Leather jacket refresh: A comprehensive guide to restore your leather jacket

Leather jackets are among the most rugged pieces of clothing, designed to withstand more wear and tear than other garments. Many of us frequently wear our leather jackets, whether to work or for casual outings with friends, and our strong leather jackets handle it all. However, after extensive use, it’s natural for leather or any other material to lose its original charm and shine. Fortunately, there are ways to restore the beauty of real leather, which is not possible with most other materials.

In this article, we are going to share some very useful tips for refreshing your leather jacket at home. In addition, we will also discuss how you can store it the right way to ensure it retains its shine.

Leather jacket refresh DIY tips

Now we are going to share some very easy DIY tips that you can use to restore your leather jacket in the comfort of your home and that too without spending a fortune on a new jacket. We will start with some very basic things like cleaning and conditioning the leather jacket but even before that, you have to prepare your leather jacket first

Prepare the jacket before restoring

To prepare a leather jacket or any other leather clothing before cleaning you have to take the following steps

1.| Refer to manufacturer label- Always refer to the manufacturer label for care-related instructions, you will get a clear idea of what to do and what not

2.| Test any cleaning product- Before applying any leather care product on leather, check it on an inconspicuous area and see if the product causes any discoloration or damage

3.| Remove dirt or debris- Use a soft brush or a soft cloth to wipe off any loose dirt or grime on the leather surface

Cleaning the leather jacket

1.| Preparing the cleaning solution- Mix a few drops of mild liquid soap in lukewarm water and stir it well ensuring the solution is not too soapy but uniform. You can use a leather-specific cleaner in place of a soap solution

2.| Cleaning the jacket- Now dip a clean microfiber cloth in soap solution, and squeeze out excess liquid. Now gently wipe the jacket with a damp cloth, working in a circular motion throughout the leather surface. You can repeat the step on dirty spots but keep thins in mind to do it gently without applying much force

3.| Rinsing off the soap- Now take another dampened cloth with clean water and wipe off the surface to remove excess soap

4.| Drying the jacket- Let the leather jacket dry in the air by putting it flat on a towel or something. Keep this in mind not to speed up the drying process by using dryer or heat as it will make leather dry that will eventually cause serious damage

Conditioning the leather

Take a small amount of conditioner on leather and spread it on the surface as it can easily be spread widely. Not with the help of a clean lint-free cloth, apply conditioner in circular motion. Give extra attention to areas that are more prone to damage such as folded edges, pockets, seams, and elbows. Now allow the leather jacket to absorb the conditioner for a few hours depending on the thickness of the leather. Usually, it takes 3 to 4 hours or you can keep it overnight.

How to repair and restore a leather jacket

Now that we have done with the basic part of leather jacket maintenance which is cleaning and conditioning, it is time to get to the repair and restoration work which is very obvious for the leather jacket that has undergone heavy usage. We will start with minor scratches and go all the way up to the protecting of leather

Repairing scuffs and scratches

Leather scratches are very common in the leather clothing that has been used so much and in my opinion, scratches are not that bad as they just add character to the leather like it is meant to be used that way right? But it still comes to personal choice as some people want their leather jackets scratch-free

For most of the minor scratches and scuff marks, leather conditioner is enough but if there are some stubborn scratches then you need to apply some more effort like treating the leather with natural oils or even getting a proper leather repair kit that includes leather filler compound which will help fill the scratches. You can also use polish to cover some scratches if you want.

Apply leather polish

Leather polish is widely available in the market and you can use it to cover scratches and maintain the suppleness of leather. Applying leather polish is purely optional as leather does not need any extra polishing after it is treated with leather conditioner but it will do only good if you opt for it.

You can apply polish once the conditioner has fully absorbed in surface and you have done buffing. You can use a soft cloth to apply leather polish in a circular motion and leave it to dry for a few hours.

You can also use leather polish to restore faded leather jackets by using leather polish of the same color. Avoid using shoe polish on leather jackets and get a polish specifically designed for leather jackets. Work on the smaller area at a time.

Applying Waterproof spray

You can use waterproofing sprays to protect your leather jacket from the elements and ensure its long life. There are many leather protectants available in the market such as silicon spray, acrylic spray, waterproofing sprays, etc. But you should avoid using silicon spray on leather as it will make leather dry and sticky. Other products are safe to use and they will help you maintain the overall shade and finish of your beloved leather jacket.

Removing wrinkles from leather jacket

You can use iron on leather to remove wrinkles and it is the most commonly used method to remove wrinkles from leather clothes is a good old iron but in the case of leather, iron should be used in a bit different way as discussed further.

You must be extremely careful while using iron on leather as iron should not come in direct contact with leather. Place the leather garment section with wrinkles flat on the iron table, now you can use a cotton cloth and put it on the leather section you want to iron. Now put the iron on low heat and work it on the section making sure that the iron doesn’t rest stationary on it, it should keep moving.

Dry iron is preferred or you can use normal iron by emptying all the water to prevent spills on the leather. You can also check our dedicated article on How to remove wrinkles out of leather garments: 5 amazing ways.

Leather jacket storage

You should always store your leather jackets in a cool, shaded, dry, and properly ventilated space. Avoid storing in places that are high in humidity or in close proximity to something damp as leather is prone to getting molds and mildew

Always store your leather jackets hanging instead of folding them as they can develop creases and sometimes even cracks. Folding your leather jacket will also increase the chances of the jacket getting stained by its own metal elements and proper airflow will also be restricted

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 in your leather jacket refresh task

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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