Reddit reviews Lexol Leather Conditioner, 1 Liter, Leather Cleaner and Deep Conditioning Since 1933 For Use on Apparel, Furniture, Auto Interiors, Shoes, Bags and More (Packaging May Vary)

For all circlejerk needs use Lexol leather conditioner. 1LTR of lubricating goodness.

head over to /r/goodyearwelt for the skinny on shoecare regimen and products. I wouldn't use Kiwi stuff myself, but that's mostly for other reasons. Lexol is a great neutral conditioner (not that you'd need this much).

Lexol leather cleaner (orange bottle) is available at auto parts stores, walmart, amazon-Lexol Cleaner

Once its clean, it wouldn't hurt to have some conditioner around. There are many but lexol's a good product. Lexol Conditioner brown bottle.

>I hear mink oil is of dubious quality and in general organic products cause the leather to more quickly deteroriate.

Mink oil and Obenauf's etc. are made for very harsh conditions - unless you're wading through the countryside, it's like putting on a scuba suit when there's a light drizzle outside. If you live in a city, you're fine. Said products will not cause a 'quick' deterioration - it's over a long period of time. They will also cause the leather to darken and lose some of its depth of color.

>What's the deal with cleaning? I'm leaning toward Saddle Soap to clean my boots. How effective is, say, using just a boot brush, regular soap, and wet paper towels to clean dirt from your boots? Can you use a clean t-shirt rag to clean?

Saddle soap dries out leather - it's soap, after all. It's overkill for regular boot care. A damp cloth or rag works fine for cleaning regular messes.

>I'm leaning toward using regular polish and no waterproofers or sealant. Do boots need polish or just shoes? Does polish protect at all? Does the polish process clean at all? I'm assumming you match the polish color to your leather. How important is this match--do you have multiple brown polishes or just one?

Waterproofers and sealant are unnecessary - leather is naturally water resistant and needs to breathe. If they get wet, dry them with a cloth then put in your cedar shoe trees (or crumpled newspaper) to absorb excess moisture. Polish isn't really essential on workboots like those Apaches (since the aesthetic is based around getting them scuffed and beaten up), but it can be used to hide scuffmarks if you want to keep them pristine (IMO missing the point). Polishing doesn't clean by itself, and will probably trap stuff underneath. The importance of the match depends on how specific you are about the boot's color. I don't remember if the Apaches are a pull-up leather, but on boots made of pull-up leather you can get rid of scuffs simply by rubbing them until they disappear.

>I am planning to buy unvarnished cedar trees and a boot brush for cleaning, as they appear to be necessary for the life of the boots. Do you have any suggestions? It seems like most are the same in quality.

Just buy split-toe shoe trees made of actual cedar (instead of plastic etc.). As long as they're in the right size, you're fine.

It appears that you're really overthinking this. Leather is naturally very strong and water-resistant, and doesn't need to be babied with a massive variety of products - at least for a workboot like the Chippewa Apache (high-end dress shoes may require more finesse).

Here's what I do:

1. Put cedar shoe trees into the boots when they are not in use.
   
   
2. Every couple days, wipe down the boots with a damp cloth or brush to get rid of accumulated crap.
   
   
3. Every ~3 months, take out the laces, clean the boots thoroughly with a damp cloth, then clean the welt with a wet Q-tip. Wait for an hour (until they dry), then condition with Lexol and an old t-shirt. Wait for four hours, then re-lace them. Ready to wear. Bam.

I rub my leather goods with leather conditioner (specifically Lexol) every once in a while so that they stay supple and don't crack/dull

Lexol got a lot of love in this sub.

Lexol also works just fine

Yeah that’s it. I’ve only ever bought it from Amazon.

