http://www.newlifewoodconditioners.com/58/8-steps-to-clean-antique-furniture/ Antique Furniture | Furniture Restoration Fri, 10 Dec 2010 20:04:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.newlifewoodconditioners.com/58/8-steps-to-clean-antique-furniture/#comment-5 Kevin Gillan Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:39:02 +0000 http://newlifewoodconditioners.com/blog/?p=58#comment-5 Applying saddle soap to old, furniture grade leather is a bad idea. The pH of leather is 4.5 to 5.0. Saddle soap is alkaline (pH around 9 or so). This pH imbalance causes a chemical reaction in the leather that accelerates the break down of the fiber structure. Saddle soap, as the name implies is intended for vegetable tanned leather as found on a saddle. Never use it on upholstery grade (chromium tanned) leather as it is too harsh. Only use cleaning and conditioning products that are pH balanced to leather. Applying saddle soap to old, furniture grade leather is a bad idea. The pH of leather is 4.5 to 5.0. Saddle soap is alkaline (pH around 9 or so). This pH imbalance causes a chemical reaction in the leather that accelerates the break down of the fiber structure. Saddle soap, as the name implies is intended for vegetable tanned leather as found on a saddle. Never use it on upholstery grade (chromium tanned) leather as it is too harsh. Only use cleaning and conditioning products that are pH balanced to leather.

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