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How to Care for Your Leather Jackets & Coats

Caring for Leather Jackets and Coats

By Jeffery CurryPublished 2 years ago • 6 min read

Leather jackets and coats are timeless classic outerwear that is occupied by everyone. It is the hottest clothing item you can simply own and style in winter! Leather jackets invoke a level of coolness that is out of this world. In order to sustain the coolness you might want to keep reading this step-by-step guide on how to properly store your leather jackets and coats.

While leather jackets give off a rough nonchalant look to a person, you’d be surprised by how delicacy they require when it comes to the cleaning and proper care of them.

To clean your leather jacket you must know the type of leather you're cleaning, there is a vast amount of leather in the market and each of them has a different way of cleaning and storing. It all comes down to the type of leather you have for instance if you have normal leather you can easily clean it at home, however, if you have suede leather you must take it to a professional cleaner as taking matters into your own hands can be risky and might end up damaging the leather.

Have you ever experienced the withering of your favorite black leather jackets because you couldn't take proper care of it? Don’t worry! We won't gatekeeper the secret anymore.

Note: Avoid washing your leather jacket in a washing machine. It is advised not to overwet or dampen the leather as it can be damaged.

Gather The Necessary Essentials

Before you start with the cleaning, collect and gather all the necessary things you need to clean your leather jacket, whether it is a black leather coat and jacket or some other color, every leather clothing needs to be cleaned in a delicate and proper way with the right equipment.

Here’s what you will need,

  • A soft brush to gently scrub dirty collars or linings.
  • A soft cloth (it should be clean).
  • A leather cleaner to get rid of dirt and stains without damaging the leather.
  • A leather conditioner to smooth out the clothing quality and give off a polished look.
  • A soft brush to remove any stubborn dirt.
  • Baking soda to get rid of odors or unusual leather scents.
  • Padded hangers to securely hang and store the leather coats to prevent any damage.

Start Gently

Once you are fully equipped with all the right materials used for cleaning proceed with gently brushing the entire jacket with a soft cloth to make sure there is no dirt sitting, especially if you own a vintage leather coat use a soft brush or a soft toothbrush, and dampen it with mild soap or a leather cleaner mixed with lukewarm water then proceed to gently brush the collars to remove any stains and stubborn dirt, slowly in circular motion covering the entire leather jacket.

Avoid soaking the jacked entirely and just wash the areas that are stained and dirty. For mens leather jackets use the same amount of gentleness and delicacy which is being used for women’s leather jackets. Once you’re done with the soft scrubbing use a soft cloth and dampen it with water then slightly and gently wipe the leather jacket in one position till it's nice and clean.

Dealing With Stains

Notice some stubborn stains that just won't come off your leather jacket? As much as this can be a daunting task with the right guidance and equipment you can achieve the stainless in a matter of seconds.

All you need is,

  • Lukewarm water and Soap
  • Baking Soda
  • Talcum or Baby Powder
  • Cornstarch
  • Rubbing Alcohol

How To Get Rid Of Mold

Molds are a struggle to get rid of, especially on leather jackets. One wrong move and you’re done for.

To successfully erase the mold from your precious leather jacket, all you need is a bowl full of lukewarm water and mix it with mild soup. Use a soft brush, and dampen it before gently scrubbing and brushing off the mold. Once done use a soft cloth, dampen it with the solution, and wipe it down the leather jacket.

After this air dry your leather jacket in an open and well-ventilated area, making sure to keep it away from sunlight.

How To Clean An Oil Stain

Getting rid of an oil stain from a simple cloth is a hassle no one is ready to deal with, a leather jacket is ten times worse because it is obvious that a leather jacket is sensitive and you can be harsh on it.

However, we’ve got a solution for you! An easy and gentle way to get rid of oil stains.

To get rid of an oil stain you must not waste any time, quickly use a soft cloth to blot the oil immediately and refrain from rubbing. Once the oil is soaked by the cloth, sprinkle a lot of talcum powder on top of the stain and leave it overnight. By morning you’d be surprised to see the amount of oil soaked by talcum powder. Brush it off using a soft brush and for a finished refined look apply the leather conditioner in that area.

Ink Stain? Worry Not!

To magically disappear an ink stain from your leather jacket, all you need is some alcohol! Yes, a small amount of alcohol can actually do wonders...Well not in the chugging it down way but in cleaning stubborn ink stains!

Slightly dip a cotton ball in alcohol and gently dab at the ink stain, make sure to avoid rubbing it as it can encourage the ink to spread and ruin the leather even further, dabbing it on the ink stain can do the job more effectively. Finish it off by removing the ink residue with a soft cloth and applying some conditioner for durability and of course a finished sleek look

Remove Unwanted Stains

Smell something unusual? It can be anything, an odor or a weird leather scent, in order to remove that make sure to first hang the leather jacket in a well-ventilated area, if the odor still stays store some baking soda and your leather jacket together in a plastic bag, both men’s leather jacket and women’s leather jackets have a different odor so it is advised to let it sit overnight for better results, by morning your leather jacket should be as good as new.

With each cleaning make sure to use a leather condition as a finishing step to achieve that new body and a sleek and polished look!

Store Your Leather Jackets In The Proper Way

Once you are done with the cleaning and caring do not make the mistake of storing your leather jacket without any protection, make sure your leather jacket is securely stored in a safe place, especially if you own brown leather jackets they can be more prone to damage because of their color, here is what you can do to preserve their quality,

Use padded or wooden hangers for your leather jackets especially if it's a vintage leather coat or jacket make sure to securely place them in a padded hanger, this way your coat or jacket won't be stretched beyond their limit.

Avoid folding your leather jackets, whether it's men's or womens leather jackets, the durability and quality can be damaged equally if not taken care of the right way.

Store in a cool and dry place for better preservation, it is advised to keep your leather jackets away from heat due to the risk of damage. Better ventilation is encouraged in order to give your leather jacket room to breathe.

Leather coats for women can be in many colors, mostly light-toned leather jackets are more prone to stains and damage so it is essential to clean them after every use. Hope this step-by-step guide was helpful for you, we made sure to list all the necessary steps and information you need to properly clean and store your leather jackets safely!

Conclusion

Here’s how you can properly clean your leather jackets and coats without damaging the quality and compromising the durability. Let us know if this guide helped you.

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About the Creator

Jeffery Curry

Get Premium and Affordable Jackets and Coats for Men and Women at 7thAngle.

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    Written by Jeffery Curry