How to wash leather gloves, bag, trousers or jacket at home

Share on social media networks:

Leather clothing is practical, comfortable and never goes out of style. True, not everyone can afford trousers or coats made of natural material. But over the last century, many different substitutes have appeared that look little different, but are much cheaper. Caring for them is somewhat different from that recommended for shoes, bags and jackets made of genuine leather. How to wash a leather dress? Read about it in our article.

Is washing always recommended?

The very first thing you should do when the time comes to put something in order is to carefully study the label. Everything is stated there:

• Is it washable?
• Is dry cleaning acceptable?
• Is it worth ironing?
• what temperature the material can withstand;
• whether the product can withstand machine washing or is only hand washable;
• what detergents can be used.

This applies not only to leather, but to absolutely any item. By carefully following the information on the label, you will be able to clean or wash your clothes without causing any harm to them.

Detergents

When thinking about how to wash a faux leather dress, pay special attention to the choice of detergents. There are substances that, in principle, should not be in powder for washing leather items:

• chlorine;
• other whitening ingredients.

Regardless of whether you are going to wash your leather item by hand or in an automatic machine, it is better to refuse regular powder. The fact is that it can be very difficult to remove from a leather item; it is difficult to rinse. As a result, the remaining granules turn into unpleasant white spots or streaks, and you have to start all over again.

Important! To wash leather products you can use:

• gels for washing clothes;
• handmade liquid soap;
• dishwashing liquid.

Temperature

It happens that the label was accidentally cut off and it was erased, so there is nowhere to get detailed instructions. It doesn’t matter, just follow the general principles of caring for artificial leather, and success is guaranteed.

Pay special attention to the temperature. Such items should not be washed in hot water. It doesn’t matter at all what your dress is made of – genuine leather, vinyl or eco-leather.

Important! If you are not entirely familiar with the features of these materials, we suggest that you read our separate review, where all their pros, cons, and characteristics are discussed in detail. Click on the link “Which is better - artificial leather or eco-leather?”

Boiling water makes any material of this type too hard and the product loses its shape. Natural leather usually shrinks, artificial leather most often stretches, and unevenly. So a water temperature greater than 30°C is clearly not suitable for you.

We wash leatherette

Before you clean your leatherette jacket at home, do a few things that are required for any washing or cleaning:

1. If there are noticeable stains of dirt, it is better to remove them before washing.
2. Take out of your pockets everything that is there - change, keys, random pieces of paper, etc.
3. Turn your dress or jacket inside out.
4. Fasten all the buttons and zippers that are on it.

Important! Before washing, it is useful to check how the product reacts to water. Wet a small area on the wrong side and leave for an hour - if nothing happens, you can wash it.

Useful care tips

To keep a genuine leather jacket looking like new, you need to regularly care for it and store it properly. A few rules and tricks that will help preserve the original appearance of things for a long time:

• The cuffs and collar of the jacket, where abrasions most often form, should be wiped from time to time with a cotton pad soaked in glycerin.
• To restore lost shine, you can moisten the surface of the skin with juice from lemon or orange zest.
• After any caring procedures, leather products should be treated with a protective water-repellent composition - this will extend their service life.
• Natural leather should not be ironed. If there is such a need, this can only be done with an iron in the “wool” mode, always through the fabric and from the wrong side.
• Leather items should be stored in cases made of natural fabrics - cotton or linen. To prevent clothes from losing their shape, it is important that the size of the hanger matches the size of the product.
• To prevent dyed leather from changing its color and structure, it must be protected from prolonged exposure to sunlight.
• Before treating the product with any care product, you must test its effect on an inconspicuous area.
• Any dirt must be removed immediately, as stubborn stains are much more difficult to remove.
• Avoid any contact with water, as even light rain can damage the material. If the jacket does get wet, wipe it with a dry cloth and immediately treat it with glycerin or a special product for natural leather.
• Under no circumstances should a jacket made of natural suede or fur trim be exposed to moisture.

