Choosing a neutral pH cleaner is important to your leather care program. Soaps, for example, including vegetable-based soaps, generally have a very alkaline pH of around 9 and above a pH of 7, leather fiber bonds begin to deteriorate. It would be a shame to take the right steps to prolong the useful life of your tack only to find you were using harsh products that actually caused harm. The consistency of a product is important, too. A good cleaner absorbs deeply into the leather and does its work without leaving residue in crevices or along stitching lines.
Bacteria can thrive in any greasy excess left behind by the wrong leather care products.
While leather conditioners should be used only occasionally on tack, leather cleaners are formulated for regular, even daily, use. Check the label to be sure which one you have. Making your horse doesn't have to mean ruining your tack. Have a plan for leather care, follow it faithfully, and enjoy your tack investment for many years to come. She is founder and president of Unicorn Editions, Ltd.