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When breathing new life into your leather goods, there are a lot of oils to choose from. Can you go to your pantry and grab the olive oil, or do you need a specialty blend? When repairing your leather items, you need to make the right choices to avoid more damage. By investing in the right oil to soften your leather, applying it correctly, waiting for it to absorb, and practicing routine care, your items can look and feel luxurious again. To help you out, we’ve answered your most common questions about using oil to soften and condition leather, including which types of oil are the best ones to use.
Steps
Question 3 of 8:
How do you soften leather with oil?
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1Dust your leather off with a dry cloth to remove any small particles. If there are any mild stains, add soap to warm water, dip a damp washcloth in it, and rub away the stains.
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Put your leather outdoors in the sun for 10 minutes if you can. This will open up the leather's pores so it absorbs more of the oil. It’ll be more flexible if you apply oil after warming up the leather in the sun. [6] X Research source
- Once the leather is warmed, dip your finger in your oil of choice and “spot test” it. Press down on the leather and leave one spot. Make sure the oil doesn’t discolor it.
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Apply a thin layer of oil with your finger. Start with a thin coat—you want to check how the oil affects your leather before adding more. If the oil isn’t making your leather greasy or tacky, then you can apply more. [7] X Research source
- You can also use a soft cloth to apply oil onto your leather.
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Let the leather dry before applying more coats. If you like the way your leather looks after it dries, you can apply more coats after the first one.
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5Read your oil’s label and see how long it takes to dry. Some products, like mink oil, can take 2 to 3 days to absorb into leather. Neatsfoot oil, on the other hand, sometimes only takes a few minutes to work.
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References
- ↑ https://youtu.be/_4DH7-VTixE?t=66r
- ↑ Carroll Kelly. Shoe Care Specialist. Expert Interview. 17 December 2020.
- ↑ https://favoredleather.com/is-almond-oil-good-for-leather/
- ↑ Carroll Kelly. Shoe Care Specialist. Expert Interview. 17 December 2020.
- ↑ https://youtu.be/8zGwQ60OMyg?t=24
- ↑ https://www.leatherious.com/how-to-soften-leather/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJBx9gtM9V8
- ↑ https://youtu.be/OL2_olyT-Ac?t=11
- ↑ Carroll Kelly. Shoe Care Specialist. Expert Interview. 17 December 2020.
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