Making Saddle Soap

In this video we show how to make saddle soap to clean, soften and protect leather
Method & Recipe
In 10 parts water dissolve 3 parts grated soap
Melt together
1 Parts Neatsfoot Oil amzn.to/2VrYCfg
with
2 Part Pelleted Beeswax amzn.to/2Wt7kGt
Mix the two liquids and stir as it cools

[@hyunjincho955]

I can’t be the only one here who thinks he looks like Walter White.. Awesome video! So excited to make saddle soap on my own to clean my boots. Thanks for the video!!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you

[@jerrydavis5934]

really glad I found your channel.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Delighted that you did

[@LEODHSACH]

Another belter of a video, the beauty of this channel is it’s not just one thing you look at- it’s everything about this type of lifestyle- all in the one place, without trawling through hours of nonsense- already it’s a treasure trove and you’ve only scratched the surface x

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you so much Grace! Its a subject that's endlessly fascinating to us and we love understanding how to make the things we need to live well. The weird thing is, walking lightly on the earth is, somehow, very satisfying for us.

[@LEODHSACH]

English Country Life and you both do it beautifully without the the crusty hippy, shouty activist, or sanctimonious crap that so often comes along side many of these things - genuinely really enjoy and rate the channel and twitter feeds - keep the videos coming 😊 it will help the rest of us to tread a little lighter too xx

[@PetaPan88]

I just made this, and cleaned up my boots - thank you! Please make more household product videos, soap, laundry powder, anything youd like to show us. Before i found your channel, i didnt even realise i could make my own leather care products. Your videos are so informative and well made. Keep going :)

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you so much! I promise a series on these things over Winter when I have more workshop time!

[@stevenroger7237]

sorry to be so offtopic but does any of you know a method to get back into an Instagram account? I was stupid lost my account password. I love any tips you can give me!

[@kodalyle6965]

@Steven Roger instablaster :)

[@stevenroger7237]

@Koda Lyle Thanks so much for your reply. I got to the site on google and I'm trying it out now. Takes quite some time so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@stevenroger7237]

@Koda Lyle It worked and I now got access to my account again. I am so happy:D Thanks so much, you really help me out :D

[@truthforall1303]

I make my own soap I expect I could use mine as it’s only got natural ingredients. Great video 👍

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Definitely use your own - we do!

[@tomfield7556]

Thanks mate. Between my motor cycle gear, to my work boots it becomes expensive to buy and it's all natural. Just remembered I have a leather lounge suite too so there you go. Cheers!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Glad it helped Tom!

[@elfillari]

Thanks so much for the recepy and the link to that neatsfoot-oil! Your advises and your channel is so great!👍

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you 😊

[@GixxerWayne]

This is a great vid , I'll be doing this and using it on my motorcycle leathers 👍

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Glad you found it useful!

[@koogle612]

Making polish, dress shoe polish, dubbin & saddle soap love it. Thank you. Subscribed & liked soap next.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@lisabarber1843]

Fantastic Dave.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thanks

[@supernova1976]

Thank you and wish you a lovely day .

[@EnglishCountryLife]

And to you 🙂

[@kaiserfritz2]

Thank you so much for your videos. I make my own soap of fat rendered from whitetail deer. I hunt to feed my family and believe in wasting as little as possible. This video along with the shoe polish and dubbin episodes adds so much to that effort. I have yet to try making hide glue but will do so soon. I just found your channel so I do not know if you have covered hide glue yet. Thank you again for helping me in my efforts to be more self-reliant!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I'm so glad they were useful . Self reliance is a rare thing these days

[@rsamaran]

Loved the video!! I’ve been looking to buy saddle soap and struggling to find it in the shops - but now I can make my own. And I feel more comfortable as I know what’s in it.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you, I'm glad it was useful! Please do let me know how you get on with making your own.

[@joschelei262]

I love videos like this, the way this world is headed we're going to need as much knowledge like this as possible. The separation has already begun, those for the NWO and those against it.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I always think that the more things a family can grow, make and produce for themselves, the easier it is for them to weather hardships

[@vladyslav4]

made saddle soap using your recipe and it turned out to be an amazing product. Cleaned 2 pairs of boots very nice. next I am doing the dubbin. amazing channel.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you so much 🙂

[@vladyslav4]

@@EnglishCountryLife I thank you :)

[@FC-sk8wx]

Such a good video!!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you 🙂!

