How to clean a leather jacket
Leather jackets can be an amazing staple in any wardrobe, and they last forever! But one downside of such longevity in a jacket is that sometimes a leather jacket can get dirty. The natural oils can wear away leading to cracked leather, and in some situations, the fabric can even grow mould!
If your leather jacket is in dire need of a clean, here's some tips from The Leather Colour Doctor on exactly how to clean a leather jacket to get your favourite leather jacket looking incredible once again.
What you'll need to clean a leather jacket
Generally speaking, the safest way to wash a leather jacket if you're really unsure, is to take it to be professionally cleaned. However, if you're determined to learn how to wash your leather jacket yourself - here's what you'll need.
- A mild detergent or dish soap
- Warm water
- A bowl
- A microfiber cloth or two
- Leather conditioner
- A soft towel or soft cloth
With these few items, you should find that you are able to clean your leather jacket properly and you should be able to clean the leather jacket lining too without doing any damage to the leather jacket itself.
It's important to note that different leathers may require gentler cleaning. For suede jackets, for example, you should use cool water rather than warm water.
A step-by-step guide to cleaning your leather jacket
Similar to the cleaning steps in our previous post, how can I dye my leather handbag? Here are some tips for cleaning a leather jacket.
1. Remove dirt and debris from the surface of the leather coat
You can do this with a very soft brush, or with a dry cloth. You'll need to carefully dust the leather jacket and leather jacket lining down before you can begin to wash a leather jacket. This will remove dirt, crumbs, dust and anything else sitting on the surface of your leather jacket, getting it ready to be properly cleaned.
2. Create a mild soap solution in your large bowl
Using water and your chosen mild detergent, mix two cups of warm water with one teaspoon of product and stir to create a mixture with suds.
3. Take your microfiber cloth and place it in the solution
You'll need a damp cloth to wash a leather jacket properly, so take your microfiber cloth and dunk it into your cleaning solution, making sure it gets completely damp.
Take the cloth out of the water and gently squeeze it so that there is no excess moisture. You want a damp cloth, not a dripping wet one.
4. Trial the solution somewhere unnoticeable
To make sure you are not about to damage your leather jacket, take a corner of the wet soft cloth and test it out in an area like the cuff or under the collar to ensure that the solution is safe to use.
If nothing happens and no stains form, continue to clean a leather jacket.
5. Wipe the jacket inside
Carefully, use the damp cloth to wipe the inside of the leather jacket. Do not scrub, and be sure to gently rub the lining of the jacket so that you are removing any dirt but without damaging the fabric in any way.
6. Clean the outside of the leather jacket
Using the same damp cloth, which you can re-wet if needed, gently wipe down the surface of the leather jacket. Leather jackets are very easily scratched, so when you wash a leather jacket you need to make sure you are using a soft cloth and not one that is likely to cause damage.
Make sure you reach all of the hard to reach places, but ensure that you are not over-cleaning, as it can be easy when trying to wash a leather jacket to get the material too wet.
7. Use a dry cloth to dry the leather jacket
To avoid any damage to the jacket's surface, wipe it down with a dry microfiber cloth or soft towel. This will remove excess moisture before you leave the towel to dry.
8. Let the leather jacket air dry
Leather is best left to air dry, so hang the jacket on a padded hanger and place it somewhere with adequate ventilation. After a few hours, check on the leather jacket to see how dry it is.
9. Apply leather conditioner
Leather conditioner is a vital part of owning a leather jacket (or any leather, for that matter). It is what maintains the material's flexibility and prevents cracking. It keeps the leather jacket smooth and comfortable.
Apply the conditioner following the brand's instructions, and continue to apply it every now and then to keep on top of the leather maintenance.
What not to do when you clean a leather jacket
Cleaning leather is a tedious process sometimes, and a lot of people fall into bad habits with it, but these should be avoided in order to keep the leather healthy and shiny. You should not:
- soak a leather jacket
- put a leather jacket in the washing machine
- use baking soda and vinegar on a leather jacket - especially suede
- use a marketed leather cleaner (unless told by the manufacturer)
- use harsh chemicals on your leather jacket like rubbing alcohol or bleach, as things like rubbing alcohol can strip away the natural oils and create discoloured patches
- forget to apply leather conditioner after you wash a leather jacket
Can you remove stains from a leather jacket?
Sometimes our leather jackets end up with things like ink stains on them. When this happens, you can use a few drops of white vinegar with a mild soap solution on the small area that has the stain. You should never use anything like bleach or nail varnish remover, as these products will do more damage than good.
If you are struggling with stain removal, contact a leather care professional to get your leather cleaned properly without risk of damage.
