Leather conditioner is used for protecting and waterproofing leather goods. Different brands of conditioner do expire at some point, and why does it do this?
Here Is The 3 Problems With Leather Conditioner expiring:
Leather conditioner will expire and this varies from product to product. The reasons leather conditioner does expire is because it has:
No preservatives
Natural Ingredients
Use by date of the product has expired.
This is the short answer!
We have put together this article to explain the reasons why leather conditioner does expire. Plus have listed the famous brands including Lexol do you can check to see if the product you are using is still ok to use.
Problems With Leather Conditioner Expiring
No preservatives
The leather conditioner has problems with Expiring because of a lack of preservatives. One of the main ingredients in leather conditioners is a preservative, which helps keep the leather from getting dirty and going bad.
For this reason, some people don’t put as much conditioner on their leather for a long life span for their new shoes and other items made from top-quality leather goods. That means that preservatives must be added to this product to avoid spoilage. If a company chooses not to add any preservative, they are knowingly subjecting their customers and their merchandise-and giving themselves no recourse should they run into an issue with their goods being spoiled.
Unfortunately, many products with this ingredient are only good for six months to one year once opened up. Some of these products can be found in the grocery and discount stores, but most shoe repair shops and leather goods stores keep a good supply.
This conditioner can be used for all leather goods such as shirts, jackets, purses, and shoes. Many people choose to use it on their cars as well. This is a very inexpensive product that will last many years.
Natural Ingredients
Leather conditioner products are made up of synthetic oils, petrochemicals, and artificial fragrances that do not break down and will leave an oily residue on your leather. Leather conditioner is a product that may have a shelf life because it uses artificial chemicals that don’t degrade.
Leather conditioners can end up having problems with expiring because of the lack of natural ingredients in the formula and being loaded with petroleum-based ingredients, which can make a mess in your home.
Often the smell does not stay very long, even if it contains many expensive compounds. There are a lot of ingredients that can be found in leather conditioners that are not natural or made from natural products.
Once you have applied the leather conditioner, your leather will feel sticky, and you may find that your leather backpack will pick up a lot of dirt easily. Leather conditioners generally go off after about 7 to 10 days, depending on the formula, but some products can last for as long as 30 days or longer.
Leather conditioners use natural ingredients that are not stable in warm temperatures, so only leather stored in cool places or air-conditioned places will be preserved. The lack of natural ingredients is a definite problem because it prevents the process of conditioning and water resistance.
Water resistance can be a major issue in shoes or jackets due to the boots getting wet or the jacket getting rained on. At the same time, they are being worn, and if there is no water resistance present, the product will eventually start drying out, which won’t be much good for your clothing items either.
Use by Date
The leather conditioner has a use by date printed on the container. This use by date refers to when you should not use the leather conditioner, not when it expires. Generally, this period is considered to be two years from the time that it was manufactured. It is difficult to determine if a leather conditioner has expired because many of them will evaporate over time without becoming rancid.
To understand if your leather conditioner has expired, you can compare the ingredients in the container to the list provided below. If you do not find a match, it is probably either rancid or fakes and should be discarded. Some conditioners will contain 4 or 5 different types of oils, each with their expiry dates.
In this case, you should only use those less than two years old. The remaining ingredients will likely have expired and, therefore, may cause harm to your leather product.
You should examine your leather conditioner for an expiration date; if one is not present, you can assume that it is good for at least two years from the manufacturing period and that it has not become rancid. If you find an expiration date and the date has expired, then according to most manufacturers, the conditioner should be discarded. If you have your leather conditioner for more time than the manufacturer’s use by date, it should be discarded.
Products with 3 or 4 different types of oils are questionable. The only way to tell if they are still good is to compare them to a list of all ingredients. If they do not match up, they will most likely have expired and should be thrown out. Do not buy cheap leather conditioners because they tend to cause problems in high-heat situations such as with cars or luggage.
What Is The Use By Date Of Leather Conditioner?
Ruby Martin Conditioner
One of the original and most popular brands, Ruby Martin, has been in business for over 80 years. It has an excellent shelf life and works well on various leather types.
