Having leather goods in your collection is a luxury experience. But you must have invested heavily. So, you might be in search of knowledge to learn the proper leather care techniques to use it for eternity. Your first priority should be to maintain your jacket as brand new. But if you have stains in your leather goods, you may want to wash them. At this stage, you will be concerned about what happens if you wash leather. Let’s talk about this matter in detail in this comprehensive guide.
By the end of this article, you will have complete knowledge of keeping your leather jacket clean, either by using a leather jacket cleaner or with the hacks you can do at the ease of your home. You must know the type of leather before using any method on it. Because each type of leather reacts differently with the chemicals and water and you need to perform cleaning methods with extra care.
Can you wash leather with water?
If you have stains in your leather jacket or leather bag, the first thing that comes to your mind is whether you can wash leather with water or does water ruin leather. The answer is you can wash your leather jacket with water, but just not the way you are probably thinking. You can use different methods that involve water to clean your leather jacket, but doing it the wrong way may cause damage. Long-term use of ill methods to clean leather may cause discoloration, dryness, and loss of smoothness. By the time you know about the damage, it will be too late to fix your leather goods.
Luckily, there are effective techniques you can use to keep your leather highly durable and brand new. The main thing is to know about safe cleaning methods that do not affect the quality of a product. You should also know whether you can handle the situation yourself or if you need a professional’s help. Let’s talk about the techniques of washing leather.
How to wash leather without ruining it?
While it is important to know about the type of leather you are dealing with, you need to understand that not a single type is completely suitable and safe to soak in a mixture of water and detergents. So, can you clean leather with soap and water? Yes, you can do it, but before starting this cleaning method, look for instructions from the maker that will tell you about the safe options.
Wash leather safely:
- Make a solution of water and soap detergent, or use the commercial soap specifically made to clean leather.
- Mix the solution and make some bubbles out of it.
- Do a patch test in which you try the prepared solution on a small patch, which is usually hidden. For example, if you are cleaning your leather jacket, test on an area that is not visible on the outside.
- Take a soft cotton cloth and dip it into the solution. Avoid using clothes that may produce friction and cause peeling.
- Wipe your leather with a soft cotton cloth. Use circular motions and remove stains gently.
- Avoid soaking your whole leather in a tub full of water, as it will do more harm than good.
- Now you have to remove the soap from your leather. For that, take a soft, clean cotton cloth and damp it with clean water, then wipe off all the soap from your leather.
- You can repeat the process if you are not satisfied with the results.
- Hang your leather in a place to let it dry naturally. Do not put your leather goods directly in the sunlight. Avoid artificial heat methods also, as they can cause cracking and fading.
- Apply leather conditioner to your leather to keep its texture smooth and protected. Conditioner helps keep the necessary moisture in your leather and increases its lifespan.
Removing stains:
It is not an unusual thing to spill on your leather. Here is how you can deal with it safely:
- First, you need to remove what you have spilled on your leather jacket or leather bag.
- For light stains, you can use cornstarch or baby powder. Let the powder rest for about 10 minutes or overnight, then gently remove it.
- Apply leather conditioner with a clean cloth to restore the smooth texture of your leather.
- For more stubborn stains, you can wash your leather just like the method given above.
- If you are in doubt, then you should take a professional’s help instead of doing it yourself.
Deep cleaning:
- Do a patch test and test your method on a small hidden area.
- Select a high-quality leather cleaner and apply it on a soft cloth. Then wipe your leather with the cleaner in your circular motion, but do not use an excess of it.
- After some time, remove the leather cleaner from your leather with a dampened clean cloth.
- Wait till your leather gets dry naturally without keeping it under the sunlight or using artificial heat methods.
- Apply leather conditioner to restore the essential moisture in your leather.
- If you are concerned about how to soften leather jacket, you can use leather softeners that are high-quality commercial products specifically made to provide smoothness and softness to your leather goods.
- You cannot use cleaners that you usually use to clean your household things. Such cleaners have harsh chemicals in them that can damage your leather and disrupt its appearance.
Seek professional help:
It may not be necessary to handle your leather by yourself. You may sometimes need professional help to clean your leather. But if you do not know whether to clean it yourself or to get help from a professional, follow the instructions given below:
You can wash your leather by yourself if you are dealing with only mild stains or dust. You can perform safe cleaning methods for minor touch-ups. However, you need to look at your leather closely. If you think that the stain is too deep and removing it may cause discoloration of your leather, it is better to let a professional handle it.
A certified leather care technician knows how to clean leather properly without damaging it. They have special instruments and cleaning products that are specially designed to handle expensive, high-quality leather. You should understand this to keep your leather in good condition for many years.
