Eco-leather care: how to clean it and how to wash it correctly?

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Published: 05/10/2021

Reading time: 3 min

Leatherette (eco leather) is a material with many advantages. It is soft, flexible and inexpensive. A variety of wardrobe items are sewn from it. If you wash and iron leatherette pants correctly, they will not lose their presentable appearance and will last as long as possible. The same goes for skirts, jackets, dresses, shirts and other faux leather items.

1 Instructions for dry and wet cleaning
2 Is it possible to wash eco-leather and how should it be done 2.1 By hand
2.2 In the car

3 Tips for washing different leatherette products

4 Removing stains

5 How to dry and smooth

6 Conclusion

Is eco-leather washable?

Since there are many types of eco-leather, before putting the product in the washing machine, you should carefully study the label. Here you can find information about what type of washing and temperature conditions are recommended for a specific type of fabric.

For example, thin eco-leather intended for sewing clothes is most often cleaned only by hand, while denser materials used in the manufacture of car covers are perfectly resistant to machine washing.

Eco-leather should be washed by hand, following a certain procedure.

Pour warm water into a basin, the temperature of which does not exceed 30 degrees.
Add detergent and wait until it is completely dissolved. For eco-leather, it is better to choose gels, since the components of dry formulations are less rinsable.
Place the product in a soapy solution and wash immediately. Soaking items made of artificial leather is strictly prohibited.
After removing stains and dirt, rinse the product thoroughly in warm water.

If the manufacturer allows machine washing, the products must be cleaned automatically in compliance with the following rules.

Use only liquid detergents for washing eco-leather.
Use fabric softener to soften the material.
Wash the product on a delicate cycle.
Set the water temperature not exceeding 30 degrees.
Disable the spin function.

Important!

Under no circumstances should a washed item be twisted or wrung out, as this will lead to deformation of the fabric and the appearance of abrasions.

Rules for drying eco-leather products

In the process of cleaning eco-leather, it is important not only to follow the basic washing rules, but also to carefully dry the item.

After washing, place the item in a basin and allow the water to drain.
Lay the item out on a large towel, carefully straightening out the folds.
Cover the product with a second towel, pressing slightly on the terry cloth with your hands. This will help remove excess moisture.

After the towel has absorbed excess water, the dress, jacket or jacket will need to be hung on hangers until completely dry. And skirts, trousers, car or furniture covers are dried in a horizontal position.

Sometimes minor abrasions appear on eco-leather products after washing. It is easy to eliminate this defect by using special paint designed for this type of material.

Preparing artificial leather for washing

On the label, the manufacturer indicates the washing method, temperature conditions, and possible means for removing stains. Usually hand washing is allowed at a temperature not exceeding 30 degrees. When the recommendations on the label have been erased, you should test the material by moistening a small area of leather clothing from the reverse side and leaving it to dry completely. If the material is not deformed, then you can start washing.

Before washing, you should check the pockets for foreign objects that could damage the product.
The detachable elements must be detached. Protect metal fittings with tape or polyethylene so that they do not hit the drum of the washing machine and scratch the material.
If there is a lock or buttons, they must be fastened.
It is recommended to first clean the product from light dirt and dust using a soft cloth and liquid soap.
Before washing, the product must be turned inside out so that the drum does not spoil the material.

How to clean eco-leather?

Eco-leather, like many synthetic materials, does not like moisture too much. For this reason, items made from this fabric should be washed only in extreme cases, and if there is minor dirt, simply clean it.

To do this, it is recommended to use special products that are easy to find in household chemical stores and act in accordance with the attached instructions. But if it was not possible to purchase the composition, it is permissible to use available materials.

You can remove street dust, dirt and stains from the surface using simple means:

toilet and laundry soap;
ammonia;
shaving foam;
lemon;
hydrogen peroxide (only for light-colored eco-leather).

Any of the selected products will cope with minor stains no worse than a special composition. To do this, just dissolve it in water and apply it to the surface, then wipe the material with a damp sponge. If we are talking about local cleaning, when it is necessary to remove a stain, it is permissible to use the listed products in their pure form.

Removing stains

For example, there is slight dirt on an eco-leather jacket. You will need: a brush and baking soda. Sprinkle the powder onto the stain and rub lightly. Blow off any remaining residue. Assess the effectiveness of the procedure. If necessary, repeat.

There is another option. To do this, go over the stain with alcohol. This will degrease the area. Then add a drop of lemon juice. After drying, lubricate with glycerol. Perform the last step after testing the reaction of the leatherette to glycerin.

On light-colored jackets, apply lemon juice or milk to the stain. The treatment area is not washed off.

Table vinegar (1 tbsp/glass of water) or medical alcohol (1:1 dilution in water) can cope with small stains. Laundry soap will help remove milk and coffee stains from eco-leather.

Care for light-colored eco-leather

Light-colored materials require a special approach. First of all, they will have to be cleaned much more often, since stains and dirt on them will be more noticeable.

To clean a jacket or furniture cover made of light or white eco-leather, you will need to treat the material with a cotton swab or foam sponge soaked in warm milk, and then wipe dry.

If stains appear on white or very light material, you can use one of two methods.

