improves their durability by rejuvenating and hardening the leather.
Rub some saddle soap, mink oil, shaving cream, coconut oil, or neatsfoot oil on your shoes with a clean towel to soften them. You should let the shoe soak in the oil for a few minutes. It is possible to reapply if the results do not meet your expectations.
Use a leather conditioner, it will help repair dried leather, reduce visibility of scratches, and help to keep the leather looking as good as new. If you don't have leather conditioner on hand, use body lotion as a substitute.
Another inexpensive way to condition leather is to use a hair conditioner. Just squeeze some conditioner onto a small cloth and rub it into the leather. You should be careful to avoid getting the hair conditioner onto the shoe part that will be worn against the skin.
WD-40 not only adds moisture to your leather furniture but also softens them and leaves a protective layer on top. That way, your armchair or couch is less likely to absorb oils and dirt as you use it, and it won't stain as easily.
Neatsfoot oil, lanolin, almond oil, and mink oil are best for softening your leather. All of these are natural oils that moisturize leather, keeping it from drying and cracking. The fats in these natural oils will deeply moisturize the hide in leather products. Use neatsfoot oil for quick fixes.
Lanolin-based leather oil
This oil is well-regarded for the way it conditions and softens. It is derived from the natural sebum of sheep and is great for dry or brittle leather goods. It can be highly effective at restoring shine and suppleness.
Everyone has natural body oils present on their skin. These oils are helpful to your body, but made up of salts, enzymes, and acids that unfortunately can be damaging to leather over time. As body oils build up on leather furniture from daily use, those oils can build up and weaken the fibers of leather.
Mix two cups of warm water, a tablespoon of natural baby soap and a splash of vinegar in a bowl. Use a microfiber cloth to rub the conditioning mixture into the leather, making sure not to soak the area. Simply moisten the leather and leave the conditioner on the furniture.
Another simple, inexpensive leather conditioner can be made by mixing 2 cups warm water, one tablespoon of natural baby soap, and a splash of vinegar. Use a cloth to rub the conditioner into the leather but again, don't soak. The baby soap contains gentle oils that will help to both clean and condition your leather.