[@sallygiles132]

Please keep making these videos, they are 👍

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thanks Sally!

[@ngipzmarz6616]

Thank you so much for the video.I made some for my friends and they paid me for it.would love to see more of soap making etc..Thanks once again

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Making soap is coming shortly Ngipz, its something that can be done very simply

[@ngipzmarz6616]

@@EnglishCountryLife I would love that...for anything (well almost) you can make out of whatever is available in your home.I started watching ALL of your videos and the more I watch,the more excited I get.THANK YOU English Country Life

[@EnglishCountryLife]

You are VERY welcome

[@geoffanddebshipton6797]

Another excellent and informative video Hugh. Very much enjoying this series. Yes please - any household recipes you care to share would be great. We love the idea of making our own in this regard and being in control of what goes in it and being comfortable with its environmental impact etc.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

There will be another this week! Hugh

[@geoffanddebshipton6797]

English Country Life great news!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@geoffanddebshipton6797 Anytime 😊

[@jowattful]

Thanks! I have just bought saddle soap and it is full of chemicals and makes me very wheezy, so I will definitely be making my own in future. Please make more vlogs like this.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you, I will do. In fact there was a new one yesterday! Hugh

[@arishaaahmau4568]

Thank You very much...wonderful recipe and works in beautifully, RxR

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I'm glad you liked it 🙂

[@joshuawalker301]

Thank you so much

[@EnglishCountryLife]

You are very welcome

[@dalriada842]

Awesome. I'll be trying this once I get some natural soap and beeswax. I already have the neatsfoot oil.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Honestly, it will save a fortune. Almost any soap that's fairly plain will work

[@rohittheinvincible]

Thank you , the video is superb . I have been looking for affordable saddle soap since long . You ve really helped a lot. Subscribed to your channel .

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thanks - and welcome!

[@els1f]

This one was incredible, too! 😄 I've never heard of Neatsfoot oil before, and I really appreciate that you added a substitute for it. I'm really starting to think that the majority of the junk around me is completely unnecessary🤔

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Once you you start making these things for yourself, its surprising what's possible!

[@els1f]

@@EnglishCountryLife Fixing electronics, and some light woodworking started my gears turning. Then, I bought a sewing machine to fix some things and that REALLY connected everything together. I thought, "Wait, I think I could spend an afternoon and make a shirt that I wear for a decade, OR I could waste a day shopping for something I will throw away in a month"🤯

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@els1f Its endlessly fascinating isn't it? Seed saving, sugar making, vinegar making from scratch had the same effect on me. The idea of making a meal in the dead of Winter from home grown, home made, home preserved ingredients is a very rare thing these days!

[@ashhans1756]

Simple items put together and effective love it best way in my opinion be making my own soon

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thanks ash -Happy New Year!

[@alanmuddypaws3865]

Another cracking video! Would love to see how you make the soap, if you have the time to film it.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Its one I'm planning, or, perhaps, a series? Its a subject I could cover in some depth starting simple and building, or just do the basics. I'm a bit conflicted as its something very important to us since commercial soap almost always contains palm oil - with all the environmental impacts that implies.

[@maryfrancesangelini9156]

I'd love to see how you make soap!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

That's planned for the Winter. I want to do as much fresh food stuff as I can in Summer, more preserving in Autumn, then household & builds in Winter. Its how we live 🙂

[@maheshchaube2456]

Keep the good work you will soon have a million subscribers soon god bless

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you so much!

[@ivancho5854]

This is an extremely interesting and well made instructional video. Thank you very much. I believe that some commercial saddle soaps such as Kiwi brand contain glycerin and lanolin. I was wondering if you have any thoughts on these additives? As I get older and with the assistance of KZbin like yours I find that I am more able to attempt projects which I would not have thought possible before, which is very life affirming. All the best from bonnie Scotland. 🇬🇧

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi! I use both products (lanolin is fantastic in hand cream) but not in saddle soap. We do make a true shoe polish too kzbin.info/www/bejne/bX2TnYh9jtune5Y

[@ivancho5854]

@@EnglishCountryLife Thank you.

