How to clean and restore your old belt

September 4, 2025

You bought one of those expensive high quality leather belts expecting that it will last forever but there it still a problem, it looks horrible from years of use. It has scratches, dirt, paint, and some grease spots on it that it picked up along the way. The truth is, leather needs to be maintained. It needs to be conditioned and cleaned. But don't let that steer you away. Leather belts can hold up for decades and look great if given the proper maintenance routine. Don't throw it out and buy a new one just yet, you may be able to save yourself some money by restoring your belt.

Step 1: Your first step is to brush off any dirt and dust. You can use a cloth or a brush similar to what you would use to shine shoes. The bristles need to be soft enough to not scratch the leather but they need to be firm enough to actually remove some dirt.

Step 2: Next apply some saddle soap. Saddle soap is designed to remove stains, dirt and debris. Scrub it into your belt until it is looking nice and clean and then wipe away. Like dawn dish soap or any hand soap, saddle soap can remove oils that the leather needs along with any of the dirt and grease that your belt has picked up over the years. Once you have scrubbed the dirt and stains from your belt let your belt sit and dry for about 24 hours.

Step 3: Now it is time to condition your leather. Saddle soap can be harsh on some leathers because it removes many of the good oils and waxes within the leather. If you do not condition your leather it will crack and dry out. A good leather conditioner is what you want. I use Bick 4 and it seems to work just fine on many of my products. Simply rub the conditioner in with a soft cloth.

Step 4: Wear your belt with pride.

Conclusion:

Caring for leather is a lost art and there is something about it that makes every man feel more masculine. Don't treat it like a chore. You can condition your belt while watching a football game or sitting outside by the fire. Taking care of your gear is an important everyday task but if you do it right your gear will take care of you. Below you will see two photos of a belt I used for 8 months doing construction work, some of which was concrete work. I still use this belt for hunting, hiking and many other labor intensive projects. The first photo is before I cleaned it while the second photo is after I cleaned and conditioned it. If you would like to know more abut this belt see our product listing: "heavy duty belts."

If you would like to know where to find saddle soap and conditioner here are some links:

Bick 4 leather conditioner.

Saddle Soap natural.

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