Make Your Leather Last Forever | 5 Solutions Explained

And To Think I Almost Threw These Old Boots Into The Garbage

We've all had a pair of shoes or boots that look like they've already given up the ghost but if they are made of leather you shouldn't throw them out just yet. I'll show you how to preserve your leather boots and make them look like new again. 

Leather Oils and Preservatives

There are a lot of options out there when it comes to leather oils and preservatives. I'll show you a few of my favorites as well as the best option if you need maximum protection for your heavy duty work boots. 

Mink Oil

Mink oil is made from rendered mink fat (pulled from pelts). It's great for smooth leather and most people find its light scent pleasant. It will soften up leather and provide a waterproof barrier to protect from the elements but won't provide the best protection in harsh environments. Be aware that any good leather preservative will darken the the leather a bit, and Mink oil is no exception. You should be able to find mink oil at your local big box store. 

Neatsfoot Oil

Rendered from the shin bones and feet of cattle, neatsfoot seems like an odd option but it has been proven very effective. It can help add oils back to dried leather and is used frequently on saddlebags. Neatsfoot can go bad so if it is cloudy or has chunks, pitch it and get a new bottle. 

Sno-Seal

Made entirely from beeswax, Sno-seal is a good choice but is very thick and takes a bit more effort to apply. Since Sno-Seal is so thick and natural, it can be used to waterproof other surfaces such as tent seams. Don't use if your goal is to soften your leather. 

Saddle Soap

Saddle soap is a proprietary compound; that said, it's not what I choose to use. As you might have guessed, it is most often used for cleaning and conditioning saddle leather. If you do look into saddle soap, have a look at Brickmore because it includes lanolin (what repels water in wool) and neatsfoot. 

Obenauf's Heavy Duty LP

Last but not least we have here my leather preservative of choice. Obenauf's was developed for wildland firefighters to use in very harsh conditions. It can hold up against hazardous chemicals, high heat, lye from ashes, and is waterproof. It's an all natural combination of beeswax, natural oils, and propolis (antibacterial tree resin). It's not the easiest to apply when cold but melts at body temperature (apply with hands). It'll darken your leather (like all of the above). Here's a blog post which does a good job at showing the difference in color between Obenauf's and Sno-Seal.

How To Apply

Remove Laces And Clean

First you'll want to remove your laces and clean your boots. I'm lazy, so when my boots are not super dirty I just give them a good scrub with either a sturdy bristle brush or a soft horsehair brush like in the photo. You may also want to use a leather cleaner if you're concerned with pulling out more dirt and grime, but you'll want to wait for your boots to dry before preserving them.

Heat It Up

Next you'll want to heat up a bit of the Obenauf's with your hands / fingers and then rub it into the leather; a little goes a long way. I recommend leaving your boots out in the sun for a few minutes before starting this part because the warmth will help the Obenauf's to spread and penetrate the leather better. Some people use the hair dryer to accomplish this, but then I'd have to get up and go find it...

Don't hesitate to use a big blob if you see any spots that look really bad, torn, dry, or damaged. Even if you don't work it all the way in, it'll continue to penetrate as your wear the boots and your feet heat up.

Use Your Bare Hands

The thing that I like most about Obenauf's is that it's completely natural so you can use your bare hand to apply without worry. If you have chapped hands, it'll probably help! You don't need to worry about finding gloves for this project.

If your boots have exposed leather on the inside, you can also apply there as well. Obenauf's is antibacterial so it will help keep your foot funk away.

Brush It In

After the Obenauf's is evenly applied everywhere, I like to use a horsehair brush to finish working it in to all of the cracks, help pick up any excess, and to add a bit of a polish. If you leave excess, you'll find that dirt and grit will stick to it, so don't skip this step if you want to keep your boots looking nice and clean. 

If you're only worried about protection and you don't care how your boots look, you can skip this step, lace up, and get back to work.

Now you're ready to lace up and tackle your day!

Before And After

Here's the before and after shots. These Keens have lasted me several years and these aren't even the made in America type. I also have a pair of steel toe made in America Keens that are holding up phonemically well!

Before

After

Much Better!

What Do You Think?

Please feel free to leave any comments or leather care tips below and / or link your blog post if you have done something similar. Thanks for reading!