[@danielhoath691]

Nice 👍

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thanks 👍

[@mika4moon]

This is a really nice video! There is no saddle soap in my country so I was looking for a doable recipe. Yours is very easy yet looks like it works. I also bought some lanoline because it was said the high quality stuff had lanoline and beeswax. And I don't have any neatsfoot oil and I rather not use mineral oil. Do you think I can substitute it with olive oil? Or other more common oils? How would you tweak the recipe to fit in lanolin and maybe oil change? Thanks in advance 🌺

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Nothing really substitutes for neatsfoot because it actively softens hard leather and is animal based so easily absorbed. Do you have any shops that sell horse tack and saddles? They usually have it.

[@Isaki-qp6io]

Really nice video. Thank you for shearing your knowledge with us. I’d like to know if I can use this soap to clean leather baseball gloves.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you. I can't see why it would hurt baseball gloves. It's great on boots, horse harness etc.

[@fredabisset2600]

Excellent info. Thank you.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

You are very welcome!

[@pcfisher981]

just found this video and its so helpful, thank you. would you recommend regular soap or one with a glycerine base for this project?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I use simple white lard based soap mostly, I would avoid glycerine

[@whatnotzone6866]

In the US we have a bar soap called Fels Naptha used for hand washing clothing or for stain removal. I believe it can be used on leather, though I've personally never tried it. The Fel Naptha is a very hard soap that's low sudsing, and some of the commercially available Saddle soap that I have seen reminds me a lot of the Fels Naptha when it's wetted. Do you have any experience with a similar type of soap to Fel Naptha and thoughts on using it in your recipe to replace what im assuming is a lye soap?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I'm sorry I'm not familiar with the brand, but it sounds ideal

[@IvanEarache]

Brilliant. I will make this. 😊

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Excellent. Go sparingly with your bag and polish off any excess before wearing it! Good luck 🤞

[@lizarakovic2729]

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

An absolute pleasure Liza. We totally want this to be a journey we take together, so when you explained why you needed it...

[@itsokaytobeclownpilled5937]

I made this recipe and used on my leather loafers. It works GREAT! Does anyone know if it gets moldy or rancid if it sits too long?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I have some that's for be years old, it's just fine!

[@itsokaytobeclownpilled5937]

@@EnglishCountryLife Thank you!!

[@bigcountryw.v8323]

Could you use a liquid soap for this like a liquid castile soap? Great video

[@EnglishCountryLife]

You could, but might need to adjust the proportions

[@bigcountryw.v8323]

@@EnglishCountryLife I will have to do a little trial and error on that thank you

[@bigcountryw.v8323]

Through a little trial and error I discovered you need to basically 1/2 the water , add 50% more soap and double the beeswax. if you should ever decide to use that type of soap thanks for these how to videos they have been very helpful

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@bigcountryw.v8323 That's useful, thanks!

[@RoseAndThornCustomCreations]

I've been trying to find decently priced saddle soap for ages so finding this video has been a breath of fresh air! I'm a soap maker by trade and was wondering, could you use liquid soap in place of the water and grated soap? If so, what would you recommend for propertions?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I've never tried with liquid soap, but I see no reason that it shouldn't work. Try using the same volume as water in the recipe initially. Hugh

[@jt-od9xx]

Hi, Hugh! Thanks for this nice and informative video! I'vo done my saddle soap following your recipe. It works veery well, but it started to separate after four weeks or so. Should I use less water? Thanks again and best regards!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

It certainly shouldn't separate, less water sounds good and keep stirring as it sets

[@TheCustomer]

Great content. I am just confused why you using ml for grated soap and beeswax? I can measure them in grams but not sure how to get 300ML of soap. Sounds stupid question but I am not sure how to get ml of something solid😅

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Just the way I've always done it I guess 🙂. I just grate into a measuring jug 😉

[@denchola]

Hi again. Can I use olive oil instead of neatsfoot oil? I can't get neatsfoot oil. They say olive oil can be good alternative. What is your opinion on this? Thanks again for such good video 👍👍👍

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Dennis, olive oil is honestly nowhere near as good. Neatsfoot oil is just about the best natural leather softener there is. It's available from most saddlery stores and even Amazon here

[@denchola]

@@EnglishCountryLife now I get what you mean. Thanks again for quick response 👍👍👍

