How To Clean A Leather Jacket?

When you buy a leather jacket, you should consider it an investment. It is something that you spend a lot of money on and expect it to last you a long time; perhaps a lifetime to complete its shelf-life. In order to do that, you need to be careful in how you care for it and keep it clean. If you spill something on it, stain it, or it gets dusty, you need to be extra careful in how you clean it. You can’t simply put it in the washer and expect it to come out fresh. You can read through this guide in order to learn how to clean your leather jacket and have it last you forever!

Keep Your Jacket In A Cover

As soon as a jacket is shipped to you, you should be careful from the start. You shouldn’t wait until it gets dirty to start taking care of leather jacket. Your jacket should be kept in a cover from the beginning otherwise it would be dusty, even if it's kept in a closet. You won’t need your jacket all year long, so make sure you’re extra careful during the off-season of your jacket so it stays nice and fresh for you to wear as soon as winter starts approaching.

Clean Your Jacket Using A Dry Cotton Cloth

Use a dry cloth to clean your jacket. If you do this often, you won’t need to worry about it getting dirty. However, a suede leather jacket can’t be cleaned properly with a dry cloth. The best way to clean it is if you use a suede brush.

A suede brush is a handy device to clean suede products; be it a leather jacket or shoes. It has soft and metal bristles on the brush to help you clean a suede product easily. You’ll be able to find a lot of inexpensive suede brushes as well.

Use Diluted Alcohol To Remove Molds Or Stains

If your jacket is covered in mold or gets stained, clean it by rubbing alcohol having water in equal proportions. You can easily do that by dampening a cotton cloth with this mixture and using it to wipe off the mold. If that doesn’t work, you may use a mild germicidal soap mixed with water, wiping off the excess liquid with dry cotton cloth.

Use A Leather Cleaner To Clean Your Jacket

If you want to invest in a long term yet easy solution, you could simply buy yourself a leather cleaner. It is extremely easy to use. It can be found in the form of a spray, gel or bar. Simply squirt or rub your leather cleaner on the dirty part of your jacket. Make sure you rub the cleaner into the leather and then remove the excess solution with a cloth. You can even rub a leather conditioner over your jacket once a year to keep it nice and fresh.

If you’re looking for a quick-fix but don’t have alcohol, leather cleaners or leather conditioners then you could use these DIY solutions using products you can easily find at home.

Use A Non-gel Toothpaste

Use your finger to apply the non-gel toothpaste on the stain. You should then rub the stain gently with an extremely soft cloth. Make sure you aren’t scrubbing the stain with toothpaste because you will be destroying the jacket and it may lead to discoloration. Finally, wipe the toothpaste off with a slightly wet cloth.

Use A Cotton Swab Dipped In Nail Polish Remover

If your leather jacket has an ink stain or a scratch, you can use nail polished removed dipped in a cotton swab to clean it. Be careful while you’re cleaning the jacket. You shouldn’t rub the spot otherwise you might make the ink spread. Instead, dab gently until the stain has been removed.

Sprinkle Baking Soda Or Cornstarch On The Spot

If there are oil or grease stains, you can scrub baking soda or cornstarch on the spot. Use a damp cloth and rub it extremely gently. Next, you should let it sit on the spot for a few hours or overnight if you have more time. This will allow the cornstarch or baking soda to absorb the oil. Then, wipe off the powder with a soft cloth. You can dry it with a soft towel as well.

If Nothing Works, Ask A Leather Specialist

Finally, if none of the above tricks work, take your jacket to a leather jacket specialist. Refer it to the particular wash care labels found inside of your jacket. But the best way to protect your jacket is to be careful from the start. Treat your leather product with much love and care to make it last forever.