Leather Jackets: Care & Maintenance

Leather jackets are loved by everyone. They provide warmth, comfort, and utility. Not to forget that they represent a unique style statement for people of all sizes. Only true leather jacket lovers can tell the difference between an ordinary leather jacket and a pure, authentic leather jacket. However, the art of maintaining a leather jacket is a rather distinguished practice. It is an art that involves up-keeping practices and an extensive list of dos and don'ts.

What are the most common mistakes?

It might sound like we're stating the obvious, but you should never make the mistake of "washing" your jacket. Detergent and cleaning powder contain mineral oil and petroleum in varying quantities. Companies add them to ensure that their cleaning products are capable of washing rigid stains off clothes. Normally, stains are hardly an issue with leather jackets, thanks to the premium material. However, using these detergents on leather jackets may adversely impact your jacket and cause wear and tear over a period of time. It is also advisable to avoid saddle soap on leather jackets.

Can you soften your leather jacket?

There's no rocket science to soften leather jackets. Putting your jacket in the washing machine in the hope of softening it, will never end well. Leather jackets soften naturally over the course of time.

Avoid shoe polish at all costs

A very common mistake. Shoe polish will end up clogging the surface of your leather jacket. Always resort to a leather balsam if you want to restore your jacket's shine.

What is the ideal way to store leather jackets?

Moving on, we must talk about another common malpractice that we see often in homes, malls, and boutiques. Leather jackets are folded and stacked on shelves. As much as you love to see them stacked up, it ruins the texture of the jacket. The correct practice is to always hang your jackets in order to keep them wrinkle-and-crease-free.

Can you iron your leather jacket?

You must ensure never to use an iron directly on the leather jacket - there must always be a piece of cloth on top of your leather jacket, and the iron must be kept on the lowest heat setting.

Dry cleaning and dusting your jacket

It helps to tuck away your leather jacket inside a jacket cover. In an unfortunate situation where your jacket has been hanging in your wardrobe for a while, you might have to rely on dry cleaning. However, if your jacket is not heavily soiled, you can simply dust it off using a soft cloth.

Conditioning your leather jacket

Here’s a little tip from us - use a leather conditioner. Ensure you patch-test when using a conditioner to check if it is colorfast. A quality leather conditioner would usually contain silicone which will not only effectively clean the leather but also ascertain that your jacket comes out shining and outstanding. Regular conditioning of your leather jacket will prevent it from peeling, dryness, and bad odor.

How often should you seek Professional Leather Jacket Cleaning Service?

It is important that we never underestimate the stains on a leather jacket though. Essentially a good quality leather jacket will not pick up stains easily. However, the best things deserve utmost care and attention. It's like a maintenance checklist for your car. You should follow the best practices all year round, yet reach out to professionals at least once a year.

Where to repair your leather jacket?

Professional jacket cleaners are the ultimate masters. No matter what type, color, or style your jacket is - they have the solution. If you own an old leather jacket, they can recondition it by carefully restoring any loss of color and/or repairing cracks, if any. It's like owning a brand new jacket once you get it back.

Trust the experts

Last but not the least, always trust the experts. Always ensure you read the label on your jacket. The makers of the jacket know the quality of leather used and its endurance capabilities. They place a wash care tag on the label with instructions on the care and cleaning of your jacket.

It might sound like we're stating the obvious, but you should never make the mistake of "washing" your jacket. Detergent and cleaning powder contain mineral oil and petroleum in varying quantities. Companies add them to ensure that their cleaning products are capable of washing rigid stains off clothes. Normally, stains are hardly an issue with leather jackets, thanks to the premium material.