Hello the campfire...I just got home from the Pacific Primitive Rondy..shining times..And my chrome tanned leather britches are pretty dirty (soot, grease, a little blood(mine) and assorted other camp dirt. Any suggestions on cleaning them while not messing up the leather or removing too much of the patina of use.

CLEANING BUCKSKINS? the word is not in my
Buckskinning dictionary...

The dirtier the better,give em that lived in look.

Two or three of the diaries kept by the mountain men mention that the Indians used white clay to clean buckskin. I think Crazy Crow sells such a product.

I have never seen it directly, but in the Indian tales, they describe diligent wives keeping their husbands' buckskins washed and freshly smoked. Lazy wives let their husbands go around in dirty stained buckskins.

I wonder if the white clay is a powwow era thing, or earlier?

Limner,

You may just try washing them. I have had a pair of chrome tanned pants for quite few years and just thrown them in the washing machine a time or two. Knocks off the dirt but does little to actually remove the patina (stains). The same pants have survived very wet canoe trips, thunderstorms and the Sears washer. They may dry a bit stiff but they have easily been softed by working them a bit or just wearing them. I will not do the same to my braintan breeches however. At least not the washer part.

Medicine Soldier

Thanks for the ideas fellers. Had a fella in Wyoming tell me once he just walks into the nearest river wearing his leather to clean it then wears it till dry. Since I live on the Oregon coast iy would take about a year for mine to dry that way.

Osborn Russell talked about white clay in the Yellowstone area I think and re: to it being used as a cleaner.

Red Fire ants here in the desert will clean your pants too. Just lay them on an ant hill. Be sure to give them a good shake before you put them on again!

P.

quote:

Originally posted by poordevil:
Osborn Russell talked about white clay in the Yellowstone area I think and re: to it being used as a cleaner.

1921 edition, p. 10:

There were also large beds of clay in the vicinity, of a snowy whiteness, used by the Indians for cleansing their clothes and skins...

Thanks for remembering that!!!

limner: like the man said just pitch them the washer but add some downey fabric softner in with them they'll come out clean and supple

ive heard that the washer trick works well for chrome tanned. just be sure not to put them in the dryer, that would mess them up. and yeah, dirty looking is very period correct. the more oily they are, the more waterproof theyll be so dont worry about the greasy look.

after a summer in the Arkansas woods, I put my braintan leggings in the washer-used homemade lye soap and a front loading washer...and I put them in the dryer on low with 3 pair of tennis shoes for about 15 min with NO adverse affects...your mileage may vary and no warranty issued

Limner,
Where' bouts on the OR coast? I used to live at Waldport. One of the things I enjoy about being in Idaho is being able to see out the window...instead of having them steamed all the time.

Welcome to the fire.
Sparks

Sparks, I live in the historically significant town of Astoria Oregon, which will be celebrating it's 200 year anniversary in 2011. By the way I have a wonderful view of the rain out my windows...so there.

I think the clay used was one of several types of fullers earth, which is a kinda clay kinda rock--some type of bentonite. I think there were several colors of clay used. I've seen a couple different references to it. Russell as mentioned above, and Parkman mentioned a yellow clay being rubbed on a set of skins, i assume for cleaning. You can get fullers earth today, used for several things. I've never used it and like a greasy outfit too, but i think i would try shop floor dry sweep, that stuff that soaks up oil on your garage floor.