Any way to clean up a holster?

[Monkeyleg]

I have a tan Miami Classic for my 1911 carry gun. I didn't wear the holster much for the first 9 nine years I had it, but mostly when I was going to be driving all day.

For the last year or so, I've been wearing it daily, and it shows. There's darkening of the leather on the outside surfaces from dye transfer (black cover fabrics), and a very dark area on the inside face of the holster itself from sweat.

Is there any way of cleaning all this up? I saw a new Miami Classic on a gun site for $110, but if there's no way to stop this discoloration from happening again, then there's no point in getting another.

I know it's goofy, but I like having my stuff look good.

[TommyGunn]

People used to suggest saddlesoap for leather products.

[Monkeyleg]

I've read that saddle soap isn't good because it softens the leather which, on a boned holster, isn't good. Can't remember if the source was credible or not.

[Ben]

a boned holster, 

Huh. Huh huh huh huh. Beavis.

[Hawkmoon]

I've read that saddle soap isn't good because it softens the leather which, on a boned holster, isn't good. Can't remember if the source was credible or not.

Not.

Neatsfoot oil softens leather. Saddle soap cleans leather.

[RoadKingLarry]

The stains are pretty much permanent. About the only way to even attempt to get them out would be to strip the finish and hit it with a bleaching agent (oxalic acid is a common leather bleach).

[Monkeyleg]

The stains are pretty much permanent. About the only way to even attempt to get them out would be to strip the finish and hit it with a bleaching agent (oxalic acid is a common leather bleach).

Might as well just buy a new holster, which would look like this one in a few weeks.

[dogmush]

Buy a darker holster?

[vaskidmark]

Looking good is different from looking pristine.

Certain materials are going to show signs of use.  Leather is one of them.  If you are not sure how to clean your leather go visit a tack shop.  They will have all sorts of nostrums and potions they will try to sell you, but should also have a few folks willing to teach you how to use saddle soap as opposed to giving your holster a bath.

I disagree with the use of leather "salves" and leather 'oil"  http://www.getkempt.com/conversation/a-gentlemans-guide-to-keeping-up-waxed-cotton-and-leather.php unless you are truely restoring old leather that has completely dried out.  Clean with saddle soap and then use a good neutral-color paste wax that includes carnuba.   Apply very lightly, allow to dry to the proverbial haze, and buff with a good horsehair brush.  The wax is not there as a finish so much as it is a waterproof (sweat) barrier.  If you find wax rubbing off on your garments you are using too much and also probably not buffing enough.

Then figuring out why you are getting dye leaking from your cover gament onto your holster but not it onto your body or other clothes.

If all else fails, remember there are plastics out there that are about as flexible as leather without the ability to absorb water/sweat.  Folks out there make holsters out of the stuff that fit a Miami Classic rig.

stay safe.

[Monkeyleg]

Thanks, vaskidmark. I've been cleaning leather for decades, what with motorcycle jackets and my finickiness with my shoes. I thought I'd read somewhere not to use saddle soap on holsters, but I was wrong.

I wouldn't dye the  holster for the very reasons you mention, those being dye transfer, bleeding, etc. A lot of the discoloration on the holster now is dye transfer from dark clothing worn over it.

I'll just have to live with it. As for why I don't get a black holster: I just don't like shoulder rigs in black. For some reason I think they should be brown. Tradition, maybe.

[Scout26]

The shoulder holster that I had (and still have ) in the Army was black leather.  Come to think of it even the hip holsters were black leather.   I never saw any brown holsters.   (We later had the green MOLLE ones for the Beretta in the reserves.)

And yes, Saddle Soap to clean.  Neatsfoot oil to soften.   IF you really want to protect it from stains, then use Future Floor wax.  I know guys that used it on their boots.  Made them shiny as all hell, and gave them a hard finish.

[Fitz]

I might buy a shoulder holster today

[Perd Hapley]

I just don't like shoulder rigs in black. For some reason I think they should be brown. Tradition, maybe.

Brown leather just looks better.

[Hutch]

Amplifying on Skid's comment.  Having a daily use item actually look like it's used, but cared for, is neat.  One of the most striking looking revolvers I ever saw was a pre-27 3.5-inch that had ~50% bluing left.  It had been carried daily by two generations of LEO.  No nicks, gouges, or pitting, just evidence of hard, honest use.  Dick, don't do the equvalent of a facelift/tummy tuck on your holster.  I'd wear it proudly.  Come to that, I might well be willing to trade you a new one for it, if your course is set.

[Monkeyleg]

Hutch, about half the finish on the flats of the slide on my pistol is gone. The holster did have some nice aging to it. Now it just looks dirty. A little cleaning would help.

[Hawkmoon]

I'll just have to live with it. As for why I don't get a black holster: I just don't like shoulder rigs in black. For some reason I think they should be brown. Tradition, maybe.

But your initial post said "tan." Tan is a LOT lighter than brown, and will show dirt a lot faster and more visibly.

Which is it?

[vaskidmark]

But your initial post said "tan." Tan is a LOT lighter than brown, and will show dirt a lot faster and more visibly.

Which is it?

To help describe it - please pick from the following:  http://www.leatherworldtech.com/Departments/Leather-Furniture-Dye.aspx 

And I still want to know why your black cover garments are leaking dye onto your holster, yet it does not show up on aything else.

stay safe.

[Monkeyleg]

It's the standard light brown (or tan) Galco Miami Classic. I guess light brown would be the right term

And I still want to know why your black cover garments are leaking dye onto your holster, yet it does not show up on aything else.

Look up "leather dye transfer". It's a real problem with leather clothing, car seats and furniture. I have tan leather seats in my Mustang, and I started to notice the drivers seat getting dark areas right where my black denim pants and black leather vest rub the most. I tried some products made specifically for removing dye transfer, as well as general purpose leather cleaning products, but none worked satisfactorily. I finally just bought a seat cover for the drivers side.

It's the leather that's the problem with the dye transfer, not the cover garments.

[Tallpine]

I like having my stuff look good

It's concealed, right 


My holster looks like I've been wearing it every day for a couple years while riding horses and fixing fences, etc 

[vaskidmark]

....
It's the leather that's the problem with the dye transfer, not the cover garments.

Wax is your friend.  Creates a very nice barrier to dye migration outbound as well as stopping moisture, salts, and for motorcycle riders - bug juices from moving inwards.

Also gives you something monotonous to do while when you do not need your hands for other activity - not to mention the muscle growth you can expect from running that horsehair brush back and forth at a steady 120 strokes per minute.

stay safe.

[Matthew Carberry]

1) New guy leather is like new guy chaps or carhartts, wear equals experience.

2) It's not brown -or- black, it's brown -and- black. Your holster should match your belt which should match your shoes which should coordinate with your clothes. Don't mix black and brown, own a set of each to go with the appropriate shoes/belts/outfits.

[Perd Hapley]

1) New guy leather is like new guy chaps or carhartts, wear equals experience.

2) It's not brown -or- black, it's brown -and- black. Your holster should match your belt which should match your shoes which should coordinate with your clothes. Don't mix black and brown, own a set of each to go with the appropriate shoes/belts/outfits.

That's why I stick to brown everything. Cheaper that way.

[Tallpine]

That's why I stick to brown everything. Cheaper that way.

Yeah, except my logging/fire boots are black.

Simply Rugged calls it "Oxblood"

[Monkeyleg]

This is one of those threads where a couple of posts answer the question, and most of the others tell the poster to do something else.

[Tallpine]

This is one of those threads where a couple of posts answer the question, and most of the others tell the poster to do something else.

A belt holster is better