It’s obvious that coconut oil has many uses, but can you use it to moisturize leather? In this post, we’ll tell you all about how to care for leather and what the best kinds of coconut oil are for various types of leather. If you’re not sure whether coconut oil is a good choice for your jacket or shoes, don’t worry! You can read on and find out more about that too!
Can You Use Coconut Oil on Leather?
Yes! You can use coconut oil on all different kinds of leather. We recommend using a kind of coconut oil that’s “hard” or “solid” as opposed to soft, creamy oils like coconut oil and coconut butter. These are the oils you might find in baking. We only recommend using them on non-leather items such as plastic or wood because they will melt if applied to a leather surface.
Other than that, you can use any brand of liquid coconut oil (or another liquid fatty acid) on leather. Coconut oil is commonly sold in the tub format, but it can also be sold in more concentrated forms for use as a cream. You can read about those types of products here.
Before we get into the specifics, let’s start with some basics.
To keep your leather items looking their best, it’s important to properly clean and condition them. While some resources suggest using coconut oil to condition leather, it’s not recommended because it can darken or stain the leather over time. Instead, consider using a leather conditioner specifically designed for the type of leather you have. Follow these tips to keep your leather soft and looking like new.
What is Coconut Oil?
Coconut oil is a common cooking ingredient used in many different cultures, particularly tropical ones like Thailand and India. It’s a bit unusual for people in the US to use coconut oil in their daily cooking, but it’s gaining popularity now.
Coconut oil is made out of the meat of coconuts (the edible part). Some people prefer to buy unrefined coconut oils, which have not been processed or refined. This type of oil is sometimes said to be more nutritious than refined oils.
The most common varieties of coconut oil are the refined, bleached kind and the unrefined, natural kind. In addition to cooking, coconut oil is also used as a beauty product, and we have some tips for using it in that capacity in this post as well!
What Makes Coconut Oil Suitable for Leather?
You’ll find that the first time you use coconut oil on leather it won’t smell nice at all. This is normal, but after a few applications, it will start to smell nice and fresh. The reason for this is that coconut oil contains coconut scent molecules. You may not be much of a fan of the smell of coconut oil because it’s a bit strong, but if you keep using it on leather, the scent will dissipate over time.
Coconut oil can also help keep leather soft and supple! It’s basically just as good as (if not better than) silicone-based waterproofing treatments for leather.
That said, coconut oil isn’t exactly waterproof. So we usually recommend using it on leather saddles and other leather items that you will use in the rain. If you want to use it on leather jackets or shoes, you’re probably better off with another oil.
If you can’t find the exact kind of coconut oil that we recommend, any other brand of coconut oil with a high amount of saturated fatty acids will work just fine. You can find coconut oil with certain fatty acids as well, such as lauric acid, so you can even use cheaper brands to save money.
What’s the Difference Between Hard and Soft Coconut Oil?
The main difference between hard and soft coconut oils is that the hard ones are more solid than the soft ones. This means that hard coconut oils can be used as a massage oil or a substitute for lotion. Some people even make DIY body butters out of them!
Harder oils also have higher amounts of saturated fats, so they’re a bit cheaper than soft coconut oils. These types of oils usually cost around $10 per pound, whereas the creamy varieties cost around $20 per pound.
Depending on the brand, hard coconut oils may not smell the same as soft ones. Some have distinct odors of their own while others do not. Generally speaking, most people don’t find the smell of hard coconut oil to be nearly as strong as that of actual coconut oil.
11 Ways to Get the Best Results With Your Oils and Butters
So what should you do with your newly discovered source of amazing natural beauty and health-saving magic? The short answer is experiment and experiments some more! There’s no time for that in our busy lives though. So we’ve got it all covered for you.
Treat Bag, Fragrance and Sunglasses Leather
Exfoliate and moisturize your leather bag, handbag or briefcase with coconut oil before storing. It will reduce stains and make your leather look beautiful for a very long time.
Protect your Hair from Dryness and Damage
You may not know it but you are probably damaging your hair every time you wash it with shampoo that contains sulfates and silicones which actually dry out hair strands over time. Glass bottle of coconut oil for dry hair.
Conditionally Strengthen Leather Sofa, Car Seats and Chairs
Add a few drops of coconut oil to a leather cleaning kit you already have and use it regularly to condition your leather items. You will be thrilled with the results!
Waterproofing Leather Shoes and Boots
The best way to protect your leather shoes from dirt, moisture, and grime is to rub some oil into the leather before putting them on each time you wear them. You will be amazed at the results.
To ensure that your leather shoes and boots remain in good condition, it’s important to know how to waterproof them. You can use materials such as silicone sprays, waxes, or balms to protect the leather from water damage and stains. For more information on waterproof materials used for footwear, check out our article on waterproof materials used in footwear.
