Cleaning Leather Cased

[Mike Franzen]

I don’t know what Forum this belongs in so I’ll stsrt it here and let the Power that be’s move it if necessary. I have a leg o mutton case in good shape but is coveted in decades of grime and dirt. What’s the best way to clean and preserve a piece like this?

[King Cobb]

Message kevin McCormack

[Kensal Rise]

I'd clean it thoroughly with saddle soap, allow to dry 24 hrs., then apply Pecard dressing per directions.

[Jeff Christie]

If you use saddle soap I'd suggest Belvoir Glycerine Saddle Soap or an equivalent bar saddle soap. Good stuff. Great for all leather that gets heavy use like saddles

[Phil C]

Blackrock Leather N Rich is a fine product.
https://www.blackrock-leather.com/pages/about-us

[Mike Franzen]

Thanks for the suggestions. I’ll take before and after pics when I start this.

[Southpaw]

Just about any good horse tack shop will have a good leather cleaner and conditioner. Lexol is another good product. Kiwi even makes a decent saddle soap to clean with.

Using Pecard afterwards is always good and it will not darken leather but I consider it only a light conditioner and it will need several applications if you need deep leather conditioning. If you want deep conditioning then there are other leather conditioners that will really get in there like a mink oil, Obenauf, or even a Red Wing Boot oil but that might darken leather. I also like the Orvis Gokey leather cleaner conditioner it is between Pecard and the later three I listed.

BTW what type leather is the case. If its a suede or nubuck then above does not apply at all.

[Harry Collins]

Carr & Day & Martin make Belvior previously mentioned by Jeff. They also make Ko-Cho Line. This is unbeatable to use on saddles and leather that are going into storage. It would be great for leather gun cases that primarily sit empty.

[Southpaw]

Harry you living the heart of horse country will have a bunch of very good options. They know how to take care of hard wearing saddle and bridle leather in that neck of the woods.
I did not know about Belvoir but have been out horse game a while.

[Harry Collins]

I dampen my sponge with Lexol then rub the bar of Belvoir on tack, boots, saddles, hunt appointments, leg of mutton gun cases, and topsiders. Using water seams counterproductive. When we were riding every day we would melt a bar of Belvoir in Lexol and keep a natural sponge in with it. Everything that was associated with the ride was wipped down with the mixture in the tack room. I mostly follow up with Passier Leather Balsam after a day or so. For storage Ko-Cho-Line is the best.