From the handbook of one of the largest
Car/Truck manufacturers OF Leather to be
made into seat covers for the automotive market:
The Myth of Saddle Soap
In the late 1800s the final tanning of
leather required the talents of a "currier".
This crafstman took the tanned, but brittle
hide and worked oils into it until the desired
flexability was obtained. This process was
called fatliquoring. The fatliquor of choice
was an emulsion of oil in soap. This "Saddle
Soap" was not used as a cleaner. It was a
softening conditioner.
In fact, saddle soap is a very poor cleaner.
It must first desolve in its own oils, limiting its
capacity to desolve dirt and oils in the leather.
Saddle soap is also inherently alkaline but
alkalinity is damaging to leather. Another
problem arises during application. Most
saddle soaps instruct the user to work the
lather into the leather. Since loosened
dirt is then suspended into the leather, it is
pushed back into the leather's pores.
Saddle soaps have long been replaced in tanneries
by modern emulsions which penetrate, soften and
condition with greater ease and stablility. The
popular myth of saddle soap as a cleaner however
persists as modern folklore.
Sandy back:
Use Dove CLEANSING cream SOAP, bought in a
food market for under $1.00 and send ME, the
additional $24.00 you are willing to drop on some
quick fix, miracle, "IN" product that promises
the world, and delivers nothing, that "everybody"
uses. There is no "spray on ~ wipe off" 10-second
miracle leather cleaner, that will astound you
with miraclous results. BTW, I said 16 Oz. of water,
BUT I MEANT TO SAY 12 OZ. of water. Let it
desolve for 2 complete days, in a CLEAN PLASTIC
bucket. Use a small sponge, that is easy for you to work
with, and control. Squeeze out the excess water,
so it doesn't run all over. Use circular & lifting motions.
Work on a small section at a time. Again for control !
With patience and proper application you should be
pleased.
When it's clean, and I mean CLEAN, and the weather is
NOT damp outside, and you have done a final damp paper-
towel wipe off to rid the surface of all soap residue....
(this is important) - then, and only then - get yourself
a roll of ether VIVA or BOUNTY paper towels (the highest
content of cotten paper towels, means the softest)
and a can of spray PLEDGE. Spray an area no larger
then 1 person sits in, from a height of 12 inches with
a fine mist spray of Pledge (Brown Can - NO damn LEMON)!
Immediately (no waiting) wipe off the Pledge with the Viva
paper towel, turning the towel to the dry side, or taking
new, to "wipe up" the Pledge.
Now.....
Pledge has the finest ingredients to protect the leather.
Nothing equals it.....NOTHING! It has Vitimin "E", Aloe
Vera, Lanolin, Silicone, and liquified cold cream in it.
It puts a layer of all these wonderful softeners and
protectants between FUTURE dirt and your leather.
It will make the surface soft to the touch, and smooth.
NEVER use it until YOU are satisfied with the cleaning
results. Once you use the Pledge, you will not be able
to clean off any left behind dirt. Your results should
bring you something like my 1993 Sixty Special's seats:-
.
