Pears Soap

May 02, 2018

•

Resource Center

I use Pears soap as a deep cleanser on leather because it's mild enough to clean human skin, but rinses clean without leaving a residue, unlike traditional bar saddle soaps. While it has minor humectant properties because of its moisturizing ingredients, in my experience it does not leave leather soft, supple, or sufficiently moisturized. It's only to clean, like shampoo for hair, and leather definitely requires conditioning afterwards.

Pears soap, water, a soft toothbrush, microfiber rag and your fingers can remove sweat and grime from dirty leather. Care must be taken when leather is wet to avoid scratching or stretching.

Before (top): Dry, neglected leather covered in sweat and horse dander. After (bottom): Pears soap, water, a soft toothbrush and microfiber rag removes virtually all the filth. After drying, the leather is clean and ready for conditioning.

Using Pears soap on leather would be considered an off-label use, but I've had good results with it.

Ingredients:
Water, Sorbitol, Sodium Palm Kernalate, Sodium Rosinate, Glycerin, Sodium Palmate, Sodium Slearate, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Lauryl Sulfae, PEG-4, Sodium Laurate, Alcohol Denat, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Metabisulfile, Fragrance, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Tetrasodium EDTA, BHT, D&C Red No. 33 (CI 17200), F&D Yellow 10 (CI 47005)

Trivia:
Pears soap has undergone several formula changes since its introduction in 1807. The original formula had only 8 ingredients, including Sodium Palmitate, Natural Rosin, Glycerine, Water, Sodium Cocoate, Rosemary Extract, Thyme Extract, Pears Fragrance Essence. After manufacturing moved to Unilever India, the formula changed significantly, prompting an online campaign to bring back the original formula. While the current formula is not the original, it is purportedly closer to the original formula per the manufacturer.

I've used Pears soap on myself since the late 70s, and I don't find the current formula nearly as good as the original. As a leather cleaner for $1 per bar from Dollar Tree? Works fine. For people? Meh. I like Neutrogena better.

Website:
https://www.pearspuresince1807.com

Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pears_(soap)

READ MORE

Dawn Dish Soap

May 02, 2018

•

Resource Center

Sometimes, when things are so filthy you have nothing to lose, Dawn dishwashing detergent saves the day.

Cutting through tough grease and food stains on dinnerware.

Spot-treating carpet stains.

Cleaning wildlife after environmentally disastrous oil spills.

Pre-treating laundry stains.

Cleaning leather covered in stains, oil, and mystery filth.

I've successfully removed all kinds of undesirable things from everyday life with Dawn. I realize it's manufactured by some enormous conglomerate probably guilty of all kinds of evil, but it works really well and is readily available. Sometimes, you have to pick your battles.

When I have a piece of tack that's really on the bottom side of hopeless, I'll wash the entire thing in Dawn to try to attain as close to clean slate status as possible. It helps dissolve old grease and sweat, years of dirt-impregnated oil, dander and sludge. I've even used it to pre-treat stains on suede chaps before washing and dyeing, though I strongly recommend a spot test beforehand.

This old Maycraft (Japan) halter had layer upon layer of old dirt, plus oil stains, and the stitching was filthy. Dawn, lots of water, a soft toothbrush and a microfiber rag got it deep-down clean.

Once I've cleaned leather with Dawn and water, I let it dry, assess my options, and always follow up with a conditioner as the final treatment step.

This would be considered an off-label use,  though I suspect if it's safe for contact with humans and wildlife, it's safe for filthy leather.

Ingredients:
Water, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauramine Oxide, Alcohol Denat., Sodium Chloride, PPG-26, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Methylisothiazolinone, Fragrance, Red 33, Blue 1, Yellow 5.

Website:
https://dawn-dish.com/

READ MORE