No! The conditioner and Mink Oil included in the Basic Care are not made for the smooth leather of Beckmans. Here's what you need:

1. horsehair brush
   
2. Lexol conditioner
   
3. Burgundy shoe cream to touch up scuffs; I use Meltonian
   
4. Rags for cleaning, applying conditioner and shoe cream, and polishing
   

http://amzn.com/B000637TNM

I have always used either Chelsea Leather Food or Lexol Leather Conditioner for my leather goods.

The Chelsea is really popular among soccer players for use on their cleats so it can be found in a reasonable number of sports stores that sell them for around 10 bucks. Make sure you get the clear stuff though.

The Lexol looks like a car care product but it was recommended to me for use on my riding boots and is extensively to keep horse tack from drying out and wearing down. Amazon is selling a liter of the stuff for 12 bucks. Because it is meant to soak in to the leather a bit, it may darken the JCP boots up some, so go with a few even, light coats first rather than just pouring the stuff on.

The Kiwi polish that you can find in drugstores everywhere is plenty good and is pretty cheap at around 3 bucks a tin. I am currently using some Brooks Brothers Shoe Cream which I got as a gift a bit ago and i love the stuff. It is a bit on the 'pricey' side at 9 bucks a jar so it is up to you.

As a last note, I would recommend getting some Saddle Soap for use after youve gone slogging through some less than clean streets and perhaps forgotten to clean your shoes for a bit. It is a great 'once and a while' product to get your shoes clean again and helps to make sure you arent polishing any dirt or grime into the shoe the next time you give them a shine.

Someone help me understand why this is even a deal? It's more expensive than if you were to purchase these separately.

1 liter Leather Conditioner

1 liter Leather Cleaner

Total is $18.45... and that isn't even a sale price. It could be even cheaper if you do subscribe and save and just cancel the subscription right after it ships.

Be careful when using oil on shoes and boots. Most of them will darken the leather. If you plan on repeatedly using the boots in heavy snow or rain oil will help weather proof them. Otherwise there isn't any real reason to. Every couple months give the boots a good rub down with a leather conditioner. It'll help keep the leather from drying out and restore some luster.

I like Lexol; it's cheap, it works and it doesn't darken the leather. A jug this size will last you years. Of course there are plenty of options out there, feel free to do the research. There's a lot to learn. Just keep in mind that products containing oil (especially mink) or wax will darken the leather.

Equally important is to get a shoe brush if you haven't already. With five minutes, a brush and a little elbow grease you can get your boots looking great without having to use any product. You don't want to over condition leather as it can weaken it over time.

I decided to just go with lexol leather conditioner and it's working perfectly. It came highly recommmend in /r/goodyearwelt. Don't use Obernauf's LP unless you want to ruin your boots. Don't use waxes. Oil works well but can be a little harder to work with because of how easily it saturates the leather. If you look around this subreddit you'll see a lot of boots that are drenched when they are oiled. You don't want that. You want a healthy leather.

• Make sure your boots are dry inside and out. Don't start conditioning our boots if they are sweaty inside from you wearing them. Do it the next day after they were able to sit with cedar shoe trees in them. Also, ALWAYS USE CEDAR SHOE TREES IN YOUR BOOTS.
  
  
• Remove the laces.
  
  
• Brush out all of the dirt and dust with a horse hair brush. Any brand will do.
  
  
• Take a slightly-damp paper tower and do a once over to grab any dirt or dust hanging out. Use a damp Q-Tip and go over the welt. Do not saturate the leather with water, you are just trying to pick up the specks of dirt.
  
  
• Take a tiny bit of lexol and put it only a dry washcloth. Work it into the piece of fabric you are using. You don't want to use it like a paint brush, you want the cloth to just allow a super thin layer of conditioner to be left behind as you wipe your boots. Think like a snail-trail or something ..idk. You're not slathering the conditioner on, you're just putting a super thin coat. Like how you would season a cast-iron skillet (the right way).
  
  
• Slowly apply a thin layer over the boots, making sure to get every nook and cranny. Don't over-condition the boots. They won't be damaged, but it can weaken the leather too much and is unfavorable. Get everywhere including the tongue. Don't bother conditioning the inside, but I like to do the collar.
  
