Cleaning Leather Clothes

Written by Jill Culley (last updated May 8, 2023)

Leather is a very useful fabric. Imagine all of the places you've ever seen leather: couches, purses, hats, shoes, belts, car seats, gloves. It's durable and beautiful, which is why it can be found in so many places and have so many uses. I have a few leather things, one of which is a leather jacket. It's perfect for all seasons and it always manages to dress up an outfit. After a few seasons of wearing my jacket, I noticed that it needed some cleaning but it's not exactly the kind of thing one can just drop off at the local dry cleaner. It requires special care so that the surface isn't damaged. Because I hadn't thought of that when I bought the jacket at the store, I decided to do some research on how to clean leather. Here's what I found:

  1. Test the cleaner. Before you begin cleaning anything, especially leather clothing, you should always test the cleaner on it in a small inconspicuous place. This helps you to avoid destroying the entire article in advance. In just a few minutes you will be able to tell if the cleaner will work or.
  2. 2. Choosing the cleaner. You can buy leather shoe polish, which can be found at your local grocery store or from a cobbler. I found the easiest cleaner is baby shampoo. It's mild because it's made for babies so you can be sure that it won't cause damage to your leather.
  3. Cleaning. Unless your leather clothing is especially soiled, you should really only need to do a basic spot cleaning. Remember that part of the appeal of leather is the "aged" look. Take some warm water with your cleaner and a very soft cloth. Massage the soiled area and be sure to remove the soap thoroughly. Leaving it on the leather can cause staining.
  4. Drying. Allow your leather clothing to dry on its own. Never put it in the sun or near a heater. This will most surely damage the leather. A good 24 hours in a warmish place in the house will be enough to dry it.

Leather clothing is a beautiful addition to any wardrobe, be it jackets, purses or shoes. Taking care of it and cleaning it every few months will help make the article last longer and avoid giving it a worn look as opposed to an aged look. Always remember to test any cleaner first before cleaning the whole garment.

Author Bio

Jill Culley

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