Benefits of washing leather:
However, washing leather demands careful handling; the results may just surprise you. You may need to put some effort, but in the end, it will not disappoint you. Here are some of the benefits of washing your leather:
Cheap method: Washing your leather with water is the cheapest method you can use to wash your leather. In this method, you are not dealing with any type of chemicals, so you do not have to spend money on buying a good-quality leather cleaner or softener.
Chemical-free Solution: Using chemicals for cleaning purposes can wear out your leather in the long run. It may give you the results at the start, but chemicals interfere with the tanning process and decrease its durability over time. It makes water a preferred method to use while washing your leather.
Diversity in Use: Unlike other cleaning techniques, water can be used on any type of leather. This benefit makes it a versatile option to use. Using water as a cleaning method is a universal thing and is highly effective.
Only Requires Conditioning: After washing your leather, you may only need to condition it with leather conditioner to restore its appearance and keep it with natural moisture.
Eliminates Bad Odor: Water also has the ability to eliminate bad odor. For this reason, water is also known as a natural deodorizer. So if you are concerned about how to get smell out of leather jacket, then a gentle water wash can help you to remove musty or smoky smells trapped in your leather.
Extends Lifespan: Washing your leather for cleaning purposes is the easiest thing to do. For this reason, you will do regular and proper cleaning, which extends the lifespan of your leather. It prevents cracks and dryness, which helps to extend the life of your leather jacket.
What does water do to leather?
While water is considered a safe method to clean your leather, it still comes with risks, and you should keep that in mind. But you can prevent these if you know how to handle them. Here is a set of instructions:
Mold: Your leather goods might grow mold if they are not properly dried after washing. It may also happen if you use contaminated water for washing. To avoid this, you need to use fresh, clean water to wash your leather and dry it properly before storing it.
Fading: Some types of leather may fade when they come into direct contact with water. To avoid such inconvenience, try to do a patch test on the area of your leather that is hideous.
Water Stains: Leather is a porous material that can absorb water into it. So if you handle it with improper or uneven drying, it can leave permanent water stains or marks on it. Drying it properly is the main key.
Changes Shape: Washing your leather jacket may cause shrinkage. Improper drying methods, like using excessive heat during drying, can cause it to shrink. So avoid doing that.
Weakening of Fibers: Repeated or long-term exposure to water weakens the material fabric of your leather and reduces its durability. So, only expose your leather to water when necessary, not whenever it is convenient.
Can leather be washed in the washing machine?
Leather can also be washed in the washing machine, but again, not like you do for your other clothes. So, how can you put leather in the washer? Let’s break this into steps:
- Before washing your leather in the washing machine, read its care instructions from the seller.
- Wash your leather jacket alone and turn it inside out to protect it.
- Buy a good–quality leather cleaner or use castile soap. Avoid regular soaps and detergents, as they are not suitable for use on leather.
- Add cold water and castile soap to the washing machine.
- Put your leather jacket in it and run a regular, gentle cycle. Do not exceed the cycle time of 7 minutes.
- Remove the leather from the machine and let it dry completely by hanging it in the air.
- After it becomes dry, apply leather conditioner to prevent dryness and keep its natural oil.
Things that you shouldn’t use while washing leather:
Do you know that apart from knowing how to wash your leather safely and effectively, it is also very important to understand the things that you need to avoid at any cost. Here is a list of instructions:
- Do not use strong chemicals like detergents, bleach, and alcohol. Such chemicals have the tendency to remove natural oils from your leather, which are important to keep it moist.
- Do not use excessive water on your leather, as it can also lead to dryness and breaking.
- Do not use harsh materials to clean your leather, because they can scrape the leather.
- Avoid using a drenching cloth to clean your jacket instead of a dampened cloth.
- Do not use generalized cleaning methods or products that are not specifically made for leather goods.
Tips for proper leather care:
It is better to keep your leather jacket in good condition, rather than treating it with harsh cleaning methods or taking it to professional leather cleaners. Clean your leather regularly by wiping it off and removing dust with a soft cotton cloth. If your leather gets wet in the rain unexpectedly, try to make it dry naturally, rather than using heat to keep it dry. Avoid exposing your leather to sunlight, as it can damage the texture and lead to many problems like dryness and brittleness.
One of the things you might not regret doing is investing in buying good-quality leather. Invest in quality brands like Daniel Smart MFG., which provides good-quality men's and women leather jackets, other products, and accessories with high durability, functionality, and comfort.
Conclusion:
Taking care of leather goods is important to keep them looking new and lasting a long time. You can clean leather safely by washing it, but always do a patch test first. If you are unsure of your leather type or dealing with some tough stains, it is best to seek help from a professional.