If the jacket is new, do not skimp on dry cleaning. The high cost of professional services is fully compensated by the long service life of the leather product.

Handwash

The owner of leather items should always have several necessary items in his household:

• large capacity;
• foam or rubber sponge;
• soft bristle brush;
• large towel.

The container should be such that the whole thing or even several things fit into it. This could be a large basin or a bucket. If you are deciding how to wash a faux leather skirt, this will suffice. For a jacket or coat you will need something larger, like a tub, although you can wash it directly in the bathtub.

Procedure:

• Fill a container with warm water.
• Dilute the detergent.
• Add a couple of tablespoons of food vinegar with a concentration of no more than 9%.
• Place the leather item in the container until it is completely submerged.
• Wait about fifteen minutes.
• Wipe the entire surface of the dress or skirt with a sponge or brush using soft, smooth movements.

Important! You can’t rub leatherette too hard, as this will cause it to wear out and stretch.

• After washing, rinse the item thoroughly, preferably with cool running water.
• Place the item on a large towel and wrap it up – it should look like a roller.
• Leave the roller alone for fifteen minutes.
• Hang the product on hangers with the wrong side facing out and dry in a warm but not hot place, protected from direct sunlight and radiators.

Important! Leather products cannot be wrung out - this will cause them to lose their shape.

Drying rules

Any leather products can only be dried at room temperature in a well-ventilated area:

• After washing, the leather jacket must be laid out on a horizontal rack to drain the water.
• Wrap the item in a towel and lightly blot to remove any remaining moisture.
• Hang on appropriately sized hangers to prevent the leather from stretching and losing its shape.
• Leave to dry at room temperature.
• After drying, treat with a care product.

We wash leatherette in a machine

Skirts and dresses don't get dirty very often, but leather pants have a completely different fate. You have to clean them more often; you can’t rub them with your hands. How to wash faux leather trousers in a machine and is it possible to do it at all? If the label contains the relevant information, then, of course, you can, but you must always follow certain rules:

1. As with hand washing, turn the item inside out, fasten the buttons and zippers, and remove any excess from the pockets.
2. Set the regulator to the delicate wash mode - spinning is contraindicated in this case, so there is no need to turn it on.
3. Pour in a liquid detergent without bleaching ingredients - those designed for silk or wool are suitable.
4. Set the temperature to the same 30°C as for hand washing.
5. After machine washing, dry the product in the same way as described in the previous case.

Before you start

A good leather jacket is an expensive and durable thing. Therefore, do not rush to act. First, you will need to determine your leather type and read the washing instructions on the product label. Then select the wash type. You may need to experiment on the inside to make sure the product you choose won't damage the skin or make it look dull or rough. Remember that many modern substitutes can closely resemble real leather. Some products use both natural and synthetic materials. Artificial substitutes tend to withstand chemical cleaning agents more easily, but require careful hand washing.

Determine your skin type

The jackets are made from ox and pork skins, but the type of animal does not affect the choice of cleaning type. However, the skin is divided into layers that differ in thickness, density and processing method. Of course, each of them requires a special attitude towards itself. Typically the following types of leather are used for clothing:

• Suede leather. Made from soft and inner layers of hide, easily absorbs paint and moisture
• Nubuck. Unlike suede, nubuck uses top layers but is sanded and polished to create a soft, velvety finish.
• Aniline leather. It is treated with aniline (phenylamine), has a pronounced granular structure, most often used for jackets and coats
• Nappa. The most expensive and high-quality leather, made from sheep or even lamb skin

How to wash suede

This is a thin and porous skin that easily absorbs dirt. It is best to use specialized cleaning products that say “for suede” on the packaging. You need to work with extreme caution so as not to tear the jacket. Stains can be removed using an eraser from your child's school pencil case. And if you have a greasy or oil stain on your suede, sprinkle it with cornstarch. Then carefully shake off the starch.

