Now that you have loosened or removed everything you want on your saddle, the cleaning process is easy. As we mentioned earlier if the saddle is very dirty or very oily; start with the water hose, soft scrub brush and maybe the Ivory soap. The Ivory soap is your decision based on how dirty the saddle is. Get all parts of the saddle clean and then let all the leather dry overnight.
Once the cleaning process is completed it is time to put moisture back into the leather. I personally like to do this over a period of time. Depending on how dry the leather is I would apply a layer of saddle soap every three to five days. Make sure you repeat this process until the leather begins to soften and becomes flexible or supple.
I use Fiebings Saddle Soap slightly diluted with water and applied with either a toothbrush for those hard to reach places, or my favorite tool is a Microderm battery powered facial brush. The brush is soft and does an outstanding job of working the saddle soap into the leather. The process is simple, soap the Microderm brush then dip it into a container of water and begin applying. You should notice the saddle soap being absorbed into the leather quickly. Sometimes the soap will knot up under the brush, I just dip the brush in the water again and continue working it into the leather. Use the toothbrush where the Microderm brush will not reach.
NOTE: Some people feel a good application of oil is the trick to conditioning a saddle. Saddle soap is a compound containing mild soap and softening ingredients such as neatsfoot oil, glycerin, and lanolin. Straight oil even Neatsfoot can over time oxidize and even loosen glues that hold the saddle together.
WARNING: Depending on the type of oil you decide to use make sure it is not petroleum based. Many saddle makers use Neatsfoot Oil as an original application to a new saddle. Over-oiling can cause mold growth. Mold is difficult to remove from leather once it starts.