  
• I like to put them on and walk a short lap around the room to help the conditioner settle a bit. I'm not running around, just walking naturally. You'll notice that the creases created from you walking might look unconditioned now. Take the boots off. not hit that spot with a little conditioner in the same manner you've been doing.
  
  
• Take your brush and just gently go over the boot.
  
  
• Put your cedar shoe trees into them and let them sit for at least 12 hours. Don't wear them in the rain for at least 24.
  
  
• If this is your first conditioning, I would do it a month or so after you started wearing your boots. There is a lot of conversation over the frequency of conditioning, but the best thing is to do is use your judgement. If the leather looks like it is getting too dry, re-condition with a tiny bit of lexol. If they get dirty, brush off the dirt thoroughly and maybe go over with a slightly-damp paper towel and consider that dirt dries leather out. You won't need to condition weekly. Some people do it monthly. Some only twice a year. And some neglectful boot-owners never condition them. I think every other month might be a good time frame, but like I said, use your judgement.

I'm actually not sure if that's a conditioner or just a leather protector of some sorts, but usually, conditioners are labeled as such. Lexol is what I use, and what is often recommended around here as a general purpose conditioner.

This stuff will do the trick

Would some like this be good to condition natural OSB trenches? I don't want anything to darken them up. I just want to prevent any water damage/ take care of the leather. Should I even bother conditioning them?

I would recommend Lexol Leather Conditioner

http://www.amazon.com/Lexol-1013-Leather-Conditioner-Liter/dp/B000637TNM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377032574&sr=8-1&keywords=lexol

I can't comment on SofSole as I never heard of it before. Most people here will recommend Lexol Conditioner. It is a light conditioner that won't change the color of your shoes

http://www.amazon.com/Lexol-1013-Leather-Conditioner-Liter/dp/B000637TNM

You can also use coconut oil to condition your shoes. It is a deep conditioner, so you should only apply small fingertips of it in order to avoid over conditioning your shoes. I have experience with both and both work well.

hey sorry, one more question.

this lexol page on amazon has two 8oz versions of Lexol conditioner. Do you know if one is better than the other?

One more! Lexol conditioner, 1 liter. Half hour left on this one

https://www.amazon.com/Lexol-1013-Leather-Conditioner-1-Liter/dp/B000637TNM/ref=gbps_img_m-6_f45d_0b3df79f?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=c624455a-ed52-4f78-9f81-675ed6faf45d&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-6&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_i=13887280011&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=P05NPJBV4Z16AESBVF0K

And another foam cannon

https://www.amazon.com/DUSICHIN-SFL-001-Pressure-Release-Adjustable/dp/B00WPKHFA6/ref=gbps_img_m-6_f45d_90581759?smid=A3V0XY0I1N8OZ5&pf_rd_p=c624455a-ed52-4f78-9f81-675ed6faf45d&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-6&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_i=13887280011&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=P05NPJBV4Z16AESBVF0K

ok Thanks, is this the same product as you listed before?

I'd just use some Lexol

http://www.amazon.com/Lexol-1013-Leather-Conditioner-1-Liter/dp/B000637TNM

This one says preservatives under the title, but it should still be okay right? When applying do you coat the entire shoe with a thin layer?

From AE;

2x creams = $15.30

2x brushes = $17

2x dauber = $8.50

1x heel and edge dressing = $4.68

Lexol conditioner = $8.50 http://www.amazon.com/Lexol-1013-Leather-Conditioner-Liter/dp/B000637TNM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416599681&sr=8-1&keywords=lexol

Lexol cleaner = $7 http://www.amazon.com/Lexol-430033-Leather-Cleaner/dp/B0002F9YIC/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1416599766&sr=8-3&keywords=lexol

$61, and arguably better.

1 liter.

