My saddle looks grey when I use glycerin

[LoveToJump]

What am I doing wrong? I have two saddles. One is a brown jump saddle that turns a greyish color when I try to clean it with glycerin. I have used water and a little soap, water and a lot of soap. I want it to look nice, but, it never does. I also have lederbalsam that I put on after I clean it.

My second saddle is a black dressage saddle. This one doesn't look grey, but, it never looks really shiny.

And I have a bridle that is made from inexpensive leather (guessing on this) and is quite old. I cannot afford a new one. I cannot get this to look good. The leather is soft, but, it too has a greyish cast to it.

Help please!!!

[bort84]

Well, I've started to avoid glycerine soap. It leaves a residue that can look nice if really shined up, but it also tends to turn into a greyish sticky residue when it comes in contact with moisture (hard to avoid in the sweaty summer).

I would try a different routine. In general, after your ride, just wipe your saddle down with a damp cloth (damp, not soaked). Avoid using plain oil for conditioning, and try a cleanser without glycerine in it when you want a deap clean (not necessary daily or even weekly). I like Effax Combi for a cleaner. Then you can follow with a conditioner if you like (avoid straight oil). Leather Therapy makes some nice conditioners, and some of the lederbalsams are nice too.

I also recently got a beeswax top coat that helps seal in the conditioner and keep unwanted moisture out until your next cleaning. I think it's Bee Natural Leather Finish. It will polish to a nice shine = )

So, to start, try a nice deep clean with a non glycerine soap. Make sure you always get ALL the soap out when you clean your saddle. Don't let it dry on. When you clean, use a cleanser, get all the dirty soap off, then you can follow with a conditioner if your leather needs additional conditioning.

[Trixie]

Are you using a lot of water?

[LoveToJump]

Are you using a lot of water?

I guess that depends on what you consider a lot. I have done just a bit and didn't get any lather (which I was told that I am supposed to get lather) and then I did more water. So, I probably have run the gamut of 'how much water' I have used.

Why? Do you think I am using too much water?

[Trixie]

I don't know.

But I know that when it's humid out and you slap a lot of wetness onto a piece of leather, sometimes it looks more dull than it otherwise would.

Maybe try castile soap and see how that works? It's super cheap.

As for the bridle, you could try redying it with Fiebing's leather dye. Just make sure it won't bleed onto your horse.

[Seal Harbor]

I guess that depends on what you consider a lot. I have done just a bit and didn't get any lather (which I was told that I am supposed to get lather) and then I did more water. So, I probably have run the gamut of 'how much water' I have used.

Why? Do you think I am using too much water?

You are not supposed to get a lather with glycerine, ever. It goes on as a protective coating after your tack is clean. It is not cleaning "soap", I use castile soap for that.

Wipe tack off after every use with damp (not wet) sponge or wash cloth, then make paste on a less damp sponge of glycerine, the sponge will be shiny where the paste is, apply to all surfaces of tack, you may buff with a towel when done.

Water is not a friend to leather. Did you ever oil this tack when you first got it?

[LoveToJump]

You are not supposed to get a lather with glycerine, ever. It goes on as a protective coating after your tack is clean. It is not cleaning "soap", I use castile soap for that.

Wipe tack off after every use with damp (not wet) sponge or wash cloth, then make paste on a less damp sponge of glycerine, the sponge will be shiny where the paste is, apply to all surfaces of tack, you may buff with a towel when done.

Water is not a friend to leather. Did you ever oil this tack when you first got it?


All of my tack is used! So, what happened to it prior to me...I do not know. My trainer actually told me to use glycerine to clean. I am definitely buying castille!!!

I do use lederbalsam after I clean (what I thought was clean) it.

I am so glad that you guys are setting me straight. I can't wait to do it the correct way.

[Trixie]

Are you using lederbalsam after every time you clean?

If you're overconditioning, this could also cause dullness and yuck.

If your tack is relatively soft and in good shape when you bought it, it was probably oiled properly. If it feels dry or stiff, it wasn't.