Washing leather