[@mirghulammustafa4326]

Sir, No dought you video is very good. Pls tell again about weight. Bee's wax = 200 gram ? Neatsfoot oil= 100 gram ?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

The recipe is in the description 😃

[@alexeypalamarenko8393]

Nice! Thanks. What's the shelf life? And should we use any preservative to make it longer, if for example shelf-time is under two years?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I've never calculated a precise shelf life but I've used jars more than five years old and they have been perfectly fine. Hugh

[@newangelpark4551]

Enjoyed this thanks. Forgive me for asking please. Since it's a soap won't it need to be rinsed off ?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi, no it cleans the leather and is mostly absorbed. Any excess should be polished off with a cloth. Hugh

[@newangelpark4551]

@@EnglishCountryLife Ok great ! Thanks for taking the trouble to reply!

[@THIRSTYGUMS]

Ver nice! , can i use extra virgin olive oil instead of neatsfoot?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

You can but it's not as effective, the neatsfoot has the best leather softening effect being animal based. Olive oil works but softens less.

[@stevenroche9874]

Baby oil is white mineral oil, a highly refined food grade mineral oil, with fragrance added. In America, it is quite easy to buy white mineral oil that is not baby oil.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I don't know about "food grade" - I wouldn't eat it!

[@stevenroche9874]

@@EnglishCountryLife It can be consumed as a laxative in small quantities. It is also used as a release agent in food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries, as well as a lubricant for food processing equipment.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@stevenroche9874 Hard pass here - I would use plain mineral oil !

[@tiagovazkez9356]

Awsome channel

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you!

[@kennydesai7802]

Thanks for this video . These ingredients aren't easily available in India, where I am, so may not be able to make my own. But I am a bit confused. Other videos that I have seen on saddle soap show them using a little water and creating a lather, which is then wiped off. But you didn't do that. I'm curious as to why?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Saddle soap isn't truly a soap and materials like neatsfoot oil actually combat the effects of water hardening leather, so more water won't help 🙂. Hugh

[@kennydesai7802]

@@EnglishCountryLife Thanks. 🙂

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@kennydesai7802 No problem

[@TheCustomer]

Do you use cedar shoe trees for formal shoes? Any cheap alternatives?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@TheCustomer Newspaper works just fine

[@ngipzmarz6616]

Hi!I have a friend who lives in a farm where commercial electricity and internet is still not available.I taught him your Saddle Soap making verbally but failed twice.Please tell me if my ratio of component is wrong as I instructed Him.1000 ml water,300 grams grated natural soap,200 grams grated pure beeswax and 100 ml kitchen oil(canola,palm or coconut) I converted the two components to grams since they are solid compared to how you mention in the video.Please correct this so I can tell him in details by the time He gets to the City.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Your problem is converting to weight. 1 litre watre 300ml grated soap 200ml grated or pelleted beeswax 100ml oil Theres a lot of air around 300ml of grated soap. It doesn't weigh 300g. Hope that helps Hugh

[@ngipzmarz6616]

@@EnglishCountryLife Thank you...LOVL...my mistake!I forgot to tell Him the significance of density...we had a short and brief conversation about it by the way.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

No problem, I am here to help!

[@ngipzmarz6616]

@@EnglishCountryLife I,We the subscribers are glad....

[@macwol]

I've just discovered your channel-love the content, thank you very much! Will it work well for cleaning/moisturizing light-colored leather furniture without darkening it? Any modifications to the recipe for that application?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Maciej, If it's simple cleaning, I would use mineral oil instead of neetsfoot oil. If the leather is hard and dry, use as is. Hugh

[@macwol]

@@EnglishCountryLife Thank you, Hugh! Yes, the leather is in good condition, just needs a little cleaning. Thank you, again, keep up the good work!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@macwol Thank you for the kind comments!

[@macwol]

@@EnglishCountryLife Hugh, do you think I could use something like coconut oil instead of mineral oil? I'm finding information about potential health risks of mineral oil, both from EWG and dr. Berg.