I've had good luck with Lexol and there is a lot of info about it all over the web.

http://www.amazon.com/Lexol-1013-Leather-Conditioner-Liter/dp/B000637TNM

1. Get a horsehair brush and brush them down after you wear them.
   
   
2. Put shoe trees in them after you're done brushing them down.
   
   
3. Condition every 6 months with something like Lexol Leather Conditioner.
   
   
4. Don't use "waterproofing" conditioners / mink oil / absurd amounts of polish.

I would want No More Trouble Zones because I love Jillian's workouts and I use them to keep the "trouble zones" managed. plus, my sister is being a meanie and taking her copy of it to college with her this fall...brat lol
I would really enjoy either this or this!
Thanks for the contest!
Edit: Twinsies

Some Lexol leather conditioner will do wonders for the general dryness. Nothing lasts forever, but keep high-quality leather properly conditioned (for skates, I'd say condition every 3-6 months or so) and it'll last a long long time.

Any cobbler should be able to fix little things like a broken strap. I live in a northern city so it's easy to find shops that specialize in hockey boots, but anyone who works on boots regularly would be a good choice. You could also contact the manufacturer (if they still are in business) to see if they offer a recrafting service - they usually love to see their well-worn boots come in for a little TLC.

Hi! I'm a super newbie to detailing and want to start with the interior of my car. I have a 2001 Lexus LS 430 that is in mostly good shape, but the interior black leather has never(!) been cleaned or conditioned (yikes!). It has only normal wear though, no weird staining, for the most part has only been used by adults (no kids) and no food/drink in the car, so just body oils and dirt from time.

I want to use Mothers Leather Wash Foaming Cleaner, based on a few posts I've seen in this forum and am wondering where to buy one of those soft bristle brushes I see used in this video and this post? Do you think a specific leather-cleaning product is necessary or should I just use a Meguiar's APC diluted (as mentioned here)?

I'm also still confused about whether or not to condition the leather after--I've seen conflicting information about coating on the leather that makes conditioning pointless.

Right now, I am leaning towards coating since my leather is so old and definitely does look a little dry/creased (no cracking yet, thank god!), I'll probably get the Lexol conditioner if so.

Also, for the dash and door panels, which are covered in leather, can I use the general 303 or Meguiar protective treatments on them or is there a leather-specific product?

The full list of what I intend to get to clean the interior of my car:

• Mothers Leather Wash Foaming Cleaner -- for seats
  
• Lexol Leather Deep Cleaner -- for dash, panels, etc., unless you think it'll be enough for the seats as well?
  
• Lexol Leather Deep Conditioner -- for everything
  
• Boar Bristle Brush (need a recommendation! Chemical Guys?)
  
• Microfiber Cloths (have a ton already)
  
• Chemical Guys' APC for the rest
  
  Just wondering what you all think and if you have any tips!

Dumb question but this lexol is the one everyone refers to right and not the "non darkening one" or the neadsfoot one?

Lexol is quite recommended and very cheap. This 1 litre can lasts you very long and is cheaper. There are smaller bottles too, if you don't need so much.

And yes Kiwi works well.

use this first to clean the leather, following instructions on box, and then condition the seats using this stuff

http://www.amazon.com/Chippewa-Mens-Rugged-Handcrafted-Lace-Up/dp/B0036VN9WG

paired with:

http://www.amazon.com/Superfeet-Green-Premium-Insoles-Womens/dp/B002T0072U/ref=sr_1_1?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1417477581&sr=1-1&keywords=superfeet+green

and

http://www.amazon.com/Kirkland-Signature-Outdoor-Trail-Merino/dp/B00LFLOUI6

and

http://www.amazon.com/Lexol-1013-Leather-Conditioner-Liter/dp/B000637TNM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417477693&sr=8-1&keywords=lexol+conditioner

Your feet will be in heaven. Superfeet will make a MASSIVE difference standing on concrete. I have the exact same above setup for working as a Realtor. On my feet all day long (showing homes and open houses) and my feet are always cozy and comfy!