Leather is one of the hardiest, longest-lasting materials in the world, and properly cared for, a leather product can easily last for a lifetime. Thankfully, leather is fairly easy to look after, but it does need some love and care every now and again to keep the material strong, waterproof, and prevent any deep cracks or splitting from occurring.
This is where leather conditioners come into the scene, which are special mixes that can be used to bring leather back to life as well as to extend its overall lifespan. There are countless leather conditioners that are available on the market, but perhaps the very best conditioner is the one that’s made at home.
The Right Ingredients
Leather responds well to several different ingredients, but many experts swear by a small handful, which include:
- Beeswax – provides protection for the leather.
- Coconut butter – conditions the leather.
- Almost oil – Moisturises and softens the leather.
- Castor oil – Gives the leather its unique shine.
The great thing is that these ingredients are generally quite common and easy to get a hold of, and a little goes a really long way.
The tools needed to make this DIY leather conditioner include:
- Saucepan
- Measuring cup
- Measuring spoon
- Wooden spoon
- Tins for the conditioner
How To Make The Conditioner
The first step is to use a ratio of: ½ part butter, 2 parts oil, and ½ part beeswax. What this means in a practical sense in that the conditioner should be made using the following measurements:
- 2 Tablespoons of coconut butter
- 2 Tablespoons of beeswax
- ¼ cup of almost oil
- ¼ cup of castor oil
First, take the butter and melt it along with the beeswax in the saucepan at a low heat. Make sure to stir it constantly to avoid it being burnt, or to prevent it from boiling. After it heats up, add the sweet almond oil. Once the almost oil has become blended in the mix, add the castor oil, and continue to stir until the castor oil has been thoroughly mixed in. Keep the heat going for around 5 more minutes, but make sure to never let the mixture boil or get too hot.
After about 5 minutes or so, empty the mixture into the empty tins, but ensure that there is some space at the top, and then let it sit until it has cooled completely, which is the perfect opportunity to catch up some work, reading or enjoying online slots.
Using The Leather Conditioner
Making the conditioner is the difficult part, and cleaning the leather is the easy part. But before applying the conditioner, the golden rule is to always clean the leather first using an appropriate leather cleaner. Once it has been properly cleaned, take a small amount of the conditioner, and add it to a lint-free cloth. Apply it to the leather in small circles, buff the same area with a dry cloth, and then allow it to dry completely.
