Petroleum jelly is a popular ingredient in many beauty products. But is it good for leather? Here’s what you need to know about using petroleum jelly on your leather items.
Is Petroleum Jelly Good For Leather? While you can use petroleum jelly to treat dry leather, put a shine on patent leather, and protect other smooth leather from water damage, one main disadvantage of applying petroleum jelly on leather goods is that it creates a buildup that can clog the natural pores in the leather material.
Read on to find out more about the pros and cons of using petroleum jelly on leather goods.
The Pros Of Using Petroleum Jelly On Leather
Personally, I will always advise you to use only specially formulated leather care cleaners, conditioners, and protectors on your leather items so that there is no chance of ruining your precious leather items.
However, I understand there are certain instances where household items like petroleum jelly may come in handy. So here are some of the benefits of using petroleum jelly on your leather items.
1. Petroleum Jelly Is Good For Treating Dry Leather
One of the benefits of using petroleum jelly on leather is that it helps to moisturize the material. This not only makes your item look better but also prolongs its life.
Leather becoming too dry can sometimes be unrepairable and could lead to the leather cracking and peeling with time.
Natural leather has the tendency of becoming dry over time. This is because the natural oils in leather can seep away after cleaning, or are eventually absorbed by skin and hair, leaving it dryer than before.
Petroleum jelly acts as a barrier that prevents leather from absorbing too much moisture. Over time, this will help to keep the material moist and prevent it from becoming dry.
2. Petroleum Jelly Can Be Used To Protects Leather Against Water Damage
Another benefit of using petroleum jelly on leather is that it can help to protect the material from getting damaged by water.
There are a number of ways that petroleum jelly can help to protect the leather from water damage. One of these is its ability to form a barrier around the material, which makes it difficult for water to seep through.
Petroleum jelly also helps the leather retain its flexibility, which is essential in preventing cracks and other issues that can be caused by water damage.
Leather is typically sensitive to water, especially since it doesn’t have its own defense against moisture.
3. Can Be Used As A Leather Conditioner Or Moisturizer
If you do not have a leather conditioner or any form of leather moisturizer at hand, petroleum jelly can be used to condition leather items.
Leather items need to be conditioned from time to time and it is important because it helps to keep the material flexible and moist.
Similar to what it does with our skin, petroleum jelly helps keep your leather item moist and supple. It is able to soften the material and allow it to retain its flexibility.
However, do not apply too much petroleum jelly on your leather item since this could make it a lot harder to clean in the future.
4. Petroleum Jelly Can Be Used To Darken Or Enhance Leather’s Color
If your leather item has dulled out over time and you do not want to use leather dyes or any expensive leather treatments, you can use petroleum jelly to help darken or enhance the color of your leather.
Petroleum jelly does not really have any tint or color to it, which means that you can use this ingredient without worrying about your leather item’s color.
It is great for dark-colored leather items as it makes them richer and darker with time as any darkening effect is always what you would want.
The best part is petroleum jelly does not stain leather, which means that if you do make a mistake while applying it to your item, the petroleum jelly will not leave any marks or stains on the material.
However, in some cases, this could be a huge pain if you do not wish for your leather item to darken and you end up with a darker color than what is desired.
5. Petroleum Jelly Can Be Used To Shine Leather
Petroleum jelly is a great leather product if you wish to add some shine to the material without using any fancy leather treatments or leather polishes.
Leather has a tendency of becoming dull over time, which is why it will need to be shined from time to time. Petroleum jelly while adding a nice subtle shine will also help the leather retain its flexibility and softness.
Petroleum jelly is great for adding a subtle shine to your leather items such as leather boots or leather jackets. It is easy to apply and does not have a strong smell, which most people hate about regular leather polish products.
For example, you can use petroleum jelly to restore or add a beautiful shine to patent leather items. You can also use it to prevent the leather from fading or turning yellow at the creases and folds of shoes.
But if you desire something shinier, then it can be a bit of a letdown since it only adds the subtlest of shine to your leather items. You can, however, add some wax over the petroleum jelly to get a shinier look.
6. Petroleum Jelly Or Vaseline Has Cleaning Properties
Vaseline or petroleum jelly is a great multi-purpose product that can be used to clean your leather items. Apart from helping to soften and moisturize the material, it can also be used to clean leather items.
You can use Vaseline or petroleum jelly for cleaning your leather boots, leather jackets, among other things. It helps to clean the surface of your leather item and also moisturizes it at the same time.
It is a great product for someone who is looking to clean their leather items at home and not having to take them to a professional cleaner. Meaning you will be saving a lot of time and money on this account.
However, if your leather item has any dirt stains or is oily in nature, you might not be able to fully clean it with petroleum jelly.
This is because Vaseline or petroleum jelly does not have any strong cleaning properties in them which mean that they will not be able to remove any tough dirt or stains from your item.
7. Petroleum Jelly Can Be Used To Remove Scuffs & Minor Scratches
Petroleum jelly is one of those multi-purpose products that can be used to remove minor scuffs and scratches from leather items.
This is because petroleum jelly contains many moisturizing oils that can help to nourish your leather fibers so they heal naturally.