[@vladyslav4]

Sorry, it was quite hard to hear what are alternatives to neatsfoot oil. Is it mineral oil or baby oil? And what do you mean by mineral oil?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Mineral oil & baby oil are the same thing here. Mineral oil is petroleum based oil en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mineral_oil

[@morganstensaas9453]

Thank you so much for sharing! How many years would you say you've been using these techniques and making your own products?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Morgan, we bought this place about 11 years ago but I'm an old country bloke. I became interested in disappearing skills in self reliance over 40 years ago. The time was when every country cottage made soap, raised chickens, cured bacon and much more. The aim of our channel is to share what we've learned from those who went before us, so that the skills aren't lost to those who follow on.

[@morganstensaas9453]

@@EnglishCountryLife phenomenal! I am creating a leather crafting business based on what I call "Old World Knowledge" using tried and true techniques from years and ages past. Thank you for sharing your knowledge today and expanding my own! Bless

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@morganstensaas9453 Good luck with the business, the world needs more craftsmen!

[@oh2bncal]

How long does it take to set up? I poured it into a glass to continue mixing and keep it from separating. Then poured it into 10 small circular tins. It is still the consistency of water and slightly warm. No film on the top??

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Lisa, it sets as soon as its cool, you need to keep stirring or it splits

[@komodopt1237]

Hi! Great video, thanks! I've made this, but used mineral oil, the end result is very oily and not soapy at all, it does not even lather, should I just remelt everything and add more soap and wax? Thanks!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Saddle soap is generally not very soapy (although it contains soap). It does clean but doesn't lather. If its too soft then yes, remelt and add more wax. Hugh

[@TheCustomer]

Let us know how mineral oil worked for you?

[@lexymccormacparker1710]

What would the water and soap measurements be if I used a liquid soap, like castile? Like would I eliminate the water since its already liquid? Or does it still need some water?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Lexy, you would need to experiment to get the right consistency, I've never made.iy with liquid soap - sorry

[@Archontasil]

It's hard to find neatsfoot oil here. Is it okay to use coconut oil or pig oil instead?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Either would work, but try to stick to animal fats if possible as leather is an animal product. Happy New Year!

[@Archontasil]

@@EnglishCountryLife wow thanks for the fast reply! Happy new year!

[@Archontasil]

Sir sorry to ask again, turns out my muslim family don't appreciate me using pig oil in the cookware :D, so what if i use cod liver oil instead?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@Archontasil Cod liver oil is great, I use it myself making Dubbin (leather conditioner). There is a video on that

[@kennydesai7802]

Thank you. Only , I am a little confused. In the written instructions, you seem to have reversed the proportions of neatsfoot and wax. Which one do we go with?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Good spot Kenny, thanks. The video is correct, I've updated the description. Thank you for pointing it out.

[@kennydesai7802]

@@EnglishCountryLife You're welcome🙂

[@meganbridgette1803]

I would like to add some lavender sense, have you ever added a fragrance? How much would I add?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I generally don't add fragrance but a few drops if lavender essential oil should work

[@meganbridgette1803]

Thank you!

[@chefboot]

Thanks

[@EnglishCountryLife]

You're welcome

[@pardilot]

Can I make my own black die for restoring an old leather 'carpet bag' that has be badly scuffed on the piping of the bag. I intend to make the saddle soap to soften the leather or can I use neastfoot oil?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

For softening only neetsfoot oil will work - use saddle soap if cleaning is needed. There are several black dyes - iris root makes a very good dye.

[@TheCustomer]

1) Can I use any bar soap from Nivea/dove? I see they contain alcohol in the ingredients, if that matters. 2) If I cant find neatsfoot oil, then shall I use rapeseed oil? Thanks!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Neatsfoot oil is available from Amazon 😉 I wouldn't use rapeseed oil, it won't soften the leather like neatsfoot oil does. amzn.to/34hRVyc I've never used Nivea or Dove soaps but I should think they would be absolutely fine. A friend uses cheap supermarket bar soap & that works. Hugh

[@scarletpeate]

What other oils would create the shine you spoke of please. ?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi, do take a look at our shoe polish video, I cover it in detail there. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bX2TnYh9jtune5Y

[@TheNcube]

Hi, amazing video. Just one question: so you don’t need to lather the soap with water?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

No, just rub it over the leather thickly then buff up with a soft cloth. The soap will lift the dirt off onto the cloth and the other ingredients will soften and protect the leather.

