How To Dry Clean A Leather Jacket
Although there are several cleaners you can get your leather jacket dry cleaned from but some people don't trust anyone with their precious leather accessories. For those of you, here’s how you can clean your jacket without ruining it. Before getting to the cleaning part, you must know that too much water can damage your jacket forever so no matter what, treat your jacket with utmost care to avoid cracking and tearing. All you need to do is pay attention and use the right kind of products for cleaning. The process may seem complicated but it’s actually pretty simple and you can totally do it at home.
In times of lockdown, we need to consider appropriate solutions for our leather-related problems as well. So instead of taking it out to the dry cleaners, you can get yourself the right products and clean it at home.
Does Leather Shrink When Wet?
Some people use water to shrink their leather clothing on purpose for better fitting. So the answer to this question is, Yes.
Yes, your leather jacket can shrink when it gets wet. A common misconception is that using a hairdryer or exposing your wet leather jacket to the sun can help. In fact, in reality, using heat on wet leather can actually shrink it down to a size Small from Medium. In order to avoid such a catastrophic situation. make sure to keep your precious luxury leather accessories away from water.
Does Water Affect Leather?
Leather comes from animal hide hence it has almost the same characteristics as human skin. It can absorb water and too much of it can lead to cracking and tearing. Your real leather jacket is somehow capable of handling a small number of raindrops but make sure to wipe off that access water quickly. Another way to make it water-resistant to some extent is using the water-proofing spray.
We understand that you can’t keep your jacket away from water exposure forever, it’s an everyday costume that may get exposed to some damage ultimately so it’s better to know the quick remedies such as leather conditioner, moisturizer, and oil & wax.
Does Fake Leather Shrink?
The fake leather has nothing to do with animal hide and it’s usually made out of plastic or tree leaves i.e. pineapple or oak leaves. Water or too much heat can definitely damage your fake leather product by stiffness, cracking, peeling, or tearing but it can hardly have a shrinking effect on it.
How To Clean Leather Without Ruining It?
To clean your leather jacket at home without any professional experience or supervision needs lots of care and attention. Because once your jacket is ruined, there’s no way to bring it back to life and make it look as good as new. Therefore, using the right kind of products is extremely important. To clean your leather, use products that are specifically made for leather. One of the most common and unforgivable mistakes that people make is to use laundry detergent which can have a disastrous effect on your leather jacket.
Leather Cleaner
There are a number of leather cleaners available in the market so just grab one and apply it directly onto a piece of cloth or mix it with water to dilute it a bit. Use a clean piece of cloth and rub it gently onto your leather jacket. Before that, remember to wipe off any dust using a dry paper towel.
Conditioner
Conditioner helps keep the softness and smoothness of the real leather intact. Cleaning leather using water can often result in dryness, conditioner can reduce the risk of that damage. Aside from cleaning, a leather conditioner can be used if your jacket has been exposed to rain or snowfall to prevent damage and enhance softness. Once the leather is fully dry, apply the leather moisturizer and let it rest for a few hours at room temperature.
How To Get Rid Of Unpleasant Leather Odor?
Real leather has a specific odor that some people might find unpleasant. Wet leather can also produce an odor and you can get rid of it by cleaning it. If that does not help, try mixing the baking powder in water to make a solution. Dip a clean cotton cloth in it and rub gently on the surface. Don't use a hairdryer or put your leather accessory in direct sunlight. It can do more harm than good.