Petroleum jelly is great for removing scuffs that are not too deep. This means that if you have some very light scratches or scuff marks on your leather item, you can use petroleum jelly to remove them.
However, if the scratches are too deep on your leather item, then petroleum jelly might not be able to help you.
You might want to go for something like a leather cleaner, conditioner, or restorer that is suitable for deeper scratches on leather items.
It is best to first try and see if petroleum jelly can remove the scuff or scratch from your item before going for anything else.
8. Petroleum Jelly Can Be Used To Remove Sticky Residue
Petroleum jelly, or Vaseline as it is commonly known, can also be used to remove sticky residue from your leather items. This is because petroleum jelly contains many moisturizing oils that can help to nourish your leather fibers.
This means that Vaseline will be able to remove any sticky residue on your leather item without causing any harm or damage to the material.
You can use petroleum jelly for removing sticker labels, stickers, or anything that has left behind any sticky residue on your leather item.
However, it is important to note that petroleum jelly will not be able to remove any sticky residue that has penetrated deep into the leather fibers.
This is because petroleum jelly does not have strong cleaning properties to be able to deal with deep stains on leather items.
It is best to use petroleum jelly for removing sticky residue that has not penetrated very deep into the material, or use another cleaning product for deep stains.
9. Great For Oil Tanned Leather
One of the great things about petroleum jelly is that it can be used to treat oil-tanned leather.
Oil-tanned leather is one of the most popular types of leather on the market today and if you’re looking to keep your oil-tanned leather items in top condition, then petroleum jelly is the product for you.
This is because Vaseline or petroleum jelly will be able to soften, moisturize and nourish your oil-tanned leather items. This means that petroleum jelly will help keep your leather items looking their best for longer.
It is important to note that petroleum jelly will not be able to rejuvenate oil-tanned leather.
The Cos Of Using Petroleum Jelly On Leather
Here are a few reasons why you should not use petroleum jelly on your leather items;
1. May Be Too Greasy For Some Types Of Leather
One downside to using petroleum jelly on your leather items is that they might be too greasy for certain types of leather.
This means that if you’re not careful when using petroleum jelly, it might leave behind some greasy residue on your leather items.
This is not good news if you’re looking to keep the leather fibers in your item looking and feeling their best.
This is because Vaseline or petroleum jelly does not contain any strong cleaning properties like other products that are designed specifically for leather items.
2. May Cause Stains On The Surface Of Your Leather Item
Another downside to using petroleum jelly on your leather items is that it might cause some stains or marks on the surface of your item.
This is because petroleum jelly is not specifically designed for leather, and it might cause some stains on your item if you’re not careful.
This is because the petroleum jelly is too greasy and at the same time it will not get dissolved into the fibers of the leather items that you’re using it on.
As a result, it can cause some marks or stains on your leather item if you do not wipe off or carefully buff off any excess petroleum jelly properly.
3. Incompatible With Silicone-Based Leather Products
This is something you probably did not know or might have guessed. And that is the petroleum jelly you use on your leather items might be incompatible with some silicone-based products.
If you have some silicone-based products on your leather items, then it is best to avoid using petroleum jelly as a cleaning agent.
This is because if you use petroleum jelly, it can cause some stains or marks on your items and ruin the finish of any silicone-based products.
4. May Break Down The Glue Or Adhesives Used In Your Leather Items Over Time
Another downside to using petroleum jelly on your leather items is that it might break down the glue or adhesive used in some of your leather products over time.
This is because petroleum jelly can react with some adhesives and weaken it causing it to break down over time.
This means that your leather items might not be as well bonded or secured together after you’ve used petroleum jelly on them for a while.
5. Not Safe For Some Types Of Leather Such As Nubuck & Suede
Another downside to using petroleum jelly on your leather items is that it might not be safe for some types of leather such as Nubuck or Suede.
This is because petroleum jelly can be too greasy for Nubuck and Suede leather products which have a very delicate finish to them.
If you use petroleum jelly on these types of leather, it might cause some stains or marks to appear because the grease in Vaseline can be difficult to remove from these types of leather.
FAQs
Q: What Is Petroleum Jelly?
A: Petroleum jelly is a very common household product that has been used to soften, moisturize and nourish skin for a very long time.
Q: What Is Petroleum Jelly Made From?
A: Vaseline or petroleum jelly is a by-product of the oil industry. It is made from various oils, waxes, and petroleum by-products that are blended together to make a jelly-like substance that can be used on the skin.
Q: Is Petroleum Jelly Safe For Leather?
A: Yes, petroleum jelly is safe for leather. However, you should avoid using it on Nubuck or Suede leather products because the grease in Vaseline can be difficult to remove from these types of leather. It can also cause some stains or marks on the surface of your items.
Q: Is Petroleum Jelly Compatible With Silicone-Based Leather Products?
A: No, petroleum jelly is not compatible with silicone-based products; it can cause some stains or marks on your items and ruin any silicone-based products.
Q: Is Petroleum Jelly Safe For Nubuck And Suede Leather?
A: No, petroleum jelly is not safe for Nubuck or Suede leather products; it can be too greasy and cause some stains or marks to appear.
