A leather jacket is a practical wardrobe item that often comes in handy during the off-season.
Not used all year round, the item sometimes becomes wrinkled due to improper storage or careless use.
In this case, it becomes necessary to iron the leather jacket so as not to damage the natural leather.
Let's take a closer look at how to properly iron a leather jacket at home without ruining it.
Preparation for the procedure
Genuine leather is elastic and, when stored properly, rarely wrinkles. Creases may appear when storing items folded or tightly pressed in a closet.
If time allows, it is possible to put your jacket in order without even doing anything. An item hung on a hanger can straighten simply under its own weight.
In this case, the item should hang freely, without touching anything. But this method is suitable for things made of thin genuine leather.
In cases where the product is made of thick leather or you don’t have a few days left, simple ways to deal with the problem will help.
Before processing begins, the item is inspected, cleaned and foreign objects are removed from pockets.
Send under press
A homemade press made from several thick books, a vessel with water, or a heavy object from a home workshop can straighten wrinkled leather clothes. The main thing is that the surface is flat. Place the product on a flat surface and straighten the fold with your hands, avoiding stretching. Cover with a piece of cotton cloth and place a press on top. Leave for 12-24 hours. Then remove and hang on hangers for 3-4 hours so that the jacket “hangs.” This method is suitable for collars, which suffer most often.
A table press, which is used in ateliers and leather goods stores, successfully copes with creases. It is a large and heavy iron and has special temperature settings for working with delicate materials. You should look for an establishment that has such a unit and knows how to smooth the skin.
Can you iron it with an iron?
In order to use the iron, you need to prepare the fabric through which ironing will be carried out .
There should be no direct contact of the heated sole of the iron with the skin and accessories.
Fabric requirements:
- dense structure;
- lack of pronounced texture;
- resistance to heat.
The material must withstand heat well, and at the same time not have a pronounced texture, since under the influence of temperature the texture of the fabric can be transferred to the skin. In this regard, for example, waffle kitchen towels are not suitable.
If there are only 1-2 creases on the jacket, it makes no sense to iron the entire product - it will be enough to treat only the affected areas.
The ironing process itself will differ from the usual - you won’t have to move the iron over the material.
Tips for ironing:
- The iron is applied by applying it to the crease, sealing it without moving it along the surface. In this case, the steam function must be disabled.
The ironing mode on the iron is set to minimum – “silk”.- A heavily wrinkled item begins to be ironed from the collar, then moving to the sleeves, front, and back.
The collar is first ironed from the wrong side, then from the front. If it is upright, the fold should not be smoothed. - Ironing can only be done through fabric.
- They move to a new place of processing only after the previous one has cooled down after heating from the sole of the iron.
- The ironed item is immediately hung on hangers and allowed to cool.
For ironing hard-to-reach places and sleeves it is convenient to use:
- armband included with ironing board;
- homemade rollers from a tightly rolled towel.
Ironing is not suitable for textured, pressed, finely textured leather or complex draperies.
You can familiarize yourself with the rules for ironing jackets made from a variety of materials here.
Is it possible and how to iron a leather jacket with an iron? The video will tell you:
Steaming - fast and effective!
Steaming items at home can be done using:
- steam generator;
- iron with steam generation function;
- steamer.
To do this, the jacket is hung on hangers. It is important that the item is in an upright position .
On the device that produces steam, it is necessary to set the mode. It should not be too intense - otherwise the jacket may get very wet and deformed.
Steam Process:
Begin steaming from the collar. Then they move on to the sleeves.- A stream of steam is directed along the item in stripes.
- The optimal distance for exposure to steam is 0.2 m.
- It is forbidden to apply steam to the same place for more than 1 or 2 seconds.
- After processing, the jacket is hung on a trempel.
- It is necessary to avoid contact with hot steam on the front of the leather item.
Steam treatment is only suitable for thick leather products.
How to steam leather jackets:
Features of leatherette
Artificial material is less plastic. On clothes made of leatherette and eco-leather, folds appear more often than on clothes made from natural materials. They are removed using various methods.
Hydrating with warm water
Artificial leather smoothes out when exposed to water . Use lukewarm liquid. It is poured into the container of a hand sprayer. The item is prepared for processing:
- wipe with a clean damp cloth;
- turn inside out;
- hang on hangers of the appropriate size.
