Factual Leather Care
This page is dedicated to facts I compile across the internet regarding everything leather care. I understand that the internet is mostly filled with misinformation and conflicting evidence so what is displayed on this page is to the best of my knowledge true and unbiased!
My Mission
Beyond my products, there is my dedication to better understanding what leather needs and what it doesn't. Anyone that sells a leather care product, I would think, should understand more scientifically what leather actually needs.
The internet is abundant with misinformation, from generalized articles based on word-of-mouth knowledge and forums of people that "have done this for __ years with no problems."
Where is the truth?
I try my best to scour the swamps of the internet to find science-based information on EVERY aspect of leather, from the chemical composition and stability of my ingredients to the pH values of leather. You can find that information here! This is an ongoing page, so it may be pretty empty for a while!
I hope it serves you well!
Oxidation
Oxidative damage in leather is certainly a debatable topic. However, its important to stress the potential damage that oxidation can pose to your leather.
All oils have levels of oxidative stability based on their chemical structure. Saturated fats have the longest fatty-acid chains, and are therefore the most stable, while polyunsaturated fats have the least, making them highly prone to rancidity.
Saddle Soap
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Saddle Soap is necessary for the cleaning of dirty leather, however not so much for the protection and lubrication of leather fibers. It's often advertised as a leather protector, however the use of soap for this purpose ALONE is damaging to leather. The water used to lather soap greatly outweighs the amount of oils within soap, replacing natural oils found in leather with water, leading to dried out leather.
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Soap is also much more alkaline than leather, causing further damage over time when used alone. These factors suggest that an application of leather balm afterwards is considerably important. It helps restore pH values to normal ranges for leather and remoisturize fibers.
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It's also important to note that the more excess oils and waxes you add, the less suds and lather you get. This also affects pH value, but you can't make a pH balanced soap unlike many sources may suggest. Saddle soap should be formulated around minimizing damage to leather while maintaining the properties of soap.
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I'm not about scare-mongering or causing unnecessary anxiety. Leather can withstand years of abuse without falling apart for a reason, so soap, water and lack of oils won't cause irreversible damage over night! It's important for long term life however.
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I've done countless of hours of research, scouring through as much scientific data that I can find, not "professional opinions," so that I can better understand the leather care at a deeper level. All information I present is to the best of knowledge factual and here to provide honest and simplified information for your convenience.
Thanks for reading, I hope this helps you feel better about leather care! If you have questions, please contact me here!