Cleaning Leathers

[Foghorn]

I read a post by Captain in an unrelated thread (Berik Leathers on sale) where he mentioned about about keeping white leathers clean.

Now as we all know, white is the new black as far as race styled 1 & 2 piece leathers go. So how do you keep them clean? or don't you bother!

I have two sets of leathers (Ixon mainly black for winter and Berik white perforated for summer) I have always used neutral coloured dubbin to nourish the leather and water proof the seams, however it is not a cleaner as such, more a conditioner.

In the UK I have seen a number of claimed leather cleaners, but have yet to see them locally.

So RATS, if you have white leathers do you use a product to clean them, after all we don't ride with a new set of sponsored leathers every time we take the bike to the track.

Or..........:tfg:

[Captain]

The advice I got from Hpower, who works in textiles, is that you just use a bit of warm soapy water ... nothing more.
Having tried it, it works well, the hardest part is handling the leathers as they are bulky. Next time I will wear them, and see if I can find somone to give me a spongebath ... :lmao:

[SIX36]

Just stock standard clothes washing powder/soap?

[Captain]

No, that's too strong. Hand soap.

[Belinda]

Saddle soap from a Produce store. Made for cleaning sweat and dirt from leather :ayyy: Its different from Dubbin

If its good enough for a $5000 leather saddle, it is perfect for cleaning leathers. Lots of liquid saddle soap, warm water and some clean rags.

[Johnny]

LOL seems everyone has already washed them and hung them out to dry, did a lot of riding over the weekend, and not too many people in full gear. The heat must affect what little brain they have :lmao:

[Foghorn]

Saddle soap from a Produce store. Made for cleaning sweat and dirt from leather :ayyy:

Clever girl, Belinda. I have a Horseland store just up the road from me.
Will give it a try:ayyy:

[Belinda]

The most trusted one is the Joseph Lyddy brand

[Captain]

I think you'll find the leather of a sadlle a little more 'hardy' than ours. But that product might well work, it's just not needed.
Funny, because when I expressed my surprise to HPower's simple instructions he laughed, people will always have more confidence in a store-bought solution :lmao: How right he was :ayyy:

[Belinda]

Actually, unless you have been involved with high level competition horses, you wouldnt know that alot of the $$$ saddle are actually doeskin....so far more delicate than roo or cowhide.:ayyy:

Will condition the leather better than water. We know that oil and water dont mix, so why dry out the leather????

[Captain]

The horses I rode on had nothing of the sort ... no, I have not been involved in high level competition horses. But HPower has worked his whole life in high-end fashion, so I take his advice on cleaning leather with confidence :ayyy:
(But I'm sure the expensive cleaners work fine too)

[jasonbw]

I've a problem thinking that using water would be bad for the suits.... why? because we ride in pissing down rain and our suits are made to last.

I've used Roy's suggested method of cleaning (just a fabric softner and put it all in a washing machine on gently cycle - better with a washer that doesn't have that hub in the middle). It's worked great... water is water... cows stand in the rain and it doesnt wreck their skin :)... the important part is you clean it, then oil it after.

[Belinda]

Haha last time I saw a model in leather, she was far, far removed from being sweaty and dirty. So Im sure water cleans off fake tan and primer very well :lmao:, but IMO motorcycle leathers would get far dirtier than any street leather jacket.

Or we can always try zRoyz's suggestion of the washing machine!!

[Foghorn]

I've a problem thinking that using water would be bad for the suits.... why? because we ride in pissing down rain and our suits are made to last.

I've used Roy's suggested method of cleaning (just a fabric softner and put it all in a washing machine on gently cycle - better with a washer that doesn't have that hub in the middle). It's worked great... water is water... cows stand in the rain and it doesnt wreck their skin :)... the important part is you clean it, then oil it after.

JB do you seriously put your suit in the washing machine?
Mate, it must weigh a ton when you pull it out, how to you dry it.

Forced drying by heat or direct sunlight would bugger it!!! Wouldn't it??

[Captain]

Haha last time I saw a model in leather, she was far, far removed from being sweaty and dirty. So Im sure water cleans off fake tan and primer very well :lmao:, but IMO motorcycle leathers would get far dirtier than any street leather jacket.

So you're saying that HPower's advice is wrong? Or that my clean leathers were just an illusion?