[@plarcade]

@@EnglishCountryLife Aah, mine seemed a bit sticky but I wasn't buffing off

[@sashadistan3687]

oh yeah, soap us!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Scary! 😳. Hopefully this is what you were looking for?

[@ericcastillo592]

How make shampoo

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Will do!

[@Jr-nd9kd]

substitute of neatsfoot oil i used was jojoba

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Interesting, how well did it work?

[@Jr-nd9kd]

@@EnglishCountryLife good....made the leather darker of course and you have to get an even coat cuz the jojoba tends to make it look a bit like paint drush strokes but with use of a micro fabric towel instead of a terry cloth or sponge worked much better to get it even

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@Jr-nd9kd Interesting, thanks!

[@TheCustomer]

I was reading about neatsfoot oil and it says it darkens the leather. If I use it to make saddle soap, will this work on WHITE leather shoes without any issues? Otherwise, how can I clean white leather shoe?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

It may darken the underlying leather but a good white polish should restore its colour. I confess I have never owned shite shoes - they aren't really suitable for our lifestyle 😉

[@travisallen7461]

My soap keeps coming out with the consistency of bread dough and is stringy rather than a paste. What am I doing wrong?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Its difficult to say Travis. I would add a little more beeswax to stiffen the mixture and stir frequently as it cools

[@travisallen7461]

@@EnglishCountryLife The stuff works great other than the bread dough problem. I think it's because I am using a beeswax that is taken directly from a hive and filtered, and it's not as refined as the store bought stuff. I will try that. Thank you.

[@travisallen7461]

Adding more beeswax made it the correct consistency and fixed the batch. Thanks again.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@travisallen7461 Excellent 👍

[@emmacarroll32]

Can I make this without neatsfoot or mineral oil? If i just used the water, soap and beeswax?😄

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Sadly not, it just won't soften or penetrate the leather!

[@marcomartini9239]

I will use sunflower oil as a substitute to neatsfoot oil

[@EnglishCountryLife]

That will work fine. It won't soften the leather as much as neetsfoot oil, but that can be a good thing sometimes

[@PetaPan88]

I used olive oil. I wasnt sure if it would work due to low smoke point, but it was what i had in the house. Gave it a crack anyway. Now my boots are happy, and so am i :)

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@PetaPan88 Olive Oil will work fine, it doesn't get very hot. I use (variously) Olive, sunflower, rapeseed, mineral, neatsfoot and other oils. Each has its own properties that make it suitable for different tasks. If you look through our "household" playlist, a number put in an appearance!

[@damiensleath570]

My mixture keeps separating even though I follow the. what am I doing wrong?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Keep stirring every minute or two as it cools. I show this at 7:30 onwards. Hope that helps.

[@oh2bncal]

@@EnglishCountryLife I used 1/4c neatsfoot oil 1/2c beeswax 3/4c soap (goats milk soap) Reduced water from 3.5cups to 2.75c After stirring through separation and film on top, mixture is very watery - how long before it sets?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@oh2bncal It should set as doon as its cooled Lisa?

[@eponiaequestriansport5811]

How long does the saddle soap keep? If I make 3 jar like this i wont use up all three at once. Do I need to add some natural perservative e-vitamin or somthing? Thank you

[@EnglishCountryLife]

It will keep virtually forever - certainly at least 5 years. Hugh

[@eponiaequestriansport5811]

@@EnglishCountryLife awsome thanx

[@cypp2d6]

Thanks for a very nice video. One question: is it possible to use "Neatsfoot oil Compound", which is not pure Neatsfoot oil?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

It depends on the formula, but it's intended for leather so unlikely to do much harm. Hugh

[@chrisosh9574]

Neatsfoot oil compounds often contain petroleum based products that are solvent and extend and thin the oil, it helps it to penetrate but overuse can break down the good oils and make the leather brittle and age faster. I have found that is particularly the case when trying to restore the leather on old saddles. If you can find it, pure neatsfoot is a much better bet.

