- How can I learn more about caring for leather?
-
Find an abundance of leather care information in any of our many blog posts
We also send leather protection tips, seasonal how-tos, and (sometimes) sales monthly. Sign up here for our newsletter!
- How do I apply MooBuzz® All-Natural Leather Protection?
-
Before you apply MooBuzz® All-Natural Leather Protection, make sure your leather is clean and dry. Rubbing anything into the grit of dirty leather is just like rubbing your leather with sandpaper. Not good.
Once your leather is dry and free of grit, apply using your hands or a soft cloth.
Most people find that this stuff makes their skin feel great, but you may be sensitive to it. Use latex or nitrile gloves and a cloth if you prefer. In fact, just wearing gloves works great, and more MooBuzz® Leather Protection gets into your leather instead of being absorbed by your skin or a cloth.
Whether you use your hands, gloves, or a cloth, massage it into the leather using a circular motion. The warmth of your hands and the friction of rubbing will melt the oil and wax mixture and help it move into the leather.
Less is more here: You are not frosting a cake. Several thin coats are better than one thick coat.
Allow a few minutes for absorption (no more than 20), then wipe away excess, and buff with a soft, clean cloth or horsehair brush. Give your leather a final buffing with a clean, soft cloth for a beautiful hand-rubbed look.
- Can I use MooBuzz® All-Natural Leather Protection to clean my leather?
-
No. MooBuzz® All-Natural Leather Protection is not a leather cleaner. Lightly soiled items can be wiped with a clean, damp cloth. For more heavily soiled items we recommend a saddle soap or other mild leather cleaner. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Allow items to dry thoroughly before applying protection.
- Will MooBuzz® All-Natural Leather Protection change the color of my leather?
-
MooBuzz® All-Natural Leather Protection will make almost all leather darker, at least initially. This can be especially dramatic if your leather is very dry. Try it on a small, inconspicuous area like the tongue of a lace-up shoe or under an area covered by a strap to see if you like the look before applying to your entire leather item.
Your leather will lighten gradually over a few days. It may not get as light as it was originally. Already dark colored leather will not change appreciably but it is still best to test in a hidden area first.
- Will MooBuzz® All-Natural Leather Protection make my leather feel greasy?
-
MooBuzz® All-Natural Leather Protection is a blend of Neatsfoot Oil and Beeswax. It will feel oily as you apply it. If you're applying it correctly, however, your letaher shouldn't feel greasy after use.
For best results, apply light coats and allow each coat to absorb for about 20 minutes. Be sure to wipe off all excess with a soft cloth.
We find that a final buffing with a clean cloth will remove oil residue and leave your leather feeling smooth and supple.
- Can I apply MooBuzz® All-Natural Leather Protection on suede?
-
No. MooBuzz® All-Natural Leather Protection is not intended for use on suede.
- Can I use MooBuzz® All-Natural Leather Protection on newly-dyed, handmade leather goods?
-
Yes! MooBuzz® All-Natural Leather Protection is great for custom dyed, handmade leather goods.
Some “bleeding” of the dye may occur when you first apply it, and you may want to wear gloves when first conditioning and waterproofing your leather item. Always be sure to remove excess MooBuzz® Leather Protection by buffing with a clean, soft cloth.
- What about using MooBuzz® All-Natural Leather Protection on natural, undyed, vegetable-tanned leather?
-
MooBuzz® All-Natural Leather Protection is the perfect finish for your natural, undyed, vegetable-tanned leather item.
Light coats are best. The first coat on completely untreated leather may not penetrate uniformly and might even look streaky. Don’t worry; it will even out with successive light coats. Be sure to let each coat absorb fully and buff gently to bring out a gorgeous patina.
Don’t rush this process.
Nervous? Try MooBuzz® Leather Protection in an inconspicuous spot or on a scrap of leather left over from your project.
- What if my boots or shoes are seriously salt stained?
-
If your boots or shoes are salt stained, you will need to remove the salt before applying MooBuzz® All-Natural Leather Protection. No need to purchase fancy cleaners. Just use a mild solution of white vinegar and water (about 1/4c. water to 2c. vinegar) and a natural bristle brush to remove the salt. This solution will also remove mold and mildew from your leather. Rinse gently and pat dry with a clean towel. Allow your boots or shoes to dry completely before applying MooBuzz® Leather Protection. Read: How to remove salt stains from leather boots and shoes.
- Why is it called MooBuzz® All-Natural Leather Protection?
-
MooBuzz® All-Natural Leather Protection is made using two simple, natural ingredients: Neatsfoot Oil and Beeswax.
Neatsfoot Oil is derived from the shin bones and feet of cattle (Moo). Beeswax is made by worker honey bees and is used as their home and for storing honey (Buzz).
That’s where the name comes from. But wait until you put this stuff on your leather – it’ll give your moo a great buzz.
- What is Neatsfoot?
-
“Neat” is an old English word for domesticated cattle. Neatsfoot Oil is derived from the shin bones and feet of cattle. We use only 100% pure Neatsfoot Oil to make MooBuzz® All-Natural Leather Protection.
Pure Neatsfoot Oil is pretty cool stuff. It has amazing penetrating properties. This is in part because, unlike most animal fats and many plant oils, it is liquid at room temperature. In fact, the Neatsfoot Oil we use to make MooBuzz® products stays liquid even below the freezing point of water (32 degrees F). The fact that Neatsfoot Oil remains liquid at such low temperatures enables it to deeply penetrate leather fibers to soften and preserve even in the harshest conditions.
Original MooBuzz® Leather Protection formula has just enough beeswax to create a paste that melts at the temperature of your body – making it great for applying by hand. Bonus, pure Neatsfoot Oil is non-drying and will not cause leather to become brittle.
- Do you use Neatsfoot Oil Compound to make MooBuzz® All-Natural Leather Protection?
-
No. We use only 100% pure Neatsfoot Oil to make MooBuzz® leather protection products.
Unlike the 100% pure Neatsfoot Oil we use, Neatsfoot Oil Compound may contain petroleum derivatives or synthetic oils. These added artificial oils can cause leather to become brittle as it ages and may cause some stitching to decay. Petroleum additives can also break down the glue bond on many types of footwear.
- Why use Beeswax?
-
Beeswax is a great waterproofing agent. It does not dissolve in water and remains very plastic (flexible) at low temperatures. In fact, it is much more plastic than most plant waxes at similar temperatures.
These characteristics allow Beeswax to stay pliable when applied to leather and then subjected to cold and wet conditions. It is an amazing natural material.