[Belinda]

So you're saying that HPower's advice is wrong? Or that my clean leathers were just an illusion?

Nah, I'm just winding you up!

But you have to agree just a little, that the saddle soap is recommended to remove dirt and sweat from very thin leather, with stitching, and motorcycle leathers get sweaty and dirty far more than everyday clothes.

After an expensive saddle gets wet (ie. rain) its always recommended to get some oils back into the leather.

I can 100% see what HPower would have recommended, as leather is a natural product which doesn't need synthetic help

[*Oggy*]

Captain.... I don't think Belinda is attacking the advise someone has given you... She's purely adding another solution to the advise asked for.

I've always heard soap and water is good, but I guess some of the scented soaps might no as good, so there's soap and theres soap (I'm guessing ???).

Some will want to buy a decent known product with written instructions at a small price if they have spent a few thousand dollars on bling leathers (I'm guessing).

Same can be said for any answer to a question... there is more than one answer so the more "depth" of advise gives the person asking the question more "food for thought".

:ayyy:

[Belinda]

So you're saying that HPower's advice is wrong? Or that my clean leathers were just an illusion?

Yeah, water will clean the leather...but will it preserve it? Will it keep it nourished?

[Captain]

Belinda I have no doubt that cleaners especially made for leather work ... they should, and saddle cleaners might well fit the bill. I was just passing on some good advice to save some money and hassle. I was talking about cleaning it (and not just water, there's also the soap ... I haven't addressed the 'moisturising'.
Tell you what though, white might look good but it's a bitch to keep clean, no matter what you use :spank:

[*Oggy*]

Tell you what though, white might look good but it's a bitch to keep clean, no matter what you use :spank:

Jeeze. you telling a woman her whites aren't clean...... your a brave one........... :spank::spank:



:lmao::lmao::lmao:

[Belinda]

Tell you what though, white might look good but it's a bitch to keep clean, no matter what you use :spank:

YEP!! I have bugs the size of small mice squished on mine at the moment, thanks to the minor moth plagues in the Snowies!

White is painful :lmao: Suppose once I go black I might never go back :lmao:

(Sorry, just trying to lighten the mood)

[TIGRRR]

may two cents worth..
pure soap flakes (lux)..
small amount in bath tub luke warm...
submerge and swish around a bit...:Rossi:
lie flat in shade....
works a treat....and cheap...:clap:
never had a problem....:ayyy:

[Captain]

Some will want to buy a decent known product with written instructions at a small price if they have spent a few thousand dollars on bling leathers (I'm guessing).
You're right Phil. A close friend of mine had poor skin, so she went to see a dermatologist. He checked her skin, which was as healthy as possible, and told her that the problem was all the crap she put on her face (treatments, moisturisers etc etc etc) and he told her to wash her face with warm water and a bit of sorbolene cram, and if she felt the need to moisturise to apply a little (perfume free) sorbolene. Her face cleaned up, her skin looked fantastic.
Six months later, she's back on the cosmetics, spending hundreds if not thousands and her face skin looks crap again. There's power in that advertising, for sure, it's almost impossible to believe that a simple (and cheap) solution can be better. And that's after you have experienced it first hand!

If you want to waste your money on expensive cleaners, knock yourself out :ayyy:

[Johnny]

White leather look good ? you for real Captain ? :lmao:

wearing white leathers is like wearing a target on your back, it really does say, loookatmoi lookatmeeeeeeee



:)

[Foghorn]

White leather look good ? you for real Captain ? :lmao:

wearing white leathers is like wearing a target on your back, it really does say, loookatmoi lookatmeeeeeeee



:)

Hold on Johnny, I brought white because it was either White or Red on offer.
I haven't got a target on my back, just the Berik "Angry Eyes" peering at the person behind me......................until they pass me:lmao::lmao::lmao:

[Belinda]

If you want to waste your money on expensive cleaners, knock yourself out :ayyy:

Expensive cleaners:confused1: Saddle soap is $15!!!

[Captain]

Expensive cleaners:confused1: Saddle soap is $15!!!

The most trusted one is the Joseph Lyddy brand
You mean this stuff? The stuff that must not come into contact with skin? I notice you must also not get it onto clothing, and if you do, you need to wash throroughy before wearing. I know, let's clean the contaminated clothing with saddle soap, I hear it's great :ayyy:

http://www.josephlyddy.com.au/upload/Saddle_Soap_SDS.pdf

[veitch-y]

Rory from Gimoto told me to use Simple Green - available at Bunnings to clean and a product called Renapur to condition the leather . Will advise how it goes when I use them as I only just got the new leathers .

