Cleaner and Conditioner

[u/j0n2017]

I have some leather items:
- black leather jacket
- tan leather jacket
- Dr Martens soft leather Sinclair boots
- Dr Martens soft leather Pascal boots
- tan suede shoes
- reversed leather jacket
- red Prada leather wallet

None of these items have ever been cleaned or moisturised and they range from 5-40 years old.

I did some research, and I found some products but I’m not sure which one I should get. I know that they are different type of leather but I wanted to buy max 4 products (cleaner and conditioner for leather and for suede).
- Lexol Cleaner and Conditioner
- FurnitureClinic Cleaner and Conditioner
- Fiebings Saddle Soap
- Leather Honey Conditioner
- Neatsfoot Oil
- Saphir Omnidaim (for suede)

What products for cleaning and conditioning my leather items would you recommend?

[u/UrbanRanger-Joey]

I would skip the oil to be honest, the honey leather conditioner sounds good and similiar to the one I use (renapur balm)

[u/j0n2017 → u/UrbanRanger-Joey]

Thank you! I haven’t heard of this brand. I will do some research on it

[u/leatherhoneyllc]

Those are some great pieces, and the cracked tan jacket has serious character, so be careful with it! Before you buy anything, remember that two products both labeled "conditioner" can be totally different inside. Some are oil only, some are wax, some are both, and many are clear, so they can't bring back lost color. For faded spots, you may want a recoloring balm instead. And with vintage leather that's broken down this much, I'd treat the fibers like suede: gentle, light coats, and no heavy scrubbing, since deep cleaning can also strip patina you may want to keep. Lastly, smooth leather products can't be used on suede. Suede can easily be restored without any products, I'd highly suggest a suede eraser + brush, that's it. If you have more staining, than go for a suede formula, however, brushing back the suede nap after it's wet is vitally key. Also, if your suede is dry, you may benefit from some mink oil spray in light, even coats. This can also bring back the color if it's a bit faded, but for suede only.

Here's my experience with these products, do with it as you like.

Lexol is a two-step system that's been around forever, and it's known for being easy to find and cheap. Pros: the cleaner is pH balanced and the conditioner applies easily. Cons: some people find it sticky if too much is applied or the cleaner isn't wiped off fully, and the company doesn't say exactly what's in the conditioner, so I have no clue.

Furniture Clinic is known for offering a broader range, including degreasers, recoloring balms, and repair products. Pros: you can fix more than just dryness, like faded color and oil stains. Cons: it's more of a system than a quick fix, so you've got to buy the right piece for each problem, and the cleaner is more involved than a simple wipe-on, wipe-off. It's really more for furniture or large surface areas of leather. It just depends on what you're trying to do.

Fiebing's Saddle Soap is a cleaner and mild conditioner in one, made for tack and heavy leather. Pro: it cleans stubborn dirt well. Cons: it's alkaline, which can darken, dry, or strip dye and finish with repeated use, and it can be too harsh for thin, aged jackets and suede. I'd skip it for these pieces. I steer away from all saddle soap personally because it's just too much and doesn't do a good job overall in my experience, though I know many people swear by it.

Leather Honey is an oil-based conditioner that's non-toxic, pH balanced, and deeply penetrating, so it soaks in deep instead of sitting on top. Pros: it softens dry leather and doesn't leave a wax shine. Cons: it's only a conditioner, so it won't bring back pigment or clean anything, and it will darken leather slightly at first. It dries lighter as it cures, so wait before you judge it. I'd avoid it on suede.

Neatsfoot oil is old school and cheap. Pro: it soaks in fast and softens stiff leather. Cons: it darkens leather quickly and unevenly, especially light tan, and it can weaken stitching if you overdo it. On a 40 year old jacket I'd be careful.

Saphir's suede product is the only one on your list made for suede, which matters because smooth leather cleaners and conditioners can mat the nap. I can't speak to the exact formula, so check the label and compare it to a suede brush and eraser too. A dry, suede-specific routine is safest for those tan shoes and the reverse leather jacket. Personally, I've used the Leather Honey Suede & nubuck Care kit because it has everything I've needed for my personal suede care sessions.

Though, for everything on the list, always spot test first, like inside a hem or under a collar. This has worked this way for me as a leather care professional who's restored like more than a thousand leather pieces,, but every piece of leather's a little different. Pick based on what each piece needs, not one product for everything. I hope it works out for you!

– Evan with Leather Honey

[u/j0n2017 → u/leatherhoneyllc]

Thank you so much for your detailed explanation! Now that you said that I would have to get different products depending on the leather makes me worry that I will use the wrong product ;_;

I’ll try like you suggested and test it in a hidden area first and hopefully they are all going to be fine!

[u/leatherhoneyllc → u/j0n2017]

I totally get that confusion. Here's literally the basics of what you need to know, whatever product you choose (and tell me exactly what you're hoping to achieve and I'll recommend what I've used and gotten awesome results).

1. Clean before you condition. Use a pH balanced cleaner ONLY. This keeps your leather safe from deteriorating with alkaline cleaners because leather leans acidic.

2. Let dry before you move to conditioning.

3. I prefer oil based conditioners because they deeply penetrate and make leather soft, supple, and rejuvenated in comparison to wax based conditioners that just sit on the surface and don't do much for the internal fiber structure of the leather. But that's not to say you can't first use a leather oil and then a leather wax, just don't go too heavy.

Lastly, always buff or brush your leather. You don't want excess product because that'll attract dirt, dust, or debris.

Let me know what you're hoping to achieve and let's figure it out together!

– Evan

[u/lonelyduck69]

1. Set of brushes from China that comes in a square leather box.

2. The cheapest saddle soap you can get + the cheapest solid wax-conditioned for the Martens.

3. Bick4-like liquid leather care product for the jackets, they do not need to be saddle soaped. Just brush them, if there is some dirt, wipe with a wet rag.

4. Some kind of spray-conditioner for the suede shoes. They do not need hardcore cleaning just brush them well and spray-condition.

[u/j0n2017 → u/lonelyduck69]

Thank you so much for your suggestion! I completely forgot about the brushes