Coconut Oil Conditioning Leather Products | A How To

     Hi everyone. It’s Blake again. I hope you are all having a fantastic Easter weekend. We received a request for a tutorial on how to condition boots using coconut oil. Thank you for the request; I would be happy to detail the process for you. It’s actually quite simple.


Please note that while I say “boots” throughout the article, everything is still applicable to any leather shoe, or even any other leather accessory.

MATERIALS USED
Leather Product
Coconut Oil (we used Trader Joe's, but any brand should do)
(horsehair) Brush
Towel or any rag

     First, use a brush to thoroughly clean the boots. I use a horsehair brush because it is gentler on the leather and less likely to scratch. Horsehair brushes are a bit more expensive, but I believe they are worth the price.

     Next, use a damp rag to clean the boots, ensuring the leather is completely free of dust, dirt and everything else. You don’t want to condition a dirty pair of boots because it won’t be as effective and it could harm the leather over time.



     After the boots are clean, take a small amount of the coconut oil on the tip of your finger. The oil has a melting point slightly above room temperature. As you can see in the picture above, some of the oil has already melted. You want the oil to be soft but not completely liquid when you apply it. When in liquid form, it absorbs very quickly and you could get too much in one spot (something you want to prevent because it can soften the leather too much). See the picture below for the right consistency.



     Take the oil and rub it onto the leather, spreading a thin layer out evenly. Don’t go too slowly or else the oil may melt completely and too much may be absorbed in one area. Keep taking small amounts of oil and work your way around the boot, covering every area. Don’t worry about the stitching; it’s ok if it gets oil on it.

     One area to be careful with is where the sole meets the upper (whether the boot is welted or not). It’s easy for a lot of oil to build up there and that is something you need to avoid.

     Make sure to only apply the oil to the outside of the leather (the smooth side). You don’t want to apply it to the rough side (which is typically on the inside, but can be on the outside, such as when you have rough out).

     You can oil the sole as well if it’s leather. I would suggest using very small amounts on the sole though because if it becomes soft it will wear much quicker.

     When you have covered the entire boot with a thin coat of coconut oil, let it sit for a minute or two. Enjoy the nice coconut smell while you wait. Then brush the boots one more time to get off any excess oil that you may have applied. Let the boots sit for a day to dry. You may be eager to wear your newly-conditioned boots right away, but you need to fight that urge and give them some rest.


     Congratulations. You’re done and you have a nourished pair of boots now. And if you don’t like that coconut smell, don’t worry. It’ll be gone after a day or two of wearing.

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Disclaimer: This post is based off personal experiences, influenced and guided by popular opinions, and tested on our own products. We are not reliable for any accidents, faults, or defects that may occur when you try this method.

12 comments:

  1. Wow what a great technique! I could definitely use this ;) great post!

    GIRL ABOUT TOWN BLOG
    FOLLOW MY BLOG ON BLOGLOVIN :)

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Nicole! Happy to hear from you again :)

      xo i

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  2. Very nice post and amazing blog! Love your style also.Following you on Instagram and Twitter and would appreciate if you follow back and stay in touch.
    http://www.fabuloustorture.blogspot.com

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    1. Andrea! I noticed today! Thank you very much, I will check out your blog right now :)

      xo i

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  3. This is such a handy tip! Who knew coconut oil has so many uses :')
    Other Infinities

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  4. Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping by Gail!
      ...and indeed! Coconut itself, is a wonderful fruit to begin with hahaha :)

      xo i

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  5. Thank you very much! I hope our tips helped :)

    xo i

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  6. hi.. i've used liquid coconut oil on my leather bag. Seems that the smell is still there. Any advice on what can be done to remove it. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete