Cleaning the inside of an A-2/ G-1 leather jacket

[Brettafett]

Hello gents,

Regarding the cleaning of an A-2 or G-1 jacket, bought secondhand.
This may have been covered many times before, but this is the first time I have really looked into it. Tried to do a search, but have come up spare.

So, assuming one buys a secondhand jacket, the leathers fine, but one wants to clean the lining and the mouton collar in the case of a G-1)…
Consider, the jackets been worn by multiple owners in various conditions, possible some light soiling to the neck area and armpits… the moon has that musky smell… I want it clean.

What would you guys recommend?

I called a couple of specialist leather dry cleaners here in London, but they only do the outer leather ? That sounds odd and frustrating.

Thanks in advance,
Brettafett

 

[ButteMT61]

My wife has a garment steamer. I use that and then for the neck areas, I use a sponge with warm water and a dab of Woolite.
I don't want the chemicals of dry cleaning, and I's rather just do it myself if I can.

There may be better ways, but the only other thing is to find a cleaner that specializes in vintage items. We have one here in Pasadena that my son uses and he loves them. Maybe I can call and see if they have any ideas...

 

[seres]

I mix up some warm water and Woolite, and apply with a sponge or brush, then blot it dry with an absorbent terry cloth towel. Sometimes it gets pretty wet, but that doesn't seem to bother the leather. You may need to repeat on the stubborn stains.

I've never tried the garment steamer, but it seems like it would work. Just don't get the leather too warm.

 

[bn1966]

Hello gents,

Regarding the cleaning of an A-2 or G-1 jacket, bought secondhand.
This may have been covered many times before, but this is the first time I have really looked into it. Tried to do a search, but have come up spare.

So, assuming one buys a secondhand jacket, the leathers fine, but one wants to clean the lining and the mouton collar in the case of a G-1)…
Consider, the jackets been worn by multiple owners in various conditions, possible some light soiling to the neck area and armpits… the moon has that musky smell… I want it clean.

What would you guys recommend?

I called a couple of specialist leather dry cleaners here in London, but they only do the outer leather ? That sounds odd and frustrating.

Thanks in advance,
Brettafett

I'd give Bradley's Quality Dry Cleaners a call they specialise in vintage military dry cleaning and restoration.

https://www.bradleysqualitydrycleaning.co.uk

 

[Dumpster Diver]

The only person I trust to wear and clean my Jacket is me.

If you know how to shop for groceries and cook your own meals, you can definitely figure out how to treat, or clean your vintage flight jacket with care if you feel it needs more than a little fresh air. (I don't mean Just you personally I mean anyone)

I picked up a jacket The other Day a 70's era N2-B for five bucks at my local thrift, It had a mouse living in the hood, it was a NOS condition Jacket other than that, it was down filled. There was a lot of mouse poop in the hood. I washed the hood with some laundry detergent in the shower, scrubbed, rinsed, towel Dabbed and dried by fire, I sprayed eucalan (similar to woolite) and some vinegar inside the body and cuffs, let it dry again...aired it out for a night after it was fully dry, It's fine, doesn't smell like a basement once it dries. My rule is general, if a used Jacket makes me sneeze it needs a wash...otherwise leave it alone it's fine and so are you, it's all in the mind. Some mouse poop? Big deal, It's clean enough for a man or a mouse.

 

[scottyrocks]

I strongly advise against letting any commercial establishment 'clean' a leather jacket.

Many years ago I thought this would be a good idea, and let's just say I was extraordinarily disappointed. I don't know what they did to it - probably stripped it in a chemical bath - but the leather, which had a beautiful satin finish that was showing some patina, had been turned into a darker, shiny, vinyl-looking mess.

Any leather since then I have treated, myself. Leather rarely gets dirty enough to really clean. The most I've had to do is wipe it down with an almost dry sponge or rag, allowed to dry, then apply Pecards or shea butter. The inside - any cloth or fur material - is sprayed with an oxiclean solution, and then resprayed with clean water, and it is hung to dry, and not in high heat.

 

[ButteMT61]

Yeah, indeed it's better to hose something nice that you own on your own as opposed to paying someone a lot to do it for you.
Plus, you learn something - one way or the other.
There are good places out there, but who wants to experiment with a nice jacket?

 

[Brettafett]

This is why Im not a fan of buying secondhand. What a mission to find someone in London, to clean an A-2/ G-1!
The leathers generally fine, but theres soiling on the lining and collar... So, to clean the lining, the mouton (on the G-1) and basic conditioning of the leather (without ruining the jacket...)... This seems like an impossible task in this modern age, or at least no in sin the UK seems to know how to do it!
Maybe its just me, but I don't really feel comfortable wearing someone else's jacket without giving it a clean... Especially when theres some soiling and clearly been worn and/ or its 1 to 40 yrs old. No offence gents.

 

[Doctor Damage]

Dumpster Diver is experienced with this stuff so listen to him, but if the jacket is reasonably clean but you just want to freshen it up then just turn it inside out and sponge-bathe the lining, etc. I've done that and it's fine.

 

[bn1966]

Again I can't recommend these people enough

https://www.bradleysqualitydrycleaning.co.uk/

 

[Brettafett]

Again I can't recommend these people enough
https://www.bradleysqualitydrycleaning.co.uk/

Yes, contacted them. But they charge almost £140!
Will do some self cleaning... Thanks gents.

 

[bn1966]

At £140 I'd have a go myself Have had cleaning & repairs done by Bradley's for a lot less than that.

 

[Brettafett]

Any particular 'cleaner' or washing powder product you guys would recommend to sponge-wash these 'dirty' spots?
Particularly UK guys... What have you used?
Thanks

 

[scottyrocks]

An Oxiclean solution in a spray bottle works for me when I don't want what I'm washing to get soaked. I don't know if it's available in the UK, or what your equivalent might be.

 

[bn1966]

I've used 'Woolite' for hand cleaning sensitive linings & materials including silk.