Neatsfoot Oil: 5 Amazing Advantages Of Using It 

Neatsfoot oil is a natural oil derived from the feet and shin bones of cattle. It has been traditionally used as a leather conditioner for centuries due to its unique properties that make it an excellent choice for restoring and preserving leather goods. The oil is obtained through a process of boiling and refining the bones, which results in a clear, yellowish oil with a slightly nutty aroma.

One of the key benefits of neatsfoot oil is its ability to penetrate deep into the fibers of leather, providing it with essential nutrients needed to maintain flexibility and prevent drying out. Unlike synthetic oils or conditioners, neatsfoot oil doesn’t leave any sticky residue on your leather items after application. This makes it an ideal choice for conditioning everything from boots, saddles, gloves to belts.

How is Neatsfoot Oil Produced?

Neatsfoot oil, also known as lard oil, gets its namesake from lard, not from the bones or feet of cattle. Shifting this source has come gradually. No matter where it is transported from, lard remains the primary source. There are many different types of neatsfoot oil.

• Prime neatsfoot oil – This is filled with additives derived from petroleum-based products. This oil could be unsafe for leather products.
• Pure neatsfoot oil – This useful oil is delivered as a pure byproduct of lard. It has the similar texture as the original neat oil.

Neatsfoot oil may also be adulterated with other oils. So, if you purchase neatsfoot oil, ensure that it’s from a reputable company. If it is adulterated with other oils, it could possibly be less effective at polishing leather, which is its main use. Other ingredients in neatsfoot oil can be things such as lanolin, glycerine, any petroleum-based products and many other.

Properties

These are therapeutic properties of neatsfoot oil are as follow:

• Emollient – It keeps the skin moisturized and protected from excessive drying.
• Insulator – Neatsfoot oil is an effective insulator. One can apply it even to the harshest of heat-exposed areas or cold. It would protect the skin from various kinds of temperatures.

It’s among the best leather conditioners on the market, but may also be applied topically onto skin.

Uses of Neatsfoot Oil

Neatsfoot oil is a versatile product that can be used for many things besides conditioning leather. Here are some of the major uses of neatsfoot oil:

Neatsfoot oil for Leather products

The most common use for neatsfoot oil is as a leather conditioner. It penetrates deep into the leather fibers, softening and lubricating them to prevent cracking and drying out. A little quantity of neatsfoot oil should be heated slightly, even if it has become hard. After that, massage it into the leather product after it has been cleansed. This darkens the appearance of leather. In time, the oil is absorbed, and the leather becomes darker.

Neatsfoot oil improves the shine and appearance of leather, such as jackets, boots, shoes, saddles, coats, and belts .

Neatsfoot oil for Oil Painting

An oil painting brush normally leaves a paste-like residue after use, and paint residue left on metals. Neatsfoot oil breaks down that residue, ensuring brushes are clean when picked up the next time.

Neatsfoot Oil for Wood Polish

There are a number of ways to use neatsfoot oil to polish wooden items. Add neatsfoot oil to turpentine oil in a ratio of 1:1. Apply this on wooden products as a polish. It creates a uniform surface for the wood, keeping the wood conditioned and flattering.

Health Benefits of Neatsfoot Oil

Neatsfoot oil has been used for centuries as a conditioning agent for leather products, but it also holds many benefits for the skin. Pure neatsfoot oil is a natural and effective moisturizer that can help to soothe and hydrate dry skin. This product is rich in fatty acids, which are essential for maintaining healthy-looking skin.

One of the primary benefits of neatsfoot oil is its ability to penetrate deeply into the skin. Unlike many other oils that sit on top of the skin, pure neatsfoot oil can absorb quickly and deeply into the pores, providing much-needed hydration without leaving an oily residue. It is also high in vitamins A, D and E which work together to nourish and protect the skin from environmental stressors.

Relieves Dry Skin

Neatsfoot oil obtained from lard (pork fat), or from cattle foot and bones can be applied to the skin. It takes care of dry skin, effectively moisturizing. People have long used animal-based oils and products as medical treatments [1]. Their function as a skin emollient has diminished in recent years, but they still can be highly effective in treating many skin conditions. Neatsfoot oil, which is sourced from animals, is an outstanding skin emollient. A hand-crafted oil should be chosen, however.

Protect Skin from Cold Winter

Extreme cold temperatures in the arctic circle severely damage our skin, causing it to dry out and become vulnerable. These extreme temperatures fill our bodies with extreme dry air, which results in very numb skin, limiting blood flow through tiny blood vessels, thereby increasing the risks of injury on any part of the body. Neatsfoot oil can provide a protective barrier when we touch the skin under these conditions.

It provides a buffer effect of a few degrees. With age, the protective flesh layer on our skin becomes thinner, which allows us not to feel the same way when we get into the cold [2].

This exposes the internal body organs to cold temperatures, which is not ideal in terms of health. Using insulating oils helps to maintain the human body warm in cold weather. Research has shown that a diet that includes lard raises body temperature, which sets off increased thermogenesis, or heat production inside of the body. [3]

As an oil product for metalworking, neatsfoot oil greatly reduces the temperature fluctuations associated with cutting. Such a decrease in temperature has made neatsfoot oil a staple of the metalworking industry. Lard oil serves the same purpose in auto repair for automobile part work and cutting aluminum blades.

Side Effects, Safe Dosage and Toxicity Issues

Neatsfoot oil is generally safe to be applied on skin. However, products that are not of good quality and contain harmful additives can be harmful for the skin and overall health.

Nutritional and Medicinal Information

Neatsfoot oil obtained from cattle bones and feet probably contains many essential fats and fat soluble antioxidants. These are exceptionally good for our health, especially for protecting fat molecules right under the skin. Neatsfoot oil obtained from lard is a thick, yellow colored fat which has little odor.

Neatsfoot oil obtained from cattle bones and feet probably contains many essential fats and fat soluble antioxidants. These are exceptionally good for our health, especially for protecting fat molecules right under the skin. Neatsfoot oil obtained from lard is a thick, yellow colored fat which has little odor.

Both lard oil and unsalted peanut oil are made from lengthy-chain fatty acids. Both have various health benefits, including antioxidants and nutrients. However, research studies have shown that whereas lard oil possesses some anti-inflammatory properties, it has the opposite effect in someone with obesity. [5]

Where to buy Neatsfoot oil?

Neatsfoot oil should be purchased with care, which is very important. One may have to do a lot of searching to find pure neatsfoot oil, whether you use it for leather conditioning, or for treating dry, scaly skin.

References

1.   Healing with animals in the Levant from the 10th to the 18th century. Efraim Lev. NCBI.
2.  Aging changes in skin. NCBI.
3.  Diet-induced thermogenesis is lower in rats fed a lard diet than in those fed a high oleic acid safflower oil diet, a safflower oil diet or a linseed oil diet. Takeuchi H, Matsuo T, Tokuyama K, Shimomura Y, Suzuki M.
4.  Differential effects of high-fat-diet rich in lard oil or soybean oil on osteopontin expression and inflammation of adipose tissue in diet-induced obese rats. Wang X, Cheng M, Zhao M, Ge A, Guo F, Zhang M, Yang Y, Liu L, Yang N. NCBI.