Moisturize the lining of the product. After about 12 hours, the fabric dries, the artificial leather takes on a normal appearance, folds and bruises disappear.
Deep folds are smoothed out with a special mixture. It is prepared from improvised means:
- water from the filter (1 part);
- fabric conditioner (1 part);
- 3-6% table vinegar (1 part).
Apply the liquid with a spray bottle and only to the problem area. After moistening, the fold is slightly stretched in the transverse direction. If there is a crease on the sleeve, then insert a soft roller inside. Remove it after the material has dried and smoothed out.
Steam bath
At night, hot water is drawn into the bath. They hang a wrinkled jacket, skirt, trousers, dress over her. The curtain is drawn and the door is closed. In the morning they take the hangers to another room. There, leatherette clothes dry naturally. After this procedure, the surface becomes perfectly smooth.
Ironing from the inside out
Study the label. Ironing unless there is a prohibiting sign. Set the temperature on the regulator to 30 °C. The product is turned to the left side. The parts are ironed through the fabric. A large terry towel rolled into a tight roll is placed in the sleeves. After ironing, hang the item and allow it to dry. Drying takes 2 to 3 hours.
Under pressure
A large crease (fold) on an eco-leather product can be easily eliminated using a press. Its role is usually played by books, a brick that was placed in a bag, or a 5 liter plastic bottle filled with water.
See also
7 ways to fold a jacket correctly and beautifully so that it doesn’t wrinkle
The work is carried out according to a certain scheme:
- place the product on a flat surface, straighten the problem area of eco-leather with your hands;
- straighten the lining;
- cover with a smooth cloth;
- they place the load.
The procedure is carried out in the evening. In the morning the press is removed. The item hangs freely on hangers for 1 day. A day later she is like new again.
Straightening at home and on the street
An hour and a half walk in the rain replaces home treatment of the product with spray water. The difference is that the front side is moisturized, not the lining. To make the folds disappear, hang the wet jacket (raincoat) on hangers of the appropriate size. Fasten with buttons (zipper), straighten the lapels and collar. Allow to dry at room temperature.
Steam generator or hair dryer
It is convenient to steam eco-leather products with a household steam generator. The steam flow that the device produces quickly smooths out even large wrinkles. It is convenient for them to prepare clothes with a complex cut for wearing. Advantages of the steam generator:
- does not leave streaks;
- removes stains;
- eliminates unpleasant odor.
Not every housewife has a convenient household appliance. It is replaced with a hairdryer. From a distance of 30 cm, a stream of warm (not hot) air is directed onto the folds. It softens eco-leather. Folds and creases disappear.
Purchased funds
A quick and affordable way to update the appearance of something is to use household chemicals that are designed for this. The method of treatment with the spray preparation is approximately the same for all manufacturers.
Processing order:
- The leather jacket must be placed vertically, with the front side facing out.
- Spray the product generously over the surface of the product.
- Take a dry soft cloth and rub the mixture into the skin until completely absorbed.
- Allow the items to air out and dry completely.
This processing method will cost more than ironing or using one of the available means.
The use of a product specifically designed for leather is suitable for jackets made from genuine leather of any thickness and structure.
At the same time, the skin is delicately softened, restored and moisturized. One bottle is enough to treat a leather jacket.
Such drugs include:
- Collonil Carbon Leather Care (about 1,000 rubles per bottle);
- Poliboy (approximately 400 rubles per bottle);
- Unicum (about 200 rubles) and others.
The straightening of folds occurs due to moisturizing and softening the material.
Ironing a wrinkled product after purchase
After purchase, a new item may become wrinkled if it was not stored correctly in the store. Before embarking on radical methods of restoring a leather jacket, you can try to get by with light measures - just let the things hang on a trample .
But this method is only suitable for jackets made of thin leather that is not too wrinkled. If simply hanging on a hanger doesn't help, you can try the other methods listed above.
Stores that specialize in selling items made of genuine leather have special steam generators that are designed to straighten wrinkled items. You can simply ask to put things in order.
Precautionary measures
When using an iron, the main condition is not to overdo it with the temperature. The steam function is not used, this may lead to roughening of the material. You can turn on the mode only when using the electrical appliance as a vertical steamer. Thin leather is ironed at a minimum temperature (1 point on the iron), if necessary, increase it slightly. When processing with any electrical appliances, you need to ensure that drops of hot water do not fall on the product, as they can leave stains. To do this, you need to blow steam into the air several times to make sure there are no splashes.
You should not put on the jacket immediately after steaming: this can lead to deformation, especially if the material, which has not yet cooled down, is suddenly exposed to the cold. Leather items cannot be washed in an automatic washing machine; dirt can only be removed by hand. If you are afraid of ruining your clothes using home ironing methods, you can take them to a dry cleaner, where specialists will tidy up your jacket for a small amount.
Enable the steam function when using a vertical steamer
Do not put on the jacket immediately after steaming
Cannot be machine washed
Iron thin leather at minimum temperature
Elimination of deep creases and folds
Severe creases formed on a thick leather jacket are not easy to remove. You can start by treating wrinkled areas with an iron through the fabric according to the method described above.
In this case, you cannot increase the temperature set on the iron, nor prolong the time the sole of the iron is exposed to the jacket. Both violations can lead to damage to the item.
If the leather jacket does not regain its shape the first time, the effect can be repeated after it has cooled down .
For severe creases that cannot be removed at home, going to a dry cleaner will help restore the jacket.
How to avoid common mistakes
In order not to waste time and preserve the good appearance of your wardrobe item, it is not recommended to use dry hot air and water. In open sources, the method of applying a hairdryer to an item is popular, but it is not advisable to use this method, because there is a high probability that the material will become rough and new damage will appear. The use of hot water will cause the jacket to lose color and shape. The following nuances are also taken into account:
- You cannot stretch the folds manually or try to wear the product by wearing several sweaters or deliberately walk in the rain in order to get it wet and dry it on yourself.
- Steam straightening can damage the item if it is treated with a water-repellent agent, which should be indicated on the label.
- The product should not be dried near radiators or other heating devices. The skin, as well as from exposure to a hot hair dryer, will become rough.
Do not stretch the folds manually or try to wear the product
Steam straightening can damage the item.
Drying the product should not be done near heating devices.
Tips and prohibitions
What not to do with a leather jacket:
- stretch with your hands using force - there is a possibility of tearing the thing;
- store the jacket folded;
- hang a leather jacket on a hook;
- do not expose the skin to hot water or a hairdryer;
- It is forbidden to try to speed up the ironing process by increasing the heating temperature of the iron, as this increases the likelihood of irreversibly damaging the item.
There is no point in wearing out a wrinkled leather jacket - the result will not be impressive, and the discomfort from the unpresentable appearance will ruin your mood and create discomfort.
Proper care of your leather jacket will allow it to last a long time and look attractive at the same time.
The following recommendations will help with this:
- periodic treatment with oils and moisturizers will promote better skin elasticity and reduce the likelihood of creases;
- It is best to keep a genuine leather jacket in a closet under a breathable cover.
- The best way to store the product is on a trample, without pressing it against other things.
If the jacket is treated for the first time with a new method (oil, purchased product, etc.), it is recommended to test the effect on an inconspicuous area.
Items that are difficult to smooth out
Lapels, collars, cuffs, pocket trims, and cuffs are difficult to smooth out. In this case, potato starch comes to the rescue. It is mixed with water in a 1:1 ratio.
Collar
Apply jelly to the crumpled collar with a soft brush or cotton pad. They stand for some time. Fold smooth white fabric in 2-3 layers. Place it on the collar and iron the fold with a slightly warm iron. Remaining starch is removed with a damp sponge. Wipe the skin with a dry cloth.
With defects
The edges of scratches, microcracks, and holes may curl, melt, or crawl after heat treatment. It is unknown how stains of glue and paint will behave under the influence of a jet of hot steam. Clothes with obvious defects are taken to dry cleaning or restored at home using delicate methods:
- apply castor oil to the folds;
- hang it in the bathroom over hot water at night.
Bag
The surface of the bag is smoothed without the help of an iron. They resort to one of 2 methods tested by many people:
- stuff it with crumpled paper, old rags, wrap it in a damp sheet or large terry towel, and leave it until completely dry;
- fill it with crumpled paper, old rags, apply cream, oil or a special moisturizer to the crease area, when the product is absorbed, wipe the skin with a damp cloth.