Should I buy Chamberlain’s Water Protectant No.3 for my leather? How should I use it? What results should I expect? All this and more will be revealed in this handy guide!
Product video & photography by ImageAlive Studios; feature leather made by Saddleback Leather Co.
WHAT WATER PROTECTANT WILL DO
OPTIMIZED LEATHER CONDITIONER FOR MAXIMUM PROTECTION
Water Protectant contains deeply penetrating natural oils and waxes that simultaneously condition and protect your leather. Designed for leather frequently exposed to harsh weather conditions, its thick consistency will bolster your leather’s natural defenses while providing a rich source of nourishment to keep it healthy and strong. When applied, Water Protectant should cause water to bead on the surface of your leather, rolling off rather than absorbing. It will ward off rain, snow, mud, and other elements, ensuring maximum outdoor protection for all your swashbuckling adventures.
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY, ALL-NATURAL, SAFE FOR HUMAN SKIN!
Brewed to perfection with all-natural ingredients and an optimal pH-balanced recipe, this leather conditioner stands out from the crowd for its distinctive style: a rich, syrupy texture laced with scent of fir tree. As you condition, this recipe will recall the untamed, rugged sensations of the wilderness to your mind, teasing your nose with a whiff of the great outdoors. This subtle sensation lasts only as long as the conditioner takes to absorb, and will not affect your leather’s natural scents – we’re as big a fan of them as you are! All the while, Water Protectant is environmentally friendly and made with FDA approved, cosmetic grade ingredients completely natural and safe for human skin. We’ve even watched people drink our Leather Milk recipe straight out of the bottle like actual milk! We wouldn’t personally advise doing this, of course!
STRONGER, RICHER LEATHER; MADE IN USA
Recipe No.3 is also ideal for excessively dry leather or leather in need of restoration. High concentrations of oils and nutrients greatly supplement proteins holding leather fibers together, and will also give your leather a more pleasant look and texture. It is very effective for covering scratches and scars, and is known to restore color on some leathers.
If you have already used Water Protectant, you will not need to apply any other leather conditioners to your leather, at least until it is ready to be conditioned again. All Leather Milk products are made in USA.
Check out more of Water Protectant No.3 in action in our special blog: Chamberlain’s Water Protectant on a Land Rover!
WHAT WATER PROTECTANT DOES NOT DO
Water Protectant does not waterproof leather. While Water Protectant will prohibit water from absorbing into leather to a remarkable degree, to fully waterproof leather would hurt it. Leather naturally absorbs and releases moisture in the air through a breathing process, which helps it replenish and remove oils it no longer needs. If leather were unable to breathe, it would either rot in the presence of oils and moisture, or dry out for lack of them. Water Protectant allows enough moisture to pass through leather’s pores that it can maintain healthy homeostasis, but prevents larger substances from passing through. In other words, Water Protectant will repel water, but it won’t choke your leather. This gives you more time to respond to spills or weather before they absorb into your leather – if they don’t simply bead and drip off first.
Water Protectant is not a leather cleaner, and will not remove stains. Leather should always be cleaned prior to using Water Protectant, preferably with a deep leather cleaner, such as Straight Cleaner No.2. Dust and debris not first removed by cleaning will be sealed inside leather’s pores once Water Protectant is applied. These contaminants may harm your leather, and will prevent Water Protectant from absorbing effectively. If your leather is dirty, clean it first.
Water Protectant is not designed for nubuck/suede/”genuine leather”/napped leather. Use with care on lighter-hued leathers. You can read more about the marketing (misnomer) term “genuine leather” and what that means here.
HOW TO USE WATER PROTECTANT
1. If available, consult any leather care recommendations included with your item by the leather’s manufacturer.
2. Shake well. Test recipe first in a discreet area and allow to dry naturally in a cool, clean location away from sunlight and heat. If you do not find excess color rub off, discoloration in leather, or any other negative effect, it is safe to use on your leather.
3. Clean over the surface of your leather with a damp cloth or Straight Cleaner No.2 first if it is dirty. When the leather is dry, shake your Leather Milk recipe bottle well and gently massage the conditioner evenly across the leather’s surface. An uneven spread may lead to a splotchy dry. Use thin layers, giving your leather as many coats as it needs, but only as much conditioner as it can absorb. If piled on too thickly, the leather conditioner may leave a sticky residue. You can read about over-conditioned leather here.
4. After it has been conditioned, allow your leather to dry naturally. When the leather has absorbed all the conditioner it can, buff off any remaining residue, and let it set. For best results, allow the leather to sit overnight.
5. Use Water Protectant as often as you feel your leather needs it. It is usually best to condition 2-4 times a year, depending on the climate and amount of use the leather will receive, as well as its type (how it was made). If your leather is feeling rough and dry, starts squeaking, or develops other textural changes, it may be time to re-condition.
IS WATER PROTECTANT RIGHT FOR MY LEATHER?
Water Protectant is best used on quality cowhide, full grain and finished leather, although it can work well with most types of leather. It is especially important to test Water Protectant first before using it on any vegetable tanned, aniline, semi-aniline, or lighter colored leathers. Due to Water Protectant’s heavy consistency, it will darken leather. These darkening effects will usually lighten back within a week of use as the conditioner has time to absorb beneath the leather’s surface, but it depends on the leather’s type. Some exotic or very soft leathers are not designed to handle large concentrations of oils and waxes. That said, Water Protectant can be used safely on most any type of leather, as long as it is tested first. If your leather is unfinished, it may be wise to test your leather in multiple discreet places before applying.
Water Protectant is most at home restoring old leather or protecting heavy duty leather exposed to harsh environments and volatile weather. If you’re planning a hike through the woods, want to be ready for that heavy thunderstorm you’re hearing about on the news, or simply want to restore an old antique you’ve recently rediscovered hidden in your attic, Water Protectant is your solution. If your leather prefers a gentle touch, or only sees casual use and mild climates, you should look at Leather Care Liniment No.1.
Finally, if you have any allergy concerns, be sure to Contact Us to ensure none of the ingredients will be harmful to anyone coming into contact with the treated leather. Individuals with nut allergies are not advised to use Leather Milk. For more health recommendations, please visit our Water Protectant SDS (Safety Data Sheet).
Long and short, if you’ve got leather, and you’ve got weather, you need Water Protectant. Test it first and use it well – and it will save your hide!
Hope this helps!
Daniel S