[Foghorn]

Waproo (good to know it's Aussie owned and made) also make Dubbin.

Captain, I have one question we invest a considerable amount of money on the suits (yours and mine were around $1400) and then you suggest to look at the cheapest or cheap option to maintain it:confused1:

[Captain]

Fog, read my comment on my friend and her dermatology experience (top of this page). I'm looking at an EFFECTIVE option, should we dismiss it simply because it happens to be cheap?

[Belinda]

OK OK everyone just use water....

It is just leather, the skin of an animal, which has most of its life been nourished with oily sebaceous glands to make the animal waterproof!

Sigh.....

In 17 years of cleaning very expensive horse gear the saddle soap never once gave me a rash, or ruined my $500 riding pants.

Its just another view! I never said 'dont use water'

[Foghorn]

Rory from Gimoto told me to use Simple Green - available at Bunnings to clean and a product called Renapur to condition the leather . Will advise how it goes when I use them as I only just got the new leathers .

Mate, which Simple Green product? there's plenty of them including a motorsport degreaser

[veitch-y]

just the all purpose cleaner . The yellow one .

[Foghorn]

Fog, read my comment on my friend and her dermatology experience (top of this page). I'm looking at an EFFECTIVE option, should we dismiss it simply because it happens to be cheap?

Captain, I am one of the converted, have had a skin disorder since birth known as "Fish Scales" very dry skin (can only wear natural fibres next to my skin) I have used unscented Sorbolene from day one, even wash with a sorbolene bar. I wear a compression suit under my leathers and pay for it for a day or so afterward.

We want the same thing, clean well maintained gear, if I can achieve with less spend all good.

[zenodamper]

Renapur...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Renapur-Leather-Balsam-Renapur-Leather-Cleaner_W0QQitemZ320425028069QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK _Motorcycle_Parts?hash=item4a9ad1e9e5

[TIGRRR]

Renapur...
$30 AUD
http://www.crossbars.com.au/

[Foghorn]

Renapurfect

[Jungleboy]

I Wash mine with warm soapy water and use baby oil to condition afterwards..

Works great!

[Foghorn]

I Wash mine with warm soapy water and use baby oil to condition afterwards..

Works great!

You are talking about leathers????:lmao::lmao::lmao:

[DAVID]

Is that a yes or no :confused1:

[Poleman]

may two cents worth..
pure soap flakes (lux)..
small amount in bath tub luke warm...
submerge and swish around a bit...:Rossi:
lie flat in shade....
works a treat....and cheap...:clap:
never had a problem....:ayyy:


But what about your leathers???...:D

[zenodamper]

Renapur...
$30 AUD
http://www.crossbars.com.au/

Thx for that! I did not know they had it here :ayyy:

[Foghorn]

Just thought I would give you an update since the purchase of the Renapur Pack from Crossbars

The Cleaner: This comes in the form of a mild liquid detergent, it performed really well in cleaning off dirt, sweat and general ride day stains (no....no brown ones) without leaving a greasy or soappy residue.

The Balm: This acts as a restorer and brings back the life to the leather, it certainly had a positive effect on the abrasions from my OP low side a few months back.

Just one word of warning unless you are into the Chuck Conners "Thrill Seekers" mode don't place it on the seat (arse) of your leathers

[Jase]

so you cleaned the inside to mick ..

[rossco]

I don't know about everyone,but I just clean the bugs off with a soapy dishcloth ( the wife hates me doing it:thinking:) works well. other then that 5 years and still soft as a babys bum..
Captain: Do do look good in white mate!!:eek:;)

[Foghorn]

so you cleaned the inside to mick ..
Very Funny Mate, but very shortly you will get your comeuppence!!! So how do you go with nappies??

[Dean93]

.......Just one word of warning unless you are into the Chuck Conners "Thrill Seekers" mode don't place it on the seat (arse) of your leathers
:lmao::lmao::lmao: Rode a mates bike and he'd Mr Sheen'ed the whole bloody bike and it was a very fcuking disconcerting sliding around!!!!!

Good advise :ayyy: