How to make leather jackets soft: Do’s and don’ts
Natural leather has some great qualities like durability and breathability but it also has a quality that is not that desirable in leather clothing and that is stiffness. Softer leather is more admired as it is more comfortable to use. In this blog, we are about to discuss how to make leather soft and some other things related to the stiffness of leather jackets and other leather garments. We will also discuss some do’s and don’ts to keep your leather garments soft. So let’s get started
Table of Contents
Why is leather so stiff?
Leather is a natural material that undergoes tanning and finishing during manufacturing, all these processes affect the stiffness of leather. There are other factors related to the stiffness of the leather. Here’s the overview:
Type of leather
The stiffness of leather depends on the type of leather and its source. The type of leather can be full grain, top grain, or split leather. On the other hand, sources can be cows, buffalo, or any other animal. For instance, cowhide is comparatively stiffer compared to buffalo hide.
Age
Stiffness in leather also depends on the age of the leather For instance, cowhide feels soft when new but it tends to get softer with usage and time
Quality
More often than not, quality also plays a role in determining the stiffness of leather. Good quality leathers are usually softer as compared to inferior quality leather.
Thickness
Thicker hides are comparatively stiffer than their thin counterparts
Finishing
The type of finishing used can also play a significant role in determining the stiffness of leather. For instance, leather that is finished with aniline dye feels softer than the one that is finished by pigmented dye
Why make leather garments soft?
There are two main reasons why you should make your leather jacket soft:
1.| Comfort: the foremost reason to keep your leather garments soft is the comfort and convenience that comes with the softness of leather
2.| Economy: Soft leather like lamb napa is usually more expensive than cowhide or any other leather which is comparatively stiffer. So, I prefer you should get the cowhide jacket and make it soft yourself as it is not only economical but also way more durable than Napa leather
Tips and precautions
Before getting into the various methods to make leather soft let’s discuss some tips and precautions to keep in mind before attempting to make your leather jacket soft:
Test first– Always test any product or method on a small inconspicuous area to ensure it doesn’t damage or discolor the leather
Avoid over- Conditioning– Too much conditioning is also not good as it can make leather greasy
Protect the lining– Be careful while applying conditioner and avoid getting it on the jacket’s lining as it can damage it
Do’s and don’ts of leather softening
Do’s
There are several ways to condition leather and here’s the overview:
Break leather in naturally:
The easiest and most preferred way to make a leather jacket softer is to wear it often to break the leather in faster
Manually manipulating the leather:
You can manually make it soft by rolling, twisting, and kneading it gently. Keep this in mind not to use excessive force as it can damage the stitching
Leather conditioner:
Leather conditioner is another way to make your leather garments softer. Always use a good quality leather conditioner, Here are the steps to condition it
Clean the jacket- Wipe the leather with a damp cloth or with leather cleaner to remove any dirt or stains and make sure it is completely dried before proceeding
Apply conditioner- Apply conditioner in a circular motion with the help of a clean cloth that doesn’t leave lint behind and don’t forget to pay extra attention to areas that feel dry
Let it soak- Let it soak and dry naturally so that the conditioner penetrates deep into the leather fibers
Polish- After the conditioner is fully soaked, use a clean cloth to polish the leather
Leather oils
You can use leather oils such as neatsfoot oil or mink oil to make leather soft.
Clean- Clean the leather with a damp cloth or leather cleaner to remove dirt
Apply leather oil- Apply leather oil with the help of a clean cloth that doesn’t leave lint behind. Apply it in a circular motion
Let it absorb the oil- Allow it to absorb the oil so that it gets deep into leather fibers
Remove extra oil- Wipe off any extra oil with the help of a clean cloth
Natural oils
you can also use natural oils like coconut oil, jojoba oil, or almond oil on leather as they are gentle on leather and can provide needed nourishment. But you have to be cautious as these natural oils make leather darker and excess oils can make leather greasy.
The steps of applying natural oil are the same as the steps of applying leather oils
Leather softening spray
You can use leather softening spray if you want to make your leather jacket soft instantly. Here are the steps of using leather softening spray
Clean the leather- Clean the leather with a damp cloth or leather cleaner and let it dry completely
Apply leather softening spray- Apply the spray by holding a spray can at a prescribed distance and spray the leather surface evenly. Give extra attention to dried areas
Let it soak- Leave the leather jacket for the time mentioned on the product label. This will allow the spray to reach deep into the fibers of the leather
Rub it gently- After soaking, rub the surface of the leather gently with your hands to spread the spray more evenly and make the leather softer
Horsehair brushing
You can use horse brush to brush your leather jacket periodically which will also help in making it softer and more flexible because it helps distribute the natural oils and clean the surface which makes it supple
Don’ts
There are some methods that you should always avoid to make your leather garments softer as they will do more harm than good. Here’s the overview
Vaseline on leather
Although many people think using Vaseline on leather is safe and it will work as a conditioner the truth is that you should never use Vaseline on leather as it is a petroleum jelly and it will clog the pores of the natural leather without penetrating into the fibers leading to the long term damage and peeling. Vaseline may give a soft appearance for some time but it doesn’t last long enough.
WD 40 on leather
Though WD-40 is suitable for various tasks but you should never use WD-40 on leather as it contains solvents and chemicals that will break down the oils and dye of leather and ruin it.
Heat and steam
Always prevent your leather goods from coming in contact with heat and steam as it can make the leather dry and cause cracking
Olive oil
You should always avoid using olive oil on leather as it can make leather significantly darker and it can also cause leather to smell bad after some time. Use should always use leather-specific oils.
Natural beeswax
Beeswax can not be used to make leather softer as it is solid at room temperature and cannot penetrate into leather fibers. However, it can be used as a protective coating on leather that can resist moisture and other elements
Shoe polish
Just like beeswax, shoe polish can enhance the surface finish but it cannot be used to make leather softer. However, some shoe polish contains some leather oil but that isn’t enough to properly condition your leather jacket so you should not use shoe polish to make your leather jacket soft
Conclusion
Concluding everything, the softening of leather is a natural phenomenon as leather is a kind of material that ages well so don’t rush the softening process by applying too many leather care products and using excessive force. Just wear it often and your timeless leather jacket will serve you decades.
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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