We recommend this brand for cleaning saddle-brown, saddle-brown, tobacco-brown, soft nappa, smoked nappa, and cowhide leathers. Do not use it on suede or distressed leather, as it can cause damage to the actual surface of the leather. If you want the best value for your buck, this is it. It’s sold in bulk and has a shelf life of five years.
Lexol Leather Cleaner & Conditioner
Another popular brand, Lexol conditioner, works great on all types of leather. It is made from a coal tar base that provides excellent penetration and allows it to work just as well on wet as dry leather. The consistency is medium and can be used for all horse tack, including saddles, stirrup leathers, and bridle hardware. It has a shelf life of three years.
Hide Bracer Leather Conditioner
This is another coal tar base leather conditioner made with water, inert ingredients, and refined petroleum.
A little thinner than Lexol but still provides purposeful penetration of the pores with each application. Its medium consistency works well on all horse tack, including saddles, stirrup leathers, and bridle hardware.
It meets ASTM-D-4349 specifications; when applied to dry leather, it will raise the grain of the leather slightly (approximately 10%) but not enough to make it noticeable. When applied to wet leather, it will completely dissolve the surface oil. The shelf life of the Hide Bracer is five years if unopened.
Bickmore Bick 1
Bick 1 is more expensive and has a thinner consistency than the previous three brands listed. It’s ideal for use in cleaning saddle browns, saddle blacks, and tobacco brown soft nappas.
This one may be right for you if you want to keep your tack looking new minus the extra cost of other brands. However, we recommend it only if you plan to apply it regularly and not just as needed. It has a shelf life of two years open and one year closed (meaning once it’s opened, it should be used within one year).
Leather Honey
The trendy brand Leather Honey is known for its outstanding results on real leather. It has created the same formula for people wanting to restore their faux leather upholstery, bags, and accessories.
This brand works to seal the pores in your fake leather and mends any tears or punctures caused by everyday wear and tear. Leather Honey can work for an extended period since it does not evaporate. Some customers claim that it has a use by date of approximately ten years.
What is the use by date of leather protector spray?
The BioPlus Leather Protector
BioPlus is more than just a leather protector-it’s the best. For starters, the brand offers its customers the longest shelf life: two years! With a formula that includes a UV-protective mechanism, natural preservatives, and antioxidants, you can count on this protector to protect your leather for years to come.
It also works well on all leather types, including suede and coated leathers. It extends the life of your favorite leather goods with its two-year shelf life.
Nu Finish Leather Cream
This cream made by Nu Finish is a great choice for those with light-colored leather that want to maintain its original color. It also offers a great sheen to the leather, giving it a glossy look.
This product is water-based and safe for pets, children, and plants. You can apply this cream with your bare hands or a soft cloth, although you should try and avoid getting the cream on other surfaces around your home. Just apply the cream to an area that is clean before taking an applicator to it.
Use a small amount of Nu Finish Leather Cream at a time, so you don’t overuse it. Independent laboratory test indicates that this leather spray cream can last for approximately one year after opening under standard weather conditions.
DUO Leather Protector Spray (Water-Based)
The Duo Leather Protector Spray is made from a water-based formula that offers a deep, non-greasy shine and a rich scent of leather. This product also kills 99% of germs and bacteria that cause stains and odours.
It works by forming a waterproof layer on your leather and will not stain it or lose its effectiveness even after months of use. This spray can be applied with a sponge or soft cloth, and it’s light enough to use, even with delicate leather. It should be shaken well before use and used within one hour of application. The Duo Leather Protector Spray is available in a size of 6 ounces. It lasts up to three years.
Belvoir Leather Balsam Intensive Conditioner (Oil-Based)
This is the oil-based leather protector made by Hunter’s Special Blend, which is 75% natural ingredients that are non-toxic to humans and animals. This leather spray is an excellent choice for those that have high concentrations of oils on their skin, as it will not stain them or any materials they may be wearing while using this product.
It will not harm the leather it is being applied to, but it will help protect against damage caused by everyday wear and tear on the item. You should use it on unfinished or tight-grained leather, as this can cause a sticky finish over time. This product can also be used on suede.
This oil-based spray comes in a container of 16 ounces. It lasts up to three years. Additionally, you should avoid applying this product in direct sunlight or when it is windy.
