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Home › Footwear › Boots › Leather Conditioners

Saddle Soap vs Mink Oil: What Should You Put On Your Boots?

Karl Wasson
Updated Oct 31, 2024

This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission from.

You’ve got an impressive pair of beloved boots that have seen one too many winters, way too much oil and grease, and tons of miles of wear and tear. How do you get them looking halfway decent again?

There are lots of methods and techniques for cleaning and conditioning your boots, saddle soap and mink oil are often on the top of many recommendation lists, but do they work? Or do they damage your boots even more?

[Related: The 5 Best Boot Conditioners on the Market]

saddle soap vs mink oil

    Table of Contents

    Toggle
    • Overview: Saddle Soap Vs. Mink Oil
    • What is Saddle Soap?
    • Is Saddle Soap Bad for Leather?
    • What is Mink Oil?
    • Does Mink Oil Go Off?
    • Should I use Mink Oil on New Boots?
    • Saddle Soap Vs. Mink Oil: Which is Best for Cleaning Boots?
    • How to Use Saddle Soap
    • Mink Oil vs Saddle Soap: Which should you use?
    • Wrapping It Up
    • Wrapping Up

    Overview: Saddle Soap Vs. Mink Oil

    In a hurry? Here’s a quick overview.

    Who Should Use Saddle Soap to Clean Their Boots?

    • You have stubborn stains, use saddle soap to clean leather.
    • Men who want a one-size-fits-all solution; saddle soap lightly conditions and cleans, but it’s primarily a cleaning agent.
    • Anyone looking for an inexpensive method for cleaning leather boots.

    Who Shouldn’t Use Saddle Soap to Clean Their Boots?

    • Anyone who doesn’t have a leather conditioner available, make sure you condition after washing.
    • Your boots are suede or roughout leather
    • Folks who want to preserve the color of their boots; it’s very astringent and too much can damage leather. Use wisely and sparingly.

    [Related: How to Use Saddle Soap to Clean Your Boots]

    kiwi saddle soap vs fiebings saddle soap

    What is Saddle Soap?

    Saddle soap is a powerful astringent designed to clean saddles made of thick, well-oiled, and well-waxed pieces of leather. It works by shrinking the body tissues in leather, making it very good at pulling stains out of leather.

    But the thinner leather found in boots, the more we want that oil and wax to keep the leather pliable and prevent it from cracking. The conundrum of using saddle soap is that we want to get the gunk out but leave the beneficial oils and waxes in the leather. Saddle leather is tougher than boot leather, and people tend to be less invested in their saddle’s aesthetics than they are for an expensive pair of boots.

    Is Saddle Soap Bad for Leather?

    Saddle soap, while it comes with some drawbacks, is very useful for cleaning leather. The key to using saddle soap successfully is to use conditioner afterward, because the detergent will strip away a few of your oils and waxes that are important for the leather’s longevity.

    Red Wing Mink Oil
    Red Wing Mink Oil

    Mink oil serves to revitalize leather goods and will help protect them from the elements. Apply once every few months to keep leather hydrated.

    Check Best Price Read Our Review
    We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
    red wing mink oil

    What is Mink Oil?

    Mink oil is basically fat extracted from a mink’s abdominal tissue.

    Further Reading

    a man pondering the best boots for men
    Mink Oil For Boots (Expert Guide) | Pros, Cons, & Alternatives

    We reached out to three leading boot experts to get the low down on using mink oil for boots.

    Who Should Use Mink Oil To Condition Their Boots?

    • Anyone who wants to extend their leather’s lifespan.
    • Guys who want a bit more water resistance for their boots.
    • Men who live in cold, icy climates, who want additional protection against salt.
    • You want an inexpensive and easy-to-find conditioner.

    Who Shouldn’t Use Mink Oil to Condition Their Boots?

    • Anyone who doesn’t want darker leather.
    • Guys invested in getting a rich patina in their boots; mink oil isn’t fancy stuff.

    [Related: Red Wing Boot Oil Vs. Mink Oil – What’s Best for Waterproofing and Maintaining Color?]

    american mink
    by tsaiproject, licensed under CC BY 2.0

    For centuries, Native Americans have used mink oil for its beneficial properties when used to condition skin. This animal fat traditionally comes from the fat around the mink’s abdomen, which is harvested by boiling a mink and rendering its fat.

    Mink oil as a leather conditioner was actually introduced in the 1950s. After World War Two, mink fur became much more popular than other types of furs, and many animals were killed for their fat to make it. Manufacturers found a readily available resource and made it into the leather balms that many people use.

    Does Mink Oil Go Off?

    Mink oil is one of the most stable oils you can buy on the market. It has a high resistance to oxygen, which means it will last for years if kept cool and away from heat.

    Should I use Mink Oil on New Boots?

    The color of your new boots is just as important to you as their condition. Mink oil will make the leather several shades darker. A great alternative is Venetian Shoe Cream: it won’t change the color much and will still provide a nourishing treatment for fine quality leather. It just won’t waterproof as well as mink oil, which forms a protective barrier around the leather.

    Sof Sole Mink Oil before after

    Saddle Soap Vs. Mink Oil: Which is Best for Cleaning Boots?

    Saddle Soap does the heavy lifting for cleaning the leather and removing stains. Also, it is easy to clean your leather boots with saddle soap.

    How to Use Saddle Soap

    What to prepare:

    • A clean horsehair brush
    • Some water
    • A dry paper towel or microfiber cloth
    • A wet sponge or paper towel
    • Your saddle soap

    [SHOP FIEBING’S SADDLE SOAP HERE!]

    Leather Cleaning

    First, brush your boots with a clean horsehair brush.

