Leather that is stiffened can be softened. It is a part of aging and when it will be wet or dry. But we can treat leather items in different ways. Mostly, people feel uncomfortable and difficult when their belts are new or old.
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Hard New Belts
look stylish and classic, but sometimes the belts are not comfortable because they are not as soft as we expected.
Hard Old Belts
when we do not take care of leather straps, they become harder and stiffer. They become uncomfortable and also cause lines, cracks, and creases on the surface of the leather strap.
- But you need not worry about it because there are easy and quick methods to soften your straps.
Here are some methods for softening the dry leather straps:
- Conditioner (good quality)
- Alcohol+vaseline mixture
- Oil treatments
(Coconut oil, Olive oil, Mink oil, Jojoba oil, Avocado oil, Neatsfoot oil, Almond oil)
Treatment No. 1: Using leather conditioner
The easiest method to soften the tough leather strap is the use of a leather conditioner.
- Squeeze a small amount of conditioner in your hand and apply it onto the surface of the leather belt.
- Always choose a good brand and do a test before applying it to the entire product.
- Some brands are very expensive, but they are worth every penny. Always go towards better quality.
- Go for natural and chemical-free options. It can not damage your leather belts.
- If you also want to strengthen the leather belt, you should use the conditioner that is used on bridles and saddles.
Treatment number 2: Alcohol-Vaseline mixture
If you do not have a leather conditioner, you can use common household items. It is a very quick method that takes little time. It is a good alternative to leather softening.
Things you need are:
- Cotton balls
- Rubbing alcohol.
- Petroleum jelly.
How to use:
- Soak the cotton swabs in rubbing alcohol and wipe on the surface of the leather. Rub it a little to open the pores and remove all dirt. Apply five to ten coats of it.
- Dip a finger in petroleum jelly and apply it to the belt. Do not use a huge amount of it because it will leave a sticky, gooey mess.
- Allow it to dry completely, and after that, the leather strap will be ready to go.
Treatment number 3: Use of natural oils
There are a variety of oils to soften the leather belts that are given below:
- Avocado oil.
- Almond oil.
- Coconut oil.
- Jojoba oil.
- Olive oil.
- Mink oil.
- Any natural oil that you can use on your skin can be applied to leather belts to decrease stiffness.
- First, you have to open the pores of the belt and loosen its fibers by putting it in the sunlight.
- Once the pores open, you can apply a natural oil to the leather surface by using your fingers.
- Natural oil does not have any harmful effects on your leather products.
- Let it dry.
- Your belt can be used now and it never hurts you more.
- Keep in mind that coconut oil may darken your leather strap, so go to mink and neatsfoot oil.