How To Make DIY Beeswax Leather Conditioner And Polish

This recipe for DIY leather conditioner uses beeswax and other natural ingredients to make a balm that can be used to polish shoes, furniture and other leather surfaces.

Taking proper care of leather isn’t just a good idea, it’s an unavoidable part of owning real leather things. Cleaning and conditioning leather goods is the best way to make sure they last well.

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What You Need To Make Beeswax Leather Conditioner:

ingredients

• Beeswax – Beeswax is a great ingredient to use in a leather conditioner because the beeswax will leave a light coating on the surface of your leather items, protecting them from water damage. I like to use white beeswax pellets.
• Shea Butter or Cocoa Butter – Either shea butter or cocoa butter will work to really give your leather products a nice deep conditioning.
• Natural Oil – Any natural oil like sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, fractionated coconut oil or olive oil are safe and great for using on leather. These oils hydrate and soften the surface of the leather making it more flexible and durable.
• Lemon Essential Oil – Lemon essential oil helps to prevent cracks and adds to the life of leather items it’s used on.

supplies

• Double Boiler – Or you can just add an inch or two of water to a saucepan and a glass bowl on top of the saucepan. Heat the water over medium heat and add your ingredients to the glass bowl to melt.
• Glass Jar or Other Airtight Container – A shallow container is best for storing your leather conditioner. That way you can easily dip a rag in to apply it.

How To Make This Beeswax Leather Conditioner Recipe:

Combine – Add all of the ingredients to a double boiler. Or you could use a bowl set on top of a saucepan with a couple inches of water in it instead.

Melt – Melt the mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it is completely melted there are no clumps left.

Remove From Heat – Remove the pan from the heat and add the essential oils to the mixture, stirring.

Pour – Carefully pour the melted leather conditioner into a container. Let the mixture cool completely before sealing the container.

Tips For Success:

To Use – Make sure to clean the leather before applying conditioner to it. Wipe away any loose dirt or dust, clean and allow it to dry completely.

Using a soft, clean rag, apply a small amount of leather conditioner to your leather surface. Rub in a circular motion until the conditioner has been absorbed into the fibers of the leather and it no longer looks dry. Wipe away any excess conditioner. Buff with a clean, dry cloth to bring out the shine!

Condition again every few months or as needed.

To Store – Store this beeswax conditioner in a dry place at room temperature for more than a year.

Variations – This recipe can be made into a conditioning bar if you prefer. Just pour the melted beeswax mixture into a bar soap mold. Let it cool and store in a plastic baggie.

Substitutions – The main ingredients in this recipe can be swapped out with similar substitutes. You can use any of these ingredients in place of each other in this recipe:

• coconut oil, olive oil, almond oil or jojoba oil
• shea butter, cocoa butter or mango butter
• lemon essential oil or citronella essential oil

about This Beeswax Leather Conditioner Recipe

It’s easy to make

It takes 15 minutes or less to whip up a small batch of homemade leather conditioner that will last you a really long time.

all natural ingredients

This beeswax leather conditioner recipe calls for a few simple ingredients that are all natural and chemical free.

much cheaper than store-bought

Commercial leather conditioners are not cheap. And ones that are made with real beeswax, can get really pricey!

Buying all of the ingredients to make this recipe might not seem inexpensive at first, but you’ll have plenty of each product left over afterward to use in other recipes like homemade lip balms, beeswax body butter, beeswax candles and even baby lotion.

it works really well!

The natural oils in this recipe work to soften and moisturize the leather. The butter conditions and the beeswax protects it for the future.

All of these ingredients combined, make a thick, creamy leather balm that takes dry, stained and cracked leather surfaces and makes them supple, smooth and shiny again.

easy to use

To use this conditioner, apply a small amount at a time with a clean cloth. Rub in small circular motions, wiping away any excess until the whole leather surface has been conditioned. Let it dry and buff the leather by rubbing it al over with a clean dry cloth.

Always dust and clean leather products before conditioning them.

FAQ About Beeswax Leather Conditioner

is beeswax a good leather conditioner?

Beeswax has been used to condition leathers for hundreds of years! It helps add a light protective finish to real leather goods. When beeswax is combined with natural oils and butters in a leather balm, it seals moisture in the leather, keeping it from drying out.

how do you rehydrate leather?

If your leather items or furniture are looking dried and dull, the best way to rehydrate them is by using a leather conditioner. Leather conditioners add moisture back into the fibers of the leather, softening and restoring them.

how do you clean leather?

To clean leather, first dust the surface to remove and loose dirt and lint. Next, spray a leather cleaning solution onto the item, rubbing each section in a circular motion and wiping away any excess spray. Allow it to dry completely and follow up with a leather conditioner.

how do you polish leather with beeswax?

After applying a beeswax leather conditioner, rub the surface with a clean dry cloth to buff and polish your leather items.

what can you use this beeswax leather conditioner recipe on?

This leather conditioner can be used on any real leather products. It won’t do anything to faux leather since imitation leathers can’t absorb oils.

This recipe is great for:

• leather couches or chairs
• leather shoes and boots
• leather bags, wallets and purses
• leather hats
• leather jackets and other clothing items

More Homemade Beeswax Recipes On The Blog:

If you liked this recipe, I think you’ll really enjoy these other homemade household products on the blog!

• Beeswax Lip Balm
• Beeswax and Essential Oil Candles
• DIY Beeswax Furniture Polish
• Homemade Baby Lotion
• Beeswax Body Butter

I hope you love this recipe for beeswax leather conditioner! If you make it, I’d love for you to come back and leave a comment and rating so that I know how you like using it!

Pin these steps to try later. Tag @athomeontheprairie on Instagram to share what you’ve made with us!