    It’s important to check that your brush is clean of pigment or residue. Check by running a finger over the bristles to make sure that there are no dyes so you don’t discolor your boots.

    Then, remove your laces so that you can more easily brush the pesky folds around the boot’s tongue. Get out any dirt, dust, or gunk that’s built up inside the boots as you clean them with a soft cloth. As soon as you finish brushing away at those scuffs, put on some rubber gloves for protection.

    saddle soap chromexcel

    Reapply a small amount of saddle soap to any discolored patches, and rub the saddle soap deep into the leather to lift out the stains. The more you work it in, the more the stains will come out — but the more you risk pulling out pigment and natural oils as well. If you have a tough stain, use the back of the fingernail and push the soap into the leather.

    After you’ve removed the nasty stains, give the entire leather panel a quick once over with the well-lathered brush to even out the color.

    Wipe all the saddle soap off the boot. This is very important because the astringents in the soap will dry the leather, causing it to become brittle. Just take a wet paper towel, cloth, or sponge and remove the saddle soap. Focus on getting into the stitching and folds, the soap likes to build up in these cracks and wrinkles.

    Repeat for each panel of the boot. Let the boot dry overnight.

    Last, condition the leather the next day. This is an important step for adding oil and fat back into the boot.

    [Related: Bick 4 Leather Conditioner Review]

    Leather Conditioning

    Saddle soap is great for cleaning leather, but it doesn’t do as well at conditioning your boots. Mink oil does a much better job at conditioning the leather because it also leaves behind protective waxes that will keep your boots looking shiny and new.

    The leather’s natural oils are lost during usage and, to an extent, during the cleaning process. Losing oil makes the leather more susceptible to cracking, which may lead to fibers separating and deteriorating faster than they should.

    Further Reading

    best leather briefcase featured image depicting a man holding several different leather briefcases
    The Best Leather Briefcases for Men

    Looking for a leather briefcase that’ll last years? We’ve got the best leather briefcases for men. Learn more →

    venetian shoe cream how to use

    Mink oil will darken your leather, take away the natural shine of your boots and dull the shine of leather giving it a matte appearance. It’s super effective at conditioning and waterproofing, but if you want to maintain that original color on your leathers, then something like Venetian Shoe Cream or Saphir Renovateur is better for you. The best conditioner for maintaining color, we’ve found, is Bick 4.

    Has mink oil darkened your boots too much? Saddle soap can actually do a decent job in removing some of the mink oil without too much effort.

    [Related: Venetian Shoe Cream vs. Saphir Renovateur]

    rider boots wet

    Water Resistance

    Mink oil is a polar substance and oils are nonpolar. When applied correctly, mink oil fills the pores of the leather, creating an impermeable coat that repels water. The science behind this phenomenon is quite simple: Water molecules are more attracted to each other than they would be to mink oil or any other solid molecule due largely to their positively charged hydrogen atoms attracting negatively charged oxygen atoms in H2O (water).

    There are waterproofing sprays that add a coating on the leather, but these can be expensive, bad for the leather, and still won’t make your boots waterproof. You need a Gore-Tex lining if you want the leather to be truly waterproof, but the average person doesn’t need waterproof boots; water resistant is just fine, and mink oil is great at that.

    red wing mink oil closeup

    Mink Oil vs Saddle Soap: Which should you use?

    If you want to clean and restore your leather, use saddle soap. You may not need it now, but if you wear your boots out in the mud or get salt stains on them, this does the trick better than any other product.

    Fiebing s - Yellow Saddle Soap
    Fiebing s - Yellow Saddle Soap
    $10.90

    The ultimate deep clean for leather, Saddle Soap will take care of any stain — just wash it off before it starts lifting out dye as well.

    Check Best Price
    We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
    07/09/2025 11:02 pm GMT
    using saddle soap

    Wrapping It Up

    Saddle Soap Pros

    • Cleans leather
    • Inexpensive

    Saddle Soap Cons

    • Drys out leather, need to condition after use
    • Strips waxes and oils

    Mink Oil Pros

    • Softens and moisturizes leather
    • Adds some water resistance

    Mink Oil Cons

    • Darkens leathers
    • Leaves leather a bit ‘greasy’

    Wrapping Up

    If you have some beat-up dirty leather boots, give saddle soap and mink oil a try. Just remember to use saddle soap sparingly and clean it off the boot well after you use it. Mink oil works well as a conditioner but can darken your boots. If you’re worried about changing the color of your boots, then try another conditioner like Bickmore Bick 4.

    Finally, note that most mink oil products on the market aren’t made with 100 percent mink oil. Sof Sole, Amazon’s most popular mink oil product, is just 10 percent mink oil. If 100 percent mink oil is important to you, grab Saphir’s.

    Karl Wasson

    Karl is Stridewise's Managing Editor living in South East Asia. He gets a kick out of durability and dependability. When he's not writing, he's searching for the best bespoke menswear in South East Asia and beyond.

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    Founded in 2018 to help men buy the best boots, we’ve since expanded our team and purview to review and celebrate casual footwear and menswear that’s as close to “buy it for life” quality as possible. We take great pride in being a trusted source for information while maintaining complete editorial independence. At no extra cost to you, we might earn a commission from a brand when you purchase through our links, which helps us keep our mission alive. Learn More

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    Founded in 2018 to help men buy the best boots, we’ve since expanded our team and purview to review and celebrate casual footwear and menswear that’s as close to “buy it for life” quality as possible. We take great pride in being a trusted source for information while maintaining complete editorial independence. At no extra cost to you, we might earn a commission from a brand when you purchase through our links, which helps us keep our mission alive. Learn More

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