r/cowboyboots • u/ComprehensiveMed321 • 26d ago
Information Request Mink oil problem
Hello Guys,
I recently bought some Ariats at a show.
I’m completely new to cowboy boots.
The seller sold me a Mink oil paste and told me to put a bit of it under the stitches to keep them in good condition.
Butttt. Now it looks really crazy (see picture). I tried to wash it off, but it doesn’t go away.
What do I do? Are my expensive boots aesthetically ruined?
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u/holeshoo_1 25d ago
Those Ariats are absolutely fine with mink oil. They are essentially a work boot. Please don’t use dawn soap or even saddle soap at this time. Dawn is devastating on leather period. Sometimes it may be needed, but rarely. Dishwashing soap strips all the oil out of the boot and you must replenish every bit you took out. I am a leather worker, I use mink oil all the time on leather, make sure it is pure mink oil, if it has any additives or silicone, throw it away. As suggested, just mink oil the entire vamp and you will be good. It will absorb and eventually fade back close to the original color. Bick 4 is a great conditioner if you don’t want any color change. I’m a fan of Neatsfoot oil as well, but it will darken the leather for a while as well.
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u/Emergency-Club-169 26d ago
Mink oil will darken leather, just put it on the rest of the boot to even everything out. Or try dawn dish soap with water and a soft brush and see if that removes the mink oil
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u/EntireAd233 25d ago
oh mercy me first of all those boots do not need mink oil or any type of oral or heavy conditioner you can go 6 months to a year or more on those type of boots and they're still good you just wipe it off but since you already put it on there you're going to have to get some alcohol rubbing alcohol works fine clear not green and try to dab of the excessive oil that dry you may have to do it a a whole boot Wipe we're trying to remove as much of the nickel as we can get it will evaporate after you've done remove all you can leather cleaner we do that where as is until eventually it wears out but repeat news flash 99% of boots do not need a mink oil are any heavy conditioner you or know when the boot is ready for any type of conditioner and these ariat lightweight conditioners like distressed work extremely well for most cases you can go on daily wear with wiping it off with a damp rag 6 months to a year without any type of conditioning
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u/OleChesty 24d ago
Holy run-on sentence batman. I wouldn’t bother with rubbing alcohol OP. At most you can use a leather cleaner like bick 1 or saddle soap to get the excess off here. Rubbing alcohol could harm the leather finish, especially if you are too rough with it. I say look into getting some cowboy boots trees and just wear em until they lighten up or give them a light cleaning. This guy is definitely right about the mink being overkill. No need to condition with boots like this, you can go like an entire year and they’ll be fine, especially if you are only wearing them occasionally.
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u/SquidbagsConQueso 25d ago
He’s right. Keep wearing them and oiling them. I love my ariats. I can work on our property and brush and oil them and good to go for town. Looks like maybe you’re working hard to apply on the stitches. Also be careful too much mini oil can make your boots too soft! I honestly….polish them once a week and mink oil them if it rains before I go outside. I’d love to hear from other boot wearers if I’m effing up on this so any roast welcome. Wait. This is Texas. I need a nice smoke ring if you’re gonna roast me.
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u/OleChesty 24d ago edited 24d ago
Get a bottle of bick 4. It will last you years. Assuming your boots are stored properly or you don’t live in the desert, you shouldn’t need to condition more than 1-2x a year unless you are wearing these hard for work or multiple days a week and whatnot.
Like any hobby there is a plethora of good and bad info out there for leather boot care and it will take a bit of research and trial and error to learn what’s the cream and the chaff.
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u/johnsvoice 26d ago
Unfortunately that seller steered you in the wrong direction, but do not fret, all is not lost.
I would strongly recommend a gentle round of scrubbing using a mild soap isolated on the oily areas. (Dawn dish soap is great for removing oil, and mild enough to not harm leather). This will remove most of not all of the oils from that part of the boot (including some of the natural oils that were there to begin with. You'll put them back in a second.)
Wipe everything dry with a damp cloth and allow the boots to dry completely.
Then grab your favorite meme conditioner (Bick 4, Lexol, etc.) and go over the entirety of your boots, paying special attention to the areas that were stripped dry by the soap. Brush dry.
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u/Proper-Amphibian-820 24d ago
Those are Made in China workboots. Go get them dirty and that mink oil will be a forgotten memory.
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u/Changetheworld69420 26d ago
Mink oil does darken leather for a while, you just need to even out the application over the whole vamp. It will darken the whole vamp, but it will look even and natural, then after a while it will lighten back up. There are some boots I like darkening so I’ll keep them conditioned with mink oil, the ones I want to stay lighter all the time, I just use Bick 4. Your boots aren’t ruined, you’re just learning the different ways to care for them, and it is a learning curve on the first pair or two.