How to wash nubuck

All the same methods work here as with suede. You just need to rub a little more intensely - nubuck is stronger and it even tolerates machine washing well. But only if you follow all the recommendations that we will discuss below.

How to wash leather treated with aniline

The strongest and most wear-resistant material. The main thing when working with it is to preserve the color and shine. For the rest, you don’t have to restrain yourself. The answer to the question “can a leather jacket be washed in a washing machine” is “a definite yes.” This way, you will save time and be able to completely clean your clothes from dirt. Of course, you shouldn't do this too often. Don't get carried away.

How to wash nappa

Very expensive and delicate leather, one careless action and a scratch appears on it. You can use all the same techniques as with suede, but you need to work with extreme caution. Nappa can be shiny, rough, or perforated.

The cleaning method and product should be selected depending on the type of surface. Clean the smooth one with a cloth, and the rough one with an eraser.

Do you always need to wash?

Washing leather products is a radical measure and should not be used often. There are other ways to get your clothes in order:

1. Examine the item.
2. Identify the most polluted places.
3. Apply a thin layer of dry soda to them.
4. Rub the stains - there is no need to apply excessive force.
5. Remove excess baking soda.

As a rule, this method is sufficient if the entire jacket is clean, but there is slight dirt in certain areas. Most often they get dirty:

• cuffs;
• collar;
• edges of pockets or flaps;
• the bottom of the trousers.

By the way, if these parts are very dirty, and the time has come to put all other things in order, first remove noticeable dirt with the same soda, and only then place the product in a basin or machine.

Important! If you have a lot of different types of leather in your wardrobe, it makes sense to think about buying special leather cleaning products.

A few secrets for washing leather goods

If you are afraid that the product may lose its beauty, and then you will simply have to throw it away, it is better to immediately treat the surface of the skin with glycerin and castor oil. Otherwise, you can use the following secrets:

1. After washing, rinse the leather item in water with a few drops of glycerin added.
2. In order to smooth out defects and damage that have surfaced during washing, the area needs to be painted with aerosol nitro paint.
3. If an item smells like laundry detergent, you can get rid of the smell by rubbing the item with an orange peel.
4. Lemon juice can easily remove white stains.

If, even after studying the basic rules of washing, you still doubt the result, then the best way for you to clean leather items is dry cleaning. Where your things are guaranteed to be treated with care and look beautiful after the procedure.

Wash the lining

The lining, of course, is not visible from the outside. But at the same time, it gets dirty much more often than the top. True, washing usually does not harm it, because it is made from the most ordinary fabric. If the top is clean, but you frankly don’t like the look of the lining, try washing only that – you won’t have to rip off anything:

1. Turn the product inside out.
2. Hang it on a hanger.
3. Dissolve upholstery cleaner in a bowl.
4. Whisk until foam appears.
5. Apply foam to the pad.
6. Leave for 20 minutes.
7. Clean dirty areas with a soft brush or sponge.
8. Dry the lining with a terry towel or microfiber cloth.
9. Leave the item hanging on a hanger until the lining is completely dry.

Important! Leather items are chosen by people who are inclined to experiment with their image and are quite bold. But even when wearing such products, we must not forget that everything should be harmonious. We invite you to familiarize yourself with interesting information from the following reviews:

• How to choose a hairstyle for a dress?
• How to choose shoes to match a dress?

Prevention

To wash leatherette products as rarely as possible, they need to be properly cared for. For this you need:

• liquid detergent;
• alcohol;
• warm water;
• terry towel;
• cotton pads.

Use these simple things to perform preventive cleaning a couple of times a month.

Option 1:

1. Dilute a little liquid soap in warm water.
2. Dampen a cotton pad.
3. Wipe the entire outer layer of the jacket or coat.
4. Wipe the jacket with clean warm water.
5. Remove excess moisture with a towel.

Option 2

Soak a cotton pad in alcohol, wipe the entire top layer of the product, and then dry with a soft towel.

How to wash an eco-leather down jacket?

