How to clean leather jacket at home

Jackets will keep you protected in the winter, but a leather jacket does more, it is a fashion statement, that speaks out for your personality. When you buy a leather jacket you make an investment, as leather is bound to last for years if taken care of well. Fashion changes every year, but a leather jacket is always in style. Over time your leather jacket will get dirty, and unlike other clothes you can’t wash leather in the washing machine. One must be careful when cleaning your jacket so as to not ruin it. Here are some leather jacket cleaning tips from leather experts that will make it easier for you to clean your favorite leather jacket.

• Preparing the Jacket – Yeah it’s exciting as well as frightening, cause leather needs to be handled with care. Emptying the pockets of your jacket will be helpful in cleaning. Using a clean white cloth wipe off the dirt and dust particles from your jacket.
• Cleaning – Using a clean wet cloth damp the jacket softly, to begin the cleaning process. Depending on the leather type  you can use various cleaning agents, –
• Soap – It works well for soft leathers.
• Denatured/Methylated Alcohol – It works well on antique leather.
• Saddle Soap – Works well on most leather types.

Make a cleaning solution with 2 parts of water and one part of any one of the above-mentioned cleaning agents. Apply it on the jacket using a damp cloth, and make sure it is not too wet, so as to cause harm to the jacket.

Please make sure you test the effect of the cleaning solution on the area that is not visible when worn. If there is no possible damage you can proceed, in case of any sign of damage or color change you must stop immediately.

• Rinse – Using a damp clean white cloth rinse the area where you have applied the cleaning solution. Make sure you don’t use much water, as it can cause the leather to shrink. Use a white dry towel to rub over the jacket, to make sure the access water is absorbed.

Is your jacket ready to be worn to that party? Not yet, wondering what is left. The inner lining also needs cleaning, as it comes in contact with your skin and has that odor built up.

Cleaning the inner lining of your leather Jacket –

• Turn the jacket inside out to make sure the lining is visible.
• You can use the same solution you used to clean the leather or use some fabric detergent to clean the inside.
• Use a clean damp cloth and wipe the jacket, using the cleaning solution, the cuffs, armpits, and collar need special attention as they come in direct contact with your skin.
• Take a clean damp cloth and wipe the jacket to get rid of the cleaning agent.
• Using a dry cloth get rid of any extra water.

Once cleaned on the inside, you must condition the jacket to bring back its original look and feel.

• Conditioning – Leather has natural oils, which get removed during the cleaning process. It is important to condition your jacket to make it soft and flexible. Using a cloth dipped in the conditioner, gently brush over the Jacket in a circular motion. Make sure the conditioner is evenly spread over the jacket.
• Dry – Let the jacket dry in a well-ventilated space, away from direct sunlight at least for a day.

Some leather stains are hard to remove at home, you need professional support for them. De Leather Craft offers leather cleaning and repair services all across the country. With more than two decades of experience in the leather industry, we make sure your premium leather jackets get the quality care they deserve. At our state-of-the-art workshop, we have the latest tools and technology, combined with professional expertise that bring your damaged and dirty leather jackets back to life. We offer home pick-up and drop-off services all across the country.

Please note – Each type of leather reacts differently to the cleaning agent, it is advised to test it on a small invisible area before proceeding. The above-mentioned methods work well for most leather types.