[@TheCustomer]

I am in Sweden and I cant find neatsfoot oil, and cant order from UK after Brexit. Can I melt tallow bar instead of neatsfoot oil? If so, shall I keep same ratio/proportions? Otherwise, vegetable oil or mineral oil is way easier to use than Tallow.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi, sadly nothing really works as well as neatsfoot oil, it's softening effect in dry l, hard leather is unique. Try looking in a store that caters for horse riding equipment, it is much used on saddles & bridles. Sorry not to be more help

[@TheCustomer]

@@EnglishCountryLife how expensive is it in the UK? I see online it can be really expensive, like more than €10 for 500ml.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

You can get 2.5L for 10 Euro here. But you don't need a lot to make saddle soap www.amazon.co.uk/Gold-Label-Unisexs-GLD0298-Neatsfoot/dp/B003DV83XO/ref=asc_df_B003DV83XO/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=218046489762&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5646780608736942767&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006543&hvtargid=pla-420957420654&psc=1

[@TheCustomer]

@@EnglishCountryLife but I can always apply neatsfood oil directly on leather to soften it. Right?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@TheCustomer Correct

[@f00by]

Mine separated. Is that normal?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

As it cools to setting point, it's advisable to keep stirring it

[@f00by]

@@EnglishCountryLife just remelted to jar and stirred till it reset. Worked 😊 thanks!!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@f00by Excellent 👍

[@saihsonom4968]

Can you show us how to make mink oil Please?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I will need to do some research, but there are lots more "making" videos to come!

[@asmolovanatalya6759]

Нашла то, что искала. Пожалуйста, напишите рецепт в комментариях, что бы можно было сделать перевод ингредиентов. 🙏🏻

[@EnglishCountryLife]

The recipe is in the description 🙂

[@asmolovanatalya6759]

Сварила! 💃🏼 Спасибо! 👏🏻 Следовала пропорциям, мыло застыло, но по консистенции получилось не таким, как Ваше, а как гель, мягким. Тем не менее, чистит оно прекрасно. Следующий этап - это бальзам Дуббин.

[@Redilensky]

Can we use coconut oil instead of neetsfeet oil

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Unfortunately vegetable oil will not soften leather in the same way, so for the best effect in leather care, it does need neatsfoot oil

[@sincerelyjazmin6051]

how can i make this more of a hard soap ?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

If you make it too hard it won't rub over the leather, but you can add more beeswax to harden it

[@sincerelyjazmin6051]

@@EnglishCountryLife how much more beeswax could I add and keep the same water ml?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@sincerelyjazmin6051 I haven't tried it as it will make the saddle soap hard to use but you can just keep remelting it adding the wax a little at a time until you get to a consistency that you like

[@eponiaequestriansport5811]

Is there an alternative to mineraloil or neatfoot? Thank you

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi, you can use vegetable oils but I would strongly recommend neatsfoot for dry or cracked leather. Nothing else softens as well. Hugh

[@sasemirevski]

Hi ser! Can u tell me what is neatfoot oil, i just cant translate it on Macedonian. Or can i use some different oil instead of neatsfoot oil? Tnx

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi! Neatsfoot oil is an oil made from animal bones en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neatsfoot_oil You can get it (here) from stores that sell saddles and animal harness. Also on Amazon amzn.to/39Pc1Eb

[@sasemirevski]

@@EnglishCountryLifetnx for the quick replay ser, but can i use different oil instead of neatsfoot oil? And also cani use it for nubuk and suide leather to clean ? Tnxx

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@sasemirevski You definitely can't use saddle soap on suede or nubuk. No other oil will work as well as neatsfoot oil, but olive oil will work somewhat

[@sasemirevski]

@@EnglishCountryLife tnx, i appreciate you effort ser, can i ask u one more quastion please, do u know what should i use to clean nubuk or suede leather and can i use that wax you've made with pork lird and fish oil? Last quastion :) tnx

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@sasemirevski Honestly just a brass wire brush is best. You can protect them with chemical spray (Scotchgard) but not much else

[@66smg]

Help! I can’t get my soap to set - what am I doing wrong?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Are you stirring by hand or with a blender Sarah?

[@johnamriding6862]

What's the difference between saddle soap & dubbin? Also a question for you: I have an Australian buffalo hat: 25 yrs old, now a little "hard" i.e. not supple anymore. Would Neat's/Neet's Foot Oil manage to soften it or would that leave a residue? It's perfect for inclement weather: rain doesn't stand a chance, but I would like it to remain that way it possible.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Dubbin is fish oil (e.g. cod liver oil) plus fat plus wax. Less good at cleaning than saddle soap (no soap), and less good at restoring hard leather (no neatsfoot oil). If your hat isn't dirty and just dry, rub pure neatsfoot into it (sparingly) until you get the required softness

[@johnamriding6862]

Thanks for that: will give it a try @@EnglishCountryLife

[@jimkarnes7724]

Great video. I would like to see a natural leather dye stripper.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I'll see what I can do, thanks!

[@jimkarnes7724]

I have a pair of black riding boots, i'd like to change the color to a worn red.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@jimkarnes7724 I'll have a think Jim, but without knowing what dye was used its a tricky proposition

[@denchola]

Will baby soap work out for this? Thanks

[@EnglishCountryLife]

If it is a hard bar soap Dennis yes, if it's a liquid soap, probably not

[@denchola]

@@EnglishCountryLife thanks for quick response 👍👍👍

[@saihsonom4968]

Can i use it on nubuck boots?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Not really. It would clean and soften but it would be very difficult to remove from the pile

[@saihsonom4968]

Thank you for quick reply.

[@bertkutoob]

OK - don't laugh... I have developed a skin condition making the palms of my hands and soles of my feet both leathery and brittle. I have some neatsfoot oil and was researching its properties as a (human) skin conditioner when I came across this video. It seems that there is no reason not to use neatsfoot on humans. So, I am about to make me some hand cream. I have lots of beeswax straight from the hive so just need to ask if there's anything special about the soap you used? I have some homemade pure olive oil (Castile) soap going begging - would that do - do you think?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I have no experience of neetsfoot oil on human skin, thats a first! I have friends with skin conditions who have asked me to make them pure olive oil soap with no colour or perfume ad that seems the gentlest soap of all.

[@bertkutoob]

@@EnglishCountryLife Amazing what you find on Google.... I'm about to give it a try. The pure olive oil soap I made was indeed very gentle but did not have any noticeable moisturising effect

[@mindsole470]

how to communicate with you sir in social media

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@engcountrylife on Twitter

[@kasie680]

What about horse oil?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I've never come across it. Have you used it?

[@kasie680]

@@EnglishCountryLife I haven’t, but my dad makes it for leather conditioner etc, I just wondered if you could use it instead of the oil you used

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@kasie680 Sorry Kasie I couldn't say, I believe its a byproduct of the horsemeat industry from what I read. Horsemeat isn't sold here.

[@kasie680]

@@EnglishCountryLife here in Australia we don’t have a horse meat industry for human consumption ( I don’t think) the horse fat my dad gets is a by product from a pet food company, they don’t get a lot of horses but if one needs to be shot for example has a broken leg and cannot be saved then he gets the fat and freezes until he can render it down for horse oil

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@kasie680 That's fascinating! I've never had the opportunity to try it but would love to learn it's properties.

[@arncj18]

babyoil, doesn't it have petroleum in it, which is bad even for human skin? Ironically they made a baby product of it. Isn't lard enough instead of neetsfoot?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

No lard and neatsfoot do entirely different things. Neatsfoot is an active softening agent whereas lard is a waterproofing grease. Mineral oil is indeed a petroleum based hydrocarbon but it works well. You could substitute a vegetable oil but there is a risk of rancidity there.

[@arncj18]

@@EnglishCountryLife ok i understand thanks.

[@rubygray7749]

The name "saddle soap" seems to give a false impression. I saw another guy showing the difference between using saddle soap, and a mink oil leather dressing, on his leather boots. Predictably the mink oil boot was dark, supple and gleaming, but the saddle soaped boot was dry, faded and stiff. Then he showed how he had used the saddle soap. He soaked a shoe brush in hot water, lathered it up with saddle soap, then attacked the boot, scrubbing it "clean"! Rinsed off the saddle soap, then allowed it to dry. I have always had the impression that "cleaning" was done with a soft cloth and tepid water first if necessary, before applying saddle soap. The "soap" component is obviously an emulsifying agent to meld the properties of hydrating water, softening oil and water-repellent surface wax, rather than being a sudsy cleanser!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Saddle soap gives an entirely accurate impression. It is a cleaner developed for saddles & horse tack. If you think that the people who used it for centuries wanted "dry, faded and stuff" horse harness, you are very much mistaken. Perhaps try making some, I find real world experience to be very useful.