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This easy DIY homemade leather conditioner seals and protects against the elements helping your leather look and feel its best for longer.
This year I decided to invest in some durable leather boots for winter. To me, the extra cost of a quality product often means it will pay for itself in the end. So far, they still look beautiful!
We’ve had some snow already, which means my boots have come in contact with water, salt, and cold air. That has left them looking a little weathered and a tad bit dry. Leather can withstand a lot, but it will crack if it dries out too much.
That’s when I decided to make a homemade leather boot conditioner. I wanted to keep it simple because I know leather just needs oil to replenish and something to help protect it as well.
Which Oils to Choose
When it comes to which oil will condition leather best there is quite a debate. Some swear by neatsfoot, while others believe mink oil is the best. Still, others argue that any oil will do, even vegetable or olive oil!
I decided to base my choice on shelf life and the properties of the oil. That’s why I ended up choosing castor oil as the base of this homemade leather conditioner recipe. It has a long shelf life and is an oil that helps retain moisture.
Castor oil is a thick, moisturizing oil that is readily absorbed by the skin. I was hoping the same would be true for leather. Turns out, it is! My boots absorbed this cream very well.
I decided to leave out any essential oils for this recipe as I am not sure how they will affect my leather. I would only include them for scent, which I really have no need for in a leather protector. However, you certainly could add essential oils to this leather protector, but just watch to see how they affect your leather.
Making Homemade Leather Conditioner
Finding ways to protect leather without sealing it are fairly easy as well. Leather needs to be able to breathe, so you don’t want to use anything that would fully seal it.
At first, I thought about using pine rosin (also known as pine resin when melted). I have seen it used to seal leather before and I actually bought some to experiment with for this homemade leather conditioner. Turns out that pine rosin is REALLY sticky, and all of my experiments resulted in a pretty tacky cream.
So I decided to keep it simple and went with beeswax for this DIY. Beeswax allows some oxygen flow and also provides a barrier to the elements. It also helps seal in moisture.[1]
Homemade Leather Conditioner
This easy DIY homemade leather conditioner seals and protects against the elements helping your leather look and feel its best for longer.
- Prep Time
- 5 minutes
- Active Time
- 15 minutes
- Cooling
- 1 hour
- Total Time
- 1 hour 20 minutes
Instructions
To make homemade leather conditioner add beeswax and castor oil to a small glass pyrex measuring cup
Place the pyrex measuring cup in a small saucepan of water on medium heat and melt until completely liquid
(Video) Homemade Leather Cleaner & ConditionerPour into a glass storage container
Allow to completely cool before using
Store in a cool, dry place away from sunlight
To Use
Clean the leather with a wet rag and soapy water, taking care to rinse off all soap.
Allow leather to dry completely. I generally wait 12 hours.
Using a clean rag or your bare hands, apply the homemade leather conditioner in gentle circles until the leather has been completely covered. Wipe off any excess.
Allow the leather to dry once more, another 6-12 hours.
Reapply as needed. I use this every month or more depending on the weather conditions and how much I wear my boots.
Recipe Video
Notes
This homemade leather conditioner will darken leather. As it wears off, leather will lighten again.
Made this recipe?
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Tip: you can also learn how to waterproof shoes and boots naturally.
Bonus Content
- Learn to Make Healthy and Delicious Fruit Leathers
- Exotic Flavor Combinations for Fruit Leather Recipes
If you tried making this DIY homemade leather conditioner let us know how you liked it.
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Sources
- David W. York. Measuring the permeability of thin solid layers of natural waxes. ScienceDirect.com. March 2019.
About Katie Vance
Katie is a wife, mother, aromatherapist, and lover of all things DIY. She offers consultations and gives simple aromatherapy advice at Katie Vance, Aromatherapy Simplified. You can also find Katie on Facebook.
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Comments
Sara says I clean my leather sofa with a mixture of vinegar and olive oil. I spray and wipe and get great results. It cleans and moisturizes and gives a nice shine. It doesn’t take long to dry either.
- Janice says
Great video on jewelry cleaner.
- BETSY LUCHT says
Is this a safe recipe for my long leather coat?
- Joshua Howard says
Thank you for this idea! cab it be made with olive oil?
- Katie Vance says (Video) AMAZING! We've NEVER Seen a Leather Conditioner WORK Like This One!
It could be, but it won’t be quite as thick and sticky as it is with castor oil.
- Jean says
Following, curious about leather furniture too.
- Manon Roberge says
Can you use it on suede boots like UGG ?
- Katie Vance says
I would not use it on suede as it is a little sticky and may effect the boot. I’d keep it to plain leather.
- Shelley Richard says
Could you use this on leather furniture as well?
- Katie Vance says
I am thinking this could work on leather furniture, although it does take a LONG time to soak in. You’d need to let it sit for 24-48 hours and really work it in. Just to be careful, I would test it on a small patch to see how it works. Also, it will probably darken the leather a bit, just like it does for shoes.
- Nancy says
Can this be used on leather furniture? I’m concerned that the oil would ruin the clothes of anyone who sits on it!
- Katie Vance says (Video) OUR SECRET! Make Leather Last FOREVER! in Just Minutes
I am thinking this could work on leather furniture, although it does take a LONG time to soak in. You’d need to let it sit for 24-48 hours and really work it in. Just to be careful, I would test it on a small patch to see how it works. Also, it will probably darken the leather a bit, just like it does for shoes.
