Saddle soaps are a blend of lanolin, glycerin, and other cleansing ingredients used to keep leather clean. Saddle soap does not have to be only used for saddles and tack gear, but any leather product.
Be sure to follow the directions on the container or manufacturer website to have the best results.
How We Reviewed
We reviewed this product by looking at all the products on the market and checking customer reviews, which are helpful to know how the product works for people in their daily activities. Companies can post how products are supposed to work; however, those descriptions can be overblown or exaggerated at times to make the product sound better than it is.
Also, customer reviews for products like saddle soap often have pictures with them to show how the product transformed after using it. These comments and photographs are constructive to determine the legitimacy of the claims.
Therefore, we reviewed many manufacturer claims against the consumer reviews to come up with our top 8 list of saddle soap brands.
Product | RATING | PRICE |
|---|---|---|
Fiebing’s Yellow Saddle Soap | ||
Kiwi Saddle Soap | ||
Fiebing’s Glycerine Saddle Soap | ||
Bickmore Saddle Soap | ||
Otterwax Saddle Soap | ||
Stübben Glycerin Saddle Soap | ||
TLC Saddle Soap and Conditioner | ||
Oakwood Liquid Saddle Soa |
Top 8 Saddle Soap Brands
Fiebing’s Yellow Saddle Soap
This is a paste-type soap that contains sodium tallowate and gum rosin. It cleans and lubricates leather to make it supple and prevent it from becoming brittle. It is wholly formed in the USA and comes in a 12-ounce metal container.
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$ |
Kiwi Saddle Soap
This is a paste soap that contains lanolin, wax, and glycerine. It comes in a 3.125-ounce container and helps to preserve, clean, and soften leather products.
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Fiebing’s Glycerine Saddle Soap
This is a bar soap that contains deionized water, glycerin, Cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine, and potassium oleate soap. The soap can be applied using a brush or soft cloth for best results. It comes in a 7-ounce bar.
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$ |
Bickmore Saddle Soap
This is a paste soap made from glycerin and lanolin. This soap is also applied using a natural bristle brush, like others on the list. It comes in a 2.8 ounce or 6.5-ounce tin. The company recommends following up any leather care cleaning by using a leather conditioner.
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Otterwax Saddle Soap
This is a paste soap made from a blend of castile soap, beeswax, and essential oils like lemongrass. The company that makes this product is located in Portland, Oregon, and creates the product by hand. It comes in a 2-ounce or 5-ounce tin.
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$ |
Stübben Glycerin Saddle Soap
This is a glycerin-based paste soap made in Germany by the company that produces Stübben saddles. It comes in a 9.4-ounce plastic container or 15.9-ounce tub
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TLC Saddle Soap and Conditioner
This soap is made from human-grade ingredients, such as goat milk. It can be found packaged 12-ounce plastic containers in three different scents: lavender, ruby red grapefruit, and green apple.
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$ |
Oakwood Liquid Saddle Soap
This soap is in liquid form and contains glycerin. It is formulated to maintain a neutral PH balance. This helps the product not to leave any residue after use and not leave the leather sticky to touch. It comes in a 16.6-ounce plastic container.
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$$ |
Saddle soap was developed initially to clean the leather on saddles and other tack gear. Over time, saddle soap has evolved into a useful cleaner for any type of leather product including shoes, sneakers, purses, and furniture.
Leather is very sturdy but needs to be cleaned and conditioned to keep it in its best shape. There are cleaners specifically called “leather cleaners,” but the original way to clean leather was with saddle soap.
There are many different brands on the market today that use traditional ingredients. Those who would like all-natural ingredients can also find a product to suit their needs.
However, different brands sometimes have more harsh ingredients than another, so it is good to get to know the different brands of saddle soap before making a purchasing decision. You may have to contact the manufacturer to find out all of the ingredients in the soap, as some websites do not contain the information.
Another way to find out ingredients is to look for the manufacturer's data sheets given out to emergency medical personnel in case of accidental poisoning.
Some saddle soaps are made with lye, which is a caustic cleaner. You may want to avoid products with lye as it can accidentally damage leather if not used correctly.
Moreover, once you do buy the soap, be sure to test it in an inconspicuous spot to ensure that it will not harm whatever you might be using it on.
Saddle Soap FAQ
What is saddle soap? It is a cleaner specifically designed to clean and protect leather goods.
Where can I buy saddle soap? Most stores that carry soap will also carry saddle soap because of its versatility. These items can also be purchased online through the company website or Amazon.
Will saddle soap darken the leather? If used correctly, saddle soap should not darken the leather. You will want to thoroughly read the directions and any warnings on the label and the manufacturers website to ensure proper use.
Will I damage my leather shoes or handbags if I clean them using saddle soap? No. You will not harm the items, and you should be able to use most saddle soaps on any leather product. However, you will want to follow all of the directions to ensure that you do not accidentally damage the leather.
Why can’t I see all of the ingredients in the specific product? Most companies have proprietary lists of components that are company secrets. They do not want people replicating their products or other companies knowing what is in the mix. However, this puts consumers at a disadvantage, especially if you have some allergy to specific products often used in soap. The best way to find out about allergens or ingredients is to contact the company directly.
Is saddle soap the only thing I need to clean leather? Most manufacturers recommend following up a soap cleaning with oils and conditioners to keep the leather looking and feeling soft.
How do I use saddle soap? Here are some general directions for using saddle soap on your saddle, tack, or leather goods
Prepare the leather for cleaning by removing any metal from the leather if it can come off. For horse tack, you do not want your horse to ingest any soap residue left on the bit accidentally.
Wipe the leather with a damp, but not wet, cloth to remove any surface dirt. You do not want to rub dirt into the leather that could mar the finish. This preparation also opens the pores of the leather for cleaning.
Allow the leather to dry completely before using the saddle soap.
Using lukewarm water, apply the soap to a damp sponge and start to scrub using a circular motion. A toothbrush or small bristled brush would also be helpful to get into smaller crevasses.
Using a clean, soft cloth, wipe off all the soap from the leather.
Afterward, treat the leather with a leather conditioner to keep it nice and soft.
Price Range
The size of the package is a small factor in cost; however, the type of ingredients will be the primary determinant.
Additionally, the higher priced products seem to have gentler cleaning ingredients, whereas the more traditional components found in different kinds of soap are less expensive. If you aren’t sure which saddle soap you would like to use, purchase a smaller container and test it.
Overall, the cost for saddle soap is inexpensive enough to try a few different small samples to see which works best.
Verdict
According to our investigation, the best all-natural soap on our list seems to be the Otter Saddle Soap for its combination of price and non-toxic ingredients. The best glycerine-based soap, according to customer reviews, is the Fiebing’s Glycerine Saddle Soap bar.
Finally, saddle soaps have been around for a long time and are made from proprietary ingredient lists such that only some of the main ingredients are known to consumers. There are a few different types of soap bases including lanolin and glycerin that are mainly used by companies.
Some all-natural brands try to use only products that would be safe for human consumption.
Whichever product you choose to use, be sure to read all of the directions so that your leather comes out looking the best that it can.
Also, many people make the mistake of never cleaning their leather. Equestrians know that to keep their gear in tip-top shape, it has to be maintained regularly.
While leather is a sturdy material, it will only stay looking its best with regular maintenance, especially if it is frequently exposed to harsh elements such as rain, snow, or mud. So follow in the footsteps of those who know leather and clean it using a good saddle soap.
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