360 CLEANING GEAR, CARRIAGES, ETC. 



" drying oils," should not be used for lubricating leather ; 

 because they become hard and resinous, by absorbing 

 oxygen from the air, and on this account they are 

 employed in paints. An oxidised drying oil is a varnish. 

 Castor oil, olive oil (sweet oil or salad oil), and animal fats 

 and oils do not become dry, and consequently they may 

 be used for softening leather ; although their application will 

 have to be renewed from time to time, because the air turns 

 them rancid. It goes almost without saying, that before such 

 renewal is made, the decomposed remains of the previous 

 application should be removed, for instance by soap and water. 

 Cold drawn castor oil and Cold-drawn olive oil are much less 

 liable to become decomposed under the action of the atmosphere 

 than when these oils have been obtained by the aid of heat. 

 Vaseline does not dry and does not become decomposed on 

 exposure to air, and is therefore an excellent means for keeping 

 pliable leather which has to be stored for a considerable time. 

 In ordinary cases, soap (p. 48) is sufficient both for cleaning 

 and for lubrication. The soap which has been left on the 

 leather to soften it, will serve on the following occasion to 

 clean it during its more or less complete removal. 



If the leather work of a saddle and riding bridle appears 

 clean and pliable without any suspicion of dryness, it need 

 only be wiped over with a rubber to ensure the removal 

 of dust which might not be visible without close inspection. 

 If the leather bears signs of use, such as marks of sweat or 

 mud, the groom should clean the leather with a slightly damp 

 sponge which he has dipped into water (cold or warm), and 

 from which he has squeezed out all the superfluous moisture. 

 He may then give it a thin coating of soap. If he employs soft 

 soap or saddle soap, he should again damp his sponge, which 

 had best be of small size, squeeze" it fairly dry as before; put 

 some of the soap on it (say, J^ oz.) ; squeeze the sponge in the 

 hand a few times in order to distribute the soap throughout its 



