Leather jackets crafted from genuine leather is never out of trend. It is timeless. This wardrobe staple can never fade or get damaged if you treat the jacket in right way. You can not wash and rinse the leather as it will get shrink or get cracks due to excess water, therefore, it is necessary to clean the jacket correctly. In this article, we will be sharing all the important methods that are needed to clean the jacket in a proper way to keep the damage away.
Before you clean the leather jacket an individual must understand the type of the leather that has been used.
Before you clean the leather jacket, you should know the
There are various types of leather available to construct a leather jacket.
How to Identify Leather by Grains?
Leather grains are defined as the ways the hide appears, its texture. Leather grains help us to identify the leather type however, there are many facts, misconceptions about it.
Full-Grain Leather
Full-grain leather comes from the uppermost layer of the hide, making it the most durable and premium type of leather available. You can identify this leather with the help of a surface such as there are natural marks or wrinkles with small scars and pores. The texture here feels rugged or slightly rough with high quality. The weight is sturdier or heavier and simply breaks beautifully with time. The patina ages and get better as time passes. The jackets made from such leather are expensive and is mostly used for biker jackets, heritage brands or vintage style items.
Top Grain Leather
You can recognize this leather by the flat surface and improved texture over a full grain. The texture is smooth and less durable as compared to full grain. The weight is lighter. It develops with aging but not as full grain. The Prices are premium level for such leather jackets and are affordable. The leather jackets made with such leather are lightweight and fashion-forward styled.
Corrected-Grain Leather
The corrected grain leather is the lowest grade of the top grain leather. It is embossed with fake grain and heavily treated. The surface is extremely uniform and looks like plastic. The texture here is smooth but lacks the depth of the original leather. It may feel treated or stiff. It will crack over time and does not age gracefully. The price of such leather jackets is low. Trendy, fast fashion styles are made so that they do not stay long.
Genuine Leather / Split Leather
Genuine leather is crafted from the lower layers of the hide after the top grain has been removed, and it’s typically finished with a surface coating to enhance its appearance. The surface looks smooth however it lacks the depth. It feels soft overall or can be stiff depending on its treatment. It may peel or get cracked with time. Also, it may not have the rich leather scent. The jackets made are budget friendly. The leather jackets made from such leather are not made for long time run.
Bonded Leather Jackets
Bonded leather is formed by merging remains of leather scraps using adhesives. It’s then finished with an embossed coating to mimic the look of real leather. The surface is quite uniform and looks like plasticky. It is thin, light weight and stiff. It peels and cracks faster and you have the chemical Odor. The jackets made from this leather type are very cheap. Best for costumes temporary in use.
Besides Grain:
Suede: Suede is the natural leather fabricated from soft underneath of a split grain animal hide. The finish of the leather is textured such a way that it gets stained easily. There are special cleaning techniques involved to take care of suede jackets.
Nubuck: The look of the Nubuck is as same the suede. The top of the animal hide is used here which is sanded and buffed finely to get the velvet and soft texture. The care techniques are just as same as suede and the stain removal treatments are done by the professionals.
Faux Leather: It is the synthetic material. It is not durable as genuine leather, only smooth surface. There are different methods to clean the leather jacket and the below are the detailed ways. However, we suggest not using them on the suede leather jacket as suede needs special cleaning, which may share with you in later posts.
How to Clean a Leather Jacket?
Using Soap and Water:
Take a container with few ounces of warm water and two teaspoons of liquid dish detergent or cloth liquid soap and stir the soap until it gets dissolved completely. Here the aim is to create a gentle soap solution which you can use to wipe the jacket down without damaging the jacket. Too much use of detergent will make leather worsen and strip the dyes of which may result in discoloration.
The next step is to use a sponge or a damp soft cloth with the soapy solution and wipe down the outside of the jacket. Do not wet the cloth or soak too much or else the leather will get saturate. Use a soft cloth as rough fabrics may leave scratches on soft leather if you are not careful. You may use a microfiber cloth instead.
Do not scrub the jacket; just run the damp towel and pay attention to the water spots, discolored patches and places with oil and dirt that may get built on leather. You need to clean the entire jacket even if you need to rewet the towel when required.
Once done you need to wipe the jacket once again with clean water and clear the soap away. You need to make sure that there are no water remaining on the jacket. Once the jacket is cleaned and dried up then you can hang the jacket in dry place away from the sun and moisture. Do not use the machine or a blow-dryer as it can be bad for the leather.
Using Leather Cleaner:
- You need to get special leather cleaner for this. These cleaners have components that removed stains, dirt and oils which will help to soften the leather and keep the leather in good condition for longer time. You can get the leather cleaner from any shop near you especially in super stores or even order online. You will get the leather cleaner at an affordable rate and may stay for a longer years.
- The leather cleaners may be in the shape of sprays, bars and gels. You need to get a tiny size glob and use it on the dirt part of the jacket. Try a minimal amount first and then you may increase gradually.
- Use a soft cloth and with apply leather cleaner to the surface of the jacket. Move in circular stroked and rub the affected areas on the outer side. Once you do slowly you will see that the dirt and water spots on the leather will be cleaned slowly.
- You need to use a separate towel to wipe the extra solution if any on the jacket. Once done you will have the jacket with clean texture and will shine. Even the leather gets moisture and is protected. You can use the cleaner more than once if the jacket is dirtier. You don’t need to clean the jacket again to remove the leather cleaner.
How to Remove Stains From a Leather Jacket?
- You need to note the main thing that when there is any kind of spill of liquid such as coffee or wine the stain will stay longer than ever, therefore you need to clean those stains immediately. You also need to test a certain spot on the leather jacket and check if spot cleaning will not damage your jacket. Rub a few drops and check whether it works, if the water absorbs into leather you will to dry clean or else you can use a damp cloth and clean on the spot.
- You can use rubbing alcohol with a soft damp cloth to remove the mildew or mold on the leather jacket. It tends to get mold if placed in the humid conditions, therefore its suggested always to keep the leather clothing in dry place. Mold can be seen on black or green appearance whereas mildew is grey or yellow. Once applied with rubbing alcohol then you can allow the jacket to dry naturally.
- The other option is toothpaste. Use a non-gel toothpaste to remove the stain. Rub with soft cloth and use your finger to clean the stain. Do not scrub or scratch. Wipe and clean the toothpaste from the leather gently.
- Nail polish remover can also be used for removing the ink stains. Use a cotton swab and dip the nail polish remover, blot it smoothly till the stain is removed. Wipe the leather with clean and damp cloth and dry with a towel. Do not rub the spot keep it smooth.
- You can use baking soda or cornstarch to remove the grease or oil stains on the spot. Use a damp cloth and rub gently. You can keep the jackets as it is for a few hours so that the soda or starch will get absorbed in the oil and then wipe off the powder and use soft cloth to clear the removals and dry it.
What you should not do with your Leather Jackets?
Some use natural oils such as coconut oils or olive oil to clean the leather jacket. You might get the unique shine however, in real they can damage the leather by oversaturating and making it feel greasy.
Never use a washing machine or machine dryer for a leather jacket; this results in cracking and shrinking of the leather jacket.
Check before you use a leather cleaners and conditioner if they consist of flammable oils. This can be dangerous and may lead to breathing issues due to fumes.
Do not scrub or scour the leather surface. Juts wipe it gently to avoid fading of the outer surface.
