Can you wash a leather jacket in the washing machine?
No, you are not supposed to put the leather jacket in the washing machine. The general rule of thumb when it comes to leather is that you should always keep it away from water. However, if your leather jacket is really dirty and you don’t have any other option but to discard it then the last resort you can you can use is to attempt washing it by hand. But I repeat it is only to be done if you don’t have any other option and you would throw it away anyway if it does not work. Well, the good news is, I have washed several of my leather garments in this way, and guess what? I have always succeeded and ended up getting almost original leather but it can vary depending on leather to leather and environmental conditions. So let’s get started with the leather jacket-washing process
Table of Contents
How to wash a leather jacket?
If washing is the last way out to restore your leather jacket then you should only do the hand washing instead of putting it in a washing machine. Here is the step-by-step guide to washing your leather jacket in the washing machine but before that, refer to the manufacturer’s label
Check the care instructions label
Always refer to the care instructions given by the manufacturer before attempting any leather jacket care method. It doesn’t matter If it is cleaning or conditioning the leather jacket. Follow the guidelines given by the manufacturer
Hand wash leather jacket
1.| Put it on a flat surface- The first thing you have to do is to put the leather jacket flat on the washing surface with an open front so that you can access the inner side of the jacket easily
2.| Get the jacket wet- Now pour some lukewarm water and mild detergent solution. Keep in mind not to pour too much water, as our main goal is to clean the jacket rather than soak it. Use only as much water as needed. You can also use baby shampoo instead of soap if you want
3.| Clean it with cloth- To clean it properly wipe it with a soft cloth. Work the surface in a circular motion and focus on the dirty spots. Allowing the formation of soap foam
4.| Backside cleaning- To clean the backside of the leather jacket don’t lift the jacket completely as leather gets soft when wet and it can easily be damaged when lifted due to the weight of the leather. You can work on the backside by gently folding it
5.| Rinse- After the cleaning is done you can rinse it with clean lukewarm water. Slowly pour the water with gentle rubbing by hands
6.| Squeeze excess water- Now gently squeeze extra water with your hand and soak it with a fresh microfiber cloth or a towel
7.| Drying- Gently transfer it to a towel and let it lie flat for some hours. You can take another person’s help in transferring the jacket gently
8.| Air dry- After it is partially dried, hang it in a shaded and ventilated place to air dry. Keep in mind not to force dry leather and don’t use any dryer or heat as it will make the leather dry and brittle causing it to develop cracks
Can You Put a Leather Jacket in the Dryer?
No, you are not supposed to put your leather jacket in the dryer as any forceful attempt to dry your leather jacket can cause permanent damage and it can even make your leather jacket shrink. As we have explained in the previous section, any artificial drying technique can make your leather brittle and dry which will result in cracking. The washing has already washed away its natural leather oils and drying with heat and dryer will only make it worse. So to minimize the damage, avoid using any dryer to dry the leather jacket or any other leather garment
Post wash care
After the leather jacket is fully dried and cleaned, don’t forget to properly condition it. Applying leather conditioner will not only make it look more beautiful but also it will help restore some of the natural leather oils that had been washed away by water which will enhance the lifespan of leather. Here are the steps for using the leather conditioner
How to condition your leather jacket?
1.| Cleaning- Clean the leather with a good leather cleaner to remove dirt or grime
2.| Apply conditioner- Now apply leather conditioner with the help of a clean cloth in circular motion
3.| Let it soak- let it soak and dry naturally so that conditioner penetrates into leather fibers
4.| Polish- After conditioning is done, apply polish to maintain the smooth finish
Post conditioning care
After the conditioning is done, take a clean microfiber cloth to buff the leather surface. This will give the leather a much-needed shine. Now store it in a ventilated space overnight to make sure that all the moisture leaves the jacket
Conclusion
Leather is an amazing material and there’s no other material that can match the elegance and feel of real leather. However, just like all other things leather has its very own disadvantages and one of the biggest ones among them is the sensitivity to water. Leather does have some resistance to water and moisture but it is there to some extent and it is not supposed to be soaked in water if possible. Anyway, I hope our article is helpful and it has clearly answered your question Can you wash a leather jacket in the washing machine.
If you have any doubts, feel free to ask in the comment section, and for more information on leather products, you can check our other articles or you can contact us. LeatherBlues is known as one of the best stores for real leather products. Explore our amazing collection of leather garments and services.
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