Is Mink Oil Good for Leather Boots? How Often Should You Use it?
Mink oil is one of the most used products on leather boots, but is mink oil good for leather boots? No doubt, the fame of this oil is so huge that if you ask someone for a cleaning product for leather boots, he may suggest you use mink oil. Why do people suggest using mink oil? Because it not only clean the leather boots but also give a shiny look to the boots.
What is mink oil? Well, it is an oil that is obtained from the fat of mink. Companies use mink oil for various medical purposes, and also it is being used in various cosmetic products.
But the question is, is mink oil good for leather work boots? If yes, then in how much quantity? How long should you use it? Read the complete article, as all these questions will be answered in this article.
Well, yes, mink oil is good for leather boots. Remember, everything has pros and cons. That’s why we will discuss all the benefits and side effects of mink oil, so before applying mink oil on your leather boots, you will have a clear idea of what exactly you are applying to your boots.
Benefits of Mink Oil for Leather Boots
Restoration
When you wear boots for a long time, after some time, they start to dry out. You may also notice several cracks on your leather boots. At the time, you think to restore your leather boots. Mink oil is really beneficial in such conditions, as it helps to restore your leather boots. It helps restore the natural oil of leather boots lost while using boots for several months.
Cracks on the leather appear when the leather starts losing its oil; it also results in separating the fibers, which makes the condition of boots even worse. Using a mink oil restores the lost oil of leather and helps in smoothing the fibers, making the leather softer, flexible, and durable.
Most construction workers, farmers, and people associated with tough working industries use mink oil to restore their boots. Their working conditions are tough, and their boots constantly bear friction. Due to this, the leather of their boots dries out, and several cracks start to appear on the boots. They use mink oil for cleaning and to prevent or reverse this damage.
Waterproofing benefit of mink oil for leather boots
Some people use mink oil for making their leather boots waterproof. It works great in waterproofing the boots to much extent, but not 100%. It can protect the boots in light to heavy rain for a short period. That’s why don’t expect lifetime waterproofing by just applying mink oil once. If you expose these boots to water or rain for a very long time, then the water may start entering the boots. However, for a short time, this strategy is really effective. If you are looking for a permanent waterproofing method, this cowboy leather waterproofing method can benefit you.
How does mink oil work in waterproofing? It fills up all the pores in leather, creating a coat, which can easily repel the moisture, making it water-resistant for a short time. But what’s the logic behind this? It’s really simple; we all know polar and non-polar substances don’t mix with each other. Instead, they repel each other. Oil is a non-polar substance, while water is polar. If they come in contact with each other, they will repel each other. You can also understand it with a simple example of oil floating over the water. That’s how this method works in waterproofing the boots.
This benefit of mink oil was first discovered by the fur trappers. They used to go on a hunt in extreme snowy weather. They applied this oil on their leather boots to make them soft and waterproof.
Beneficial for all leathers
There are a lot of common things in mink oil and organic leather’s natural oil. That’s the reason mink can be used on almost all kinds of leathers.
Make boots dark
If you want to give your leather boots a darker look, then you can use mink oil for this purpose. Mink oil clogs the pores in the leather, then they appear black, making the leather boots black.
Side Effects of Mink Oil for Leather Boots
It darkens the leather. Some people are ok with it, while some people won’t like seeing their leather boots getting dark. That’s why it’s up to you. If you love dark leather, then it’s a plus point for you; otherwise, if you wish to maintain the color of your boots, then it’s a side effect for you.
How Often Should You Use the Mink Oil?
You may have heard that excess of anything is bad. Similarly, you shouldn’t start using mink oil on your boots every day because it will be too much. Excessive use of mink oil may clog all the pores, and that’s how your boots may lose their breathability. Once the ventilation of boots is prevented, your feet may start sweating, and also, they will stink badly. It may also lead to the growth of bacterias. That’s the reason you should use mink oil on your boots once after every two weeks. After applying, leave the boots for at least 12 hours so that the boots get dry completely.
Remember once in every two weeks is the moderate time; using more than that is excessive, and less than that is insufficient. Using mink oil insufficiently may not help you restoring the boots properly, and your boots may get cracks.
The Bottom Line
No doubt, mink oil is really a good product to use on leather boots. In fact, it is one of the widely used products on these boots. The reason is a lot of benefits that come with this oil. Obviously, nobody wants to see his/her boots getting dry out or cracked. It’s not easy to buy new leather boots, as they are really expensive.
If you truly care about your boots, you have to keep your boots neat and clean with no cracks. Mink oil can help you with this purpose. You can use mink oil on your boots to reverse the damage, giving them a fresh, new, and glossy look. However, keeping in mind that you are darkening the color of your boots at the same time. If you have no problem with it or love seeing your boots’ darker color, then go ahead and use mink oil for your boots. It is one of the best things that you can use for the restoration of your boots.
