what to clean leather with

[Patrick Marshall]

Hi all

To the leatherworkers out there I have a question. What would be good to use to clean veggie tan leather before applying dye? I got lucky and scored some leather on ebay but it is a bit dirty and has some water stains on it. I know I cant do much about the water stains but i would like to clean it before I dye it. Any help would be appreciated.


Pat marshall

[Sigismund von Helfenstein]

Saddle soap! I usually do it in this order: saddle soap, dye, buff, neatsfoot oil, saddle soap, tan kote, acrylic resolene

[Cian of Storvik]

I've had good experience with high octane (90%+) isopropyl rubbing alcohol to remove oils and act as a preparation for staining. I think it helps open the grain to allow more even coverage. I've seens some recommend methylated (denatured) alcohol, but I don't think it works as well. As you say, not much can be done for the water stains, but depending on the color your dying, and how bad the water discoloration has been, they could disappear.
I have had occasion where leather had what appeared to be water stains, and washing the leather (soaking in water to do a water hardening) actually made the stains disappear (or in fact water-stained the whole piece), but this will remove some of the tannins that keep the leather supple and protect it from breaking down.

YMMV
-C

[Cian of Storvik]

Doesn't the saddle soap prevent the dyes from taking? I've used saddle soap as a cleaner to treated/chrome tanned leathers. But it always seemed like it would be counter productive on vegetable tanned that I had yet to dye.
-C

[Sigismund von Helfenstein]

Doesn't the saddle soap prevent the dyes from taking? I've used saddle soap as a cleaner to treated/chrome tanned leathers. But it always seemed like it would be counter productive on vegetable tanned that I had yet to dye.
-C

I have not had any issues with it. Admittedly my first application is much, MUCH lighter than my later application.

I do a light scrub with the soap, let it sit for a little while, then wet the leather and start dyeing. Have not had any issues with dyes not taking.

[Blackoak]

I use baby wipes to clean my leather with. It was made for skin, right?

Uric