Eco-leather is a modern material that has gained great popularity due to its spectacular appearance and high quality. The base is made of cotton, and the top layer is made of polyurethane. Thanks to this combination, clothing acquires absolutely remarkable properties:

• does not cause allergies;
• wears for a long time;
• comfortable;
• allows air to pass through;
• almost does not get dirty;
• does not get wet;
• does not deteriorate from water.

It is rare to wash products made from this material, but sometimes it still needs to be done. Stains can be easily washed off with clean water, but sometimes it is enough to simply wipe the dirty area with a damp cloth.

Partial

If you need to remove a specific stain, you don't have to wash the entire item. It is enough to treat the place of contamination itself.

• Before cleaning, test any product on an inconspicuous area.
• Sometimes manufacturers use low-quality dyes, which can be accidentally rubbed off and ruin the item.
• To avoid this, an inspection is carried out in an area that will not be visible in the event of force majeure.
• Most stains on leatherette can be easily wiped off with a regular damp cloth. It simply wipes away the dirt. If it remains in place, you can use soapy water. A soft cloth is moistened with it and the dress is treated.

For complex stains, use an alcohol solution:

1. Mix alcohol with water in a 1:1 ratio.
2. Gently wipe the stain with this liquid. Light-colored items are cleaned with warm milk using the same procedure.

After cleaning with any means, wipe the clothes with a cloth or sponge with clean water. Then wipe dry. Finally, you can treat the entire item with a water-repellent spray. This is not suitable for all products, but may reduce contamination.

Artificial leather should only be cleaned with a soft cloth or sponge. Brushes should not be used - they will easily damage the delicate material.

We wash a dress made of eco-leather

Most often, dresses have to be washed, since these wardrobe items are in direct contact with human skin. Typically, eco-leather clothes are made with a lining, and it is this that gets dirty. It turns out that the top layer remains clean, but the item needs to be washed.

There are also combined models - some parts are made of fabric, the rest are made of eco-leather. They definitely have to be sent to the wash from time to time. To find out whether this can be done and under what conditions, you need to look at the label. As with leatherette products, three cleaning modes are possible:

• handwash;
• machine washable with or without spinning;
• dry cleaning

Most often, eco-leather products are recommended to be washed by hand and dried on hangers or in a horizontal position in the open air. But there are models for which machine washing is acceptable if your unit has a delicate mode and spin at low speeds.

Temperature, powder, time

There is a lot in common in caring for products made from eco-leather and artificial leather:

• In both cases, you need to wash in warm water, not hot.
• Liquid soap or dishwashing detergent is preferable to powder.
• Chlorine and other bleaches are contraindicated.
• Do not rub stains too hard.
• And, of course, you must follow the general washing rules - and don’t forget to remove jewelry like brooches or rhinestones.
• The washing mode is delicate, with spin at low speeds or without this function at all.

Removing stains

In many cases, it is enough to lightly clean eco-leather clothes. For example, if a greasy stain appears. It is enough to wipe it with soapy water. You can also use alcohol.

A separate class is white clothes, on which even a small dirty spot is clearly visible. You can remove it in several ways:

• soda;
• alcohol;
• soap solution;
• milk.

The procedure is the simplest. The stain is wiped off with whatever product is at hand, and then the area is wiped with a cloth soaked in clean water and dried with a regular napkin or towel. If you remove small stains in a timely manner, you may not have to wash your eco-leather item at all.

Rules for caring for things made of light leather

In addition to cleaning light-colored leather items with soapy water, you can use mixtures of milk and egg white. Thanks to the mixture, the item is quickly bleached, dust and dirt are removed and an invisible protective film against dirt appears.

You can use ammonia, baking soda and lemon to clean light leather items. You can get rid of blood stains on white skin using Aspirin mixed with hydrogen peroxide. But, you have to be prepared that the white thing will never be the same as when you bought it.

Baking soda is mixed with water to form a paste. Apply with a soft brush and rub lightly, then remove with a soft cloth.