Leather belt care

July 28, 2012 10:12 AM

I have an older leather belt that has become stiff. It's still usable, but I'd like to get it back to it's earlier, softer condition. How do I do this?
posted by chengjih to clothing, beauty, & fashion (9 answers total)

Dubbin: Really good at softening and preserving leather.
posted by HarrysDad at 10:22 AM on July 28, 2012

Dubbin or Mink Oil.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 10:27 AM on July 28, 2012 [1 favorite]

If it's stiff but not brittle or cracking, then a leather conditioner will restore suppleness. Tack shops are probably your best source here: Lexol is the big name, but there are past AskMes that recommend other, less-well-known products.
posted by holgate at 10:40 AM on July 28, 2012

Lexol is good. Whatever you use, repeated applications are key.
posted by scratch at 10:40 AM on July 28, 2012

I swear by Leather Honey for smooth leather after having used a number of leather conditioners, including those from tack shops. It is amazing at restoring dry leather with repeated applications. Available at Amazon, and the manufacturer also sells through eBay at great prices. NAYY.
posted by vers at 10:47 AM on July 28, 2012 [1 favorite]

Obenauf's is great stuff.
posted by neroli at 11:23 AM on July 28, 2012

I use Leather Honey on all of my leather items. It is great!
posted by manicure12 at 4:13 PM on July 28, 2012

I'm a big fan of Leather Therapy and Leather CPR, available at tack shops. I've used both to revive dead leather goods, from belts to halters to saddles.
posted by Dolley at 4:14 PM on July 28, 2012

I've used nearly all of the above on saddles, leather tack, boots and other leather goods. Lexol is great for things not so stiff--if you use it, you'll need repeated applications and it often leaves a tacky residue. Mink Oil also, although you need fewer repetitions.

Leather Honey and Dubbin would be my go to for this.

Be aware that this may darken the belt a bit. Oils tend to darken most, and creams keep more to the original color. Waxes will put on a protective surface and shine when used after conditioning, but I never use it on horse equipment because it stops the absorption of conditioners, and because my tack is always used hard, rain or shine, I condition it frequently. (How the heck do people ride in stiff new squeaky saddles with no patina?)

Best practice is to do this when it's hot, set the belt and the conditioner in the sun for about an hour till they are both warm. Take into the shade and rub, rub, rub, up and down the belt without bending the leather. Take it back to the sun and let it sit for a couple hours till the conditioner soaks in. If the belt's still stiff, do this for as many days as it takes to get the belt soft, allowing the conditioner to soak deep. When you see that the leather is coming to life again, you want to start bending the belt while working your rag up and down. Don't twist. You should come out with nice supple leather that you will take a clean rag and buff and polish by sliding the rag up and down until all the product has been worked in or excess removed.

When I was conditioning old leather harness for the Park Service to display in their historical collection, the old feller that was the 'expert' had us barely dampen the leather with a mist bottle. We also had to work the conditioner in with our bare hands. I've never had hands so soft and smooth before or since then.

I've never used Meguiars, but I've heard it's good. Here's a comparison online: meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?39791-Leather-Cleaner-Conditioner-Comparisons-with-pictures-!
posted by BlueHorse at 6:58 PM on July 28, 2012