A biker jacket is a rough-cut jacket with an asymmetrical cut and bright fittings in the form of rivets and locks. An aviator jacket is for those who love reliability, comfort and warmth. A bomber jacket has a wide elastic band along the bottom and cuffs. A classic jacket is fitted and comes in various lengths. Even a leather coat can be classified as a long leather jacket.
Leather is a durable material, but it needs to be looked after. Caring for a leather jacket should be more about preventing damage than about eliminating it. Then the product will retain its original appearance for a long time. It is better to buy leather jacket care products together with the jacket itself. Use them from the first day.
How to care for a leather jacket
We will tell you what preventive measures will help keep smooth leather, suede or velour items in perfect condition.
Make waterproof
This can be done with a water-repellent impregnation. There are special ones for leather shoes, backpacks or jackets. There are also universal ones for any leather and suede product. Usually they are produced in the form of aerosols or liquids with a sponge. The former are more convenient. They need to be sprayed at a distance of 25-50 cm from the surface, then the layer lies evenly. The latter are not suitable for suede, as they can leave unsightly stains on the texture.
Water-repellent impregnations do not protect the jacket 100%. They only attract less water molecules, and air permeability does not suffer. But since the leather itself has water-repellent properties, the overall effect will be maximum.
To care for your leather jacket at home, start with impregnation. Repeat the procedure periodically every 2-3 weeks. This will extend the life of your items.
How to Dry a Wet Leather Jacket
If the item does get wet, follow the 3 “don’ts” rule:
- Do not dry your leather jacket on a radiator or heating device.
- Do not leave items (keys, keychains) in your pockets. Wet material stretches and deforms when drying.
- Do not leave zippers open. It is necessary to fully zip up the clothes and dry them in this form. This will allow the jacket to take its original correct shape without stretching or deformation.
Wipe the wet surface with a dry cloth. Microfiber is best – it does not leave streaks. Then hang the jacket on a wide hanger of the right size. Let it dry at room temperature away from all heat sources. Do not hang a still damp suede or leather jacket in the closet, as it may cause diaper rash, stains and an unpleasant odor.
Soften
Treat the dry product with a special moisturizing agent – conditioner. It nourishes the skin with moisture, restores the fat balance and maintains the color.
There are water-based and water-emulsion conditioners. The former include water for moisturizing, oils and waterproof ingredients. After treatment with such a composition, the water evaporates completely, the oil is evenly absorbed into the leather, leaving no traces. The latter are suitable for the care of delicate materials. Use conditioners as needed, for example, if the jacket has dried out and become rough, before preserving the item for the winter or before wearing it after long-term storage. A large amount of fat will clog the pores and the leather will become dull.
Leather jacket care products are available in the form of creams, foams, and sprays. Cream and spray are suitable for smooth leather, and liquid foam is suitable for delicate patent leather. For suede and velour, it is better to choose a spray for treating suede (this should be indicated on the packaging).
Bring back the shine
Polishes – care and gloss coating products – will help restore the shine. Read the instructions carefully. After using some of them, a little work will be required – finishing polishing with flannel to add gloss and a shining effect. Do not polish too often and even for preventive purposes, otherwise the jacket may lose color and dry out. Only when the surface has already become dull.
Polishing is also strictly prohibited for suede and velour. It will damage the delicate structure of the material and ruin the product.
Polishes may contain paraffins. They provide easy polishing, make the surface elastic and create an additional protective layer. They are able to keep the surface of delicate leather in good condition, preventing it from stretching, cracking and fading.
Soften dry, cracked skin
You need to deeply saturate your skin with moisturizers. Look for names on the packaging: “impregnation product,” “moisturizing foam,” “leather conditioner.” Brands call moisturizers differently, but the essence is the same. Apply several times until the skin becomes moist to the touch and the feeling of dryness disappears.
If the material is very dry, the composition will be quickly absorbed upon first application, and there will be no visible effect. The procedure must be repeated over and over again to saturate to the full depth. This technology is called impregnation. After its application, the leather acquires waterproof properties. But this does not cancel its treatment with water-repellent agents for preventive purposes.
For moisturizing, use folk remedies with caution, such as glycerin or castor oil. Especially for velour and suede. The leather villi will stick together, wipe off, and leave greasy stains. Professional products are more reliable.
How to clean a leather jacket
No matter how carefully you wear a leather item, over time it may become stained, scuffed, and greasy. The collar, sleeves, and pockets are the areas most susceptible to dirt. Sometimes the collar is “protected” by a scarf, but sleeves and pockets are harder to protect.
How to remove dirt
Leather, suede and velour can be cleaned and washed at a dry cleaner or at home. Deep or complex stains, such as fuel oil, gasoline or paint, can only be removed at a dry cleaner. It is not recommended to care for a leather jacket at home with such stains. You can deal with superficial stains yourself.
Do not use aggressive substances for cleaning: acetone, gasoline and alcohol. If you decide to use an aggressive or not intended for leather product, first conduct a small test on an inconspicuous area. For example, where the zipper is sewn. If the leather or suede does not change color dramatically, then the product can be used on the front side.
You need to be especially careful with suede and velour – defects from incorrectly selected chemicals are very visible on the velvety surface.
Cleaning can be wet or dry. To understand which is suitable for your product, drop some water on the area. If it is absorbed, then only the dry method can be used – with a dry cloth or brush. If drops remain and are not absorbed, then wet cleaning with a damp cloth is acceptable.
Do not wash leather items in a washing machine – you can ruin them irreversibly. If necessary, a suede jacket can be carefully hand washed in warm water with a mild detergent without bleaches and bio additives. Spinning is also as delicate as possible without twisting.
There are different types of contaminants. We will tell you how to remove the most common ones:
- To remove traces of ballpoint pens, ink, felt-tip pens, markers and watercolours, use a stain remover with a paint particle solvent. It gently removes the colouring pigment from fabrics.
- Dried dirt and dust can be easily removed with a soft cloth soaked in soapy water or shampoo for suede and leather.
- A stain of unknown origin can be removed with a leather stain remover. If it does not work, you should contact a dry cleaner. Alcohol and acetone are not reliable.
How to remove salt deposits
City dwellers may notice a whitish coating on their outerwear. These are salt deposits. They may appear due to the treatment of roads with chemicals. Such salt stains should be removed with soapy water as soon as possible. Salt dries out and cracks the skin.
How to Store a Genuine Leather Jacket
There are few options. If the jacket is worn seasonally, store it on wide hangers in a closet or open, well-ventilated room.
When storing for a long time, for example, in winter, it is necessary to empty the pockets, fasten all the buttons and fasteners. Then the product will not deform and will remain neat. The belt should also be hung on a hanger or rolled into a loose ball.
It is best to store on hangers according to size in covers made of natural fabrics that allow air to pass through, away from heating devices. Plastic bags can cause mold and unpleasant odor on the jacket.
We do not recommend storing the products folded. This will prevent creases and cracks from appearing at the folds.
Products in sheets or tablets will help against moths and carpet beetles. But aerosols against such parasites should be applied not to jackets, but to the walls of the closet.
Use our recommendations for caring for leather goods, and your items will serve you for more than one season.