Revive Leather Furniture With Coconut Oil
If your furniture has started to look a little tired, rub some coconut oil into the leather using a dry cloth before polishing it off with a damp cloth. You will be amazed at how good it comes up. Just make sure you do not oil an area that you are about to sit on as it will cause the skin to sweat and in turn soak up unwanted moisture which can cause discoloring and staining of the leather.
Get Rid of Permanent Marker Stains on Leather
Why do you think the salespeople at the leather or upholstery shops always tell you to rub away the marker stains with a little coconut oil? It’s because it works!
Clean Leather Furniture and Car Seats Easily With Coconut Oil
Always clean your leather items with a solution of 2 parts water to 1 part coconut oil and wipe off any excess with a dry cloth. You will be amazed at the results.
Condition Leather Furniture and Car Seats Using Coconut Oil
To condition your leather items, wipe a thin layer of coconut oil on any dry leather and wipe it up with a clean cloth after 20 minutes. The oil will harden over time and your furniture will look brand new!
Use Coconut Oil to Remove the Label From Leather Furniture
All you need is a bottle of coconut oil and a plain water. Rub the oil into the leather and let it soak for an hour. This should loosen the stickiness of label glue. Peel off the label and then wipe any remaining glue off with a clean cloth.
Use Coconut Oil to Fix Leather Baseball Gloves
Put a few drops of coconut oil onto a clean cloth and massage into the stitching and seams of your baseball glove. And then wait for it to dry off all by itself and your damaged baseball glove will be as good as new!
Use Coconut Oil as Leather Conditioner for Dog Collars and Leashes
Coconut oil is non-toxic and doesn’t harm animals, so you can safely use it on dog collars and leashes made of leather.
Homemade Coconut oil Leather Conditioner
This is an extremely easy recipe, similar to the other one but with a few tweaks.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 2 tablespoons beeswax (melted)
- 2 Table spoons (15ml) kiwi emulsion or vinegar
- 1 Cup warm water (from the tap is fine)
Method:
Place coconut oil, beeswax and kiwi emulsion or vinegar into a bowl. Mix this all up until it forms a nice smooth paste. Then add the water to this mixture. Stir well to make sure all ingredients are mixed in well, but make sure you do not overmix as this is important for the conditioner to work properly. If needed, you can thin the mix with some more water at this part. Once done, store in a clean and dry glass jar. Apply as normal to your leather shoes with a clean rag, you can add more beeswax to increase the thickness of the conditioner as well. Let the conditioned shoes sit overnight before using them again.
Retain new shoe softness and reduce wear and tear
The above recipe can be used on both brand new shoes that need some tender loving care or older shoes that you want to restore back to their former glory. The mix is very easy to apply and wrap up, so it is a great way to keep your leather goods in tip-top shape.
What Kind of Oils Should you put on Leather Boots?
Leather is a unique material with a very distinct surface that thrives on oil. The leather comes from the skin of an animal and has been tanned by low temperature. This process results in the skin being soft, pliable and supple. Professional leather care products are designed to protect the surface of pure or semi-aniline leather from water damage, dirt, stains and general neglect. Different types of oils can be added to leather furniture for several reasons:
The leather will absorb oils from hair conditioners, moisturizers, lotions and other cosmetics.
Oils provide lubrication to help prevent friction and wear on the surface of the furniture; this decreases odor and makes it easier to clean.
Oils will not only decrease the odor and clean the surface but also help prevent water damage, fading and dryness.
If you have leather boots or leather furniture, you will want to use a leather conditioner on a regular basis to keep your leather looking great. What kind of oil should you use?
Pure aniline is rare in today’s market because it is very expensive and requires more maintenance. It comes from a piece of tanned skin that does not have any pigmentation or dyeing on it. The colors are sewn into the hole pieces rather than painted onto the surface. The colors show through as they are.
Does coconut oil waterproof leather boots?
The answer is yes, but only if you are using the wrong kind of coconut oil.
Choose an oil that has no flavor or scent to it, such as a neutral cooking oil. The coconut oil in your kitchen is the wrong kind, and you need to avoid that one.
Look for the clear variety of coconut oil and make sure it says “skin safe” on the label. Coconut oil can be used as a moisturizer and can also be used as an all-purpose cleaner. It is made from coconuts, which are indeed natural oils that can be used with leather protection.
Which oil is the best for leather boots?
There is no real best oil for leather boots. They all have their own unique use and benefits so you should consider each of them to determine which one will be ideal for your situation. Taking a few extra minutes to protect your leather boots or furniture with these oils will save you a lot of money in the long run.