Apply shaving foam to the dirt and rub in a circular motion, and after 30 seconds remove with a damp cloth and wipe the surface dry.
Dampen the stain with hydrogen peroxide and leave for 10 seconds, then remove the solution and polish the material with a piece of flannel or woolen cloth.

Advice
Eco-leather should be cleaned regularly and stains should be removed immediately after they appear. This will prevent dirt from “eating” into the fabric and will eliminate the need to use chemical cleaning agents.

How to remove stains from trousers when washing

For each type of fabric and stain, there are different methods that will allow you to properly treat the material and remove the stain.

From wool

It is very difficult to remove dirt from wool fabric, as the material is capricious. Therefore, cleaning your pants should be gentle.

Remove dirt from the edges of the stain, moving towards the middle to prevent the stain from getting larger.
Before using any product, do a test. Apply a small amount of solution to the back or inside seam. This way you can test the effect of the stain remover on the fabric.
Stains left by grease are removed with tooth powder or potato starch
. And white fabric is treated with hydrogen peroxide. Apply the product, allow it to sit, and rinse under running water. The procedure can be repeated if necessary.
Chocolate stains can be easily removed by washing your trousers in a salt solution.
Oil paint stains are wiped off with gasoline. Moisten a cotton pad and place it on the contaminated area. The paint will soften and come off easily.
It is advisable to wash off blood drops immediately. Use only cool water. You can rub the blood with laundry soap. Let it soak in and then wash thoroughly. And rinse well.

From corduroy

First turn the item inside out.
Greasey stains are removed using dishwashing liquid.
Use a soft brush or sponge. Apply the product evenly to the stain. Scrub with gentle movements.
Then wash the pants in soapy warm water.
When squeezing, do not twist the fabric.

From linen fabric

Linen material is durable and easily accepts many stain removers.

The greasy stain is sprinkled with dry talc or chalk powder. Allow time to sit for the fat to be absorbed.
Sweat will be removed with a solution of salt and ammonia (one spoon per glass of water). Moisten the stain with the mixture, wait a little and rinse thoroughly.
When heated, traces of blood are fixed on the fabric, so wash only in cold water and laundry soap.

From the skin

Leather trousers require special care. If possible, it is better to take them to the dry cleaner. However, you can try to cope on your own.

Many stains can be removed with ordinary soapy water. Just wipe the stained areas with it. Then rinse off the soap thoroughly so it doesn't leave a residue.
Oily drops are washed off with glycerin soap.
Paint stains can be cleaned with solvent.
Wipe off any unpleasant stains with a cloth soaked in edible vinegar.
Lemon juice
will help you restore the shine of your leather surface . Another way: simply rub with a citrus slice.

How to remove concealer stains

Schoolchildren and office workers use corrector, a drop of which can ruin the appearance of their trousers. Let’s immediately give a positive answer to the question of whether such a stain can be removed at home. It is quite problematic to wipe off the putty, but it is possible.

Do not rub the stain on your trousers under any circumstances, as this will stain a large surface area of the material.
If the stain is left by a water-based corrector, the stain can simply be washed off. Soak your pants in cold water and add soap. Then wash: in a machine or by hand, depending on the type of fabric.
Got an alcohol-based touch? Take cologne or vodka. Soak a cotton swab with the product. Apply to stain, rub gently, then rinse.

What products should not be used when caring for eco-leather?

Eco-leather requires delicate handling, and in order not to cause irreparable harm to the material, you should take into account a number of prohibitions.

When cleaning eco-leather products, the following is unacceptable:

use brushes, even with soft bristles;
use powders containing abrasive particles and bleaching components;
clean eco-leather with compounds containing chlorine and acids;
remove stains from the surface of the material using bleaches and solvents;
treat the material with products intended for other types of fabrics.

In addition, when drying eco-leather products in the fresh air, they should be placed under a canopy; in the sun, the material can become deformed and burn out.

Prohibited actions

Under no circumstances should you do the following:

dry the material over heating devices,
expose the product to direct ultraviolet rays,
use products that contain chlorine or acids,
wash with powders created with the addition of abrasive elements,
clean the product with a brush,
Use a washing machine for cleaning or drying.

Ecological leather has many advantages that are in no way inferior to natural material. A distinctive feature of such products is their low price category, so anyone can purchase them for themselves. Caring for eco-leather, shoes, clothes or accessories is simple, but requires compliance with all the above recommendations.

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Rules for storing eco-leather products

When storing eco-leather items for seasonal storage, you need to make sure that they retain their original shape and that folds and creases do not form on the surface. This can be achieved by following simple recommendations.

Place products in cool areas, away from light and heat sources.
Hang your clothes on hangers, choosing them exactly according to the size of the item.
Use fabric covers, since polyethylene does not allow air to pass through well and does not allow the material to “breathe.”
Dresses with straps and bags should be stored in bags, since the product may become deformed if left in a “hanging” position for a long time.
Before putting the item away for storage, you should carefully straighten out all the folds and creases.

If clothes removed from the closet are wrinkled, you can put them in order by slightly moistening the surface and drying it naturally. Ironing eco-leather is strictly prohibited.

The listed recommendations will allow you to preserve things made from artificial materials in their original form for a long time and significantly extend their service life.