How do you clean a leather coat | Washing & Dry Cleaner Guide

Milk spills, ketchup stains, ink and paint; are a few things to name that pose a beauty hazard to your precious 100+ dollar leather jacket. Not to mention the dirt and odor that comes from not taking care of a regularly in-use leather coat. So that proves that good looks don’t last forever, but how do you clean a leather coat without making a mushy mess out of it?

Cleaning a leather coat/jacket isn’t as simple and straightforward as cleaning a denim jacket. You need to take certain precautions before and after exposing your extravagant leather to moisture and chemicals. Apart from handling the leather garment with delicate hands, you should follow the right steps in the right order.

That’s why we’re here to guide you about ‘how do you clean a leather coat?’, because we, like you, adore our leather garments. So, let’s get right into it.

5 Step Guide to Clean a Leather Jacket

Step 1: Prepping For Cleaning

Before we hop into the exact procedure of ‘how do you clean a leather coat?’, it's important to know the prep procedure. Prep your leather jacket by dusting any dust or debris off of it. You can use a coat cleaning brush with soft bristles to clean the leather surface and the lining. Empty the pockets thoroughly and make sure to go all the way under the collars and inside the pockets with the brush. Make sure the jacket doesn’t have any open stitches. Also, use a soft rag to clean any mud or sticky substances on the jacket.

Step 2: Stain Removal

If you’re thinking about rubbing bleach or some strong fabric cleaner over the stubborn stains on your leather jacket, please don’t. You’ll ruin the leather with the harsh chemicals. Instead, create a solution of olive oil and vinegar featuring half a cup of olive oil and one-fourth (or a little less) cup of vinegar. Dip a damp terry cloth in the oil-vinegar mix and rub on the stains in a circular motion. Let this solution sit on the stain for a good five minutes before wiping it off. Repeat this process till the stain mark fades or blurs.

Step 3: No Machine Wash Only Gentle Hand Clean

Coming to the main part; how do you clean a leather coat? Definitely not by dunking in the washing machine. In order to clean a leather coat or jacket, you have to rub it with a rag and the washing solution. The washing solution is basically a mix of lukewarm water, a tiny dash of antiseptic liquid, and mild cleaner or dishwashing soap. Also, it is best to use a microfiber towel to rub the liquid all over the jacket; lining included. Once you’re done with the ‘washing’, wipe off the soap solution from the coat/jacket using another damp rag.

Step 4: Drying

Step 3 is not the end of your ‘How do you clean a leather coat?’ guide. Drying the leather coat/jacket properly is equally essential. One thing to remember while dealing with leather is not to expose it to tumble dryers or hair dryers. You’ll automatically be earning your jacket a ticket to hell, literally. Instead, use a clean dry towel and dry off the liquid or moisture off the coat/jacket. Since towel-drying the jacket/coat won’t be enough, hanger your jacket and let it dry in the sunlight for a good 30 minutes before hanging it inside a room, preferably near a fan.

 

Step 5: After Wash Care

Once your leather coat or jacket is all nice and dry, the final process is to treat any leftover odor and then moisturize. To treat the odor, you’ll have to lock your leather coat/jacket in a closed space or cupboard alone with a medium-sized bowl of bicarbonate soda. However, make sure that you place a cheesecloth over the bowl of bicarbonate. Keep the jacket and the bicarbonate in your cupboard for a minimum of 24 hours and the smell will be gone the next day. Afterwards, you can use a quality leather moisturizer and buff it on the jacket to restore the gloss. And there’s the answer to ‘How do you clean a leather coat?’

 

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you clean leather without ruining it?

The key hack to cleaning leather without ruining it is to not expose the leather to chemicals. Use stuff already there in your kitchen like vinegar, oil, dishwashing liquid, water, and clean rags.

Can a leather jacket be washed?

You cannot technically wash a leather jacket by drenching it in water as it’s harmful to the leather. Instead, you can take a small quantity of water soaked in a rag and then rub it on the leather surface, preventing the moisture from stripping the leather of its natural oils.

Do dry cleaners clean leather jackets?

Regular dry cleaners usually don’t clean leather jackets and even if they do, you shouldn’t take the risk. There are dry cleaners who specialize in cleaning leather so you can always take their help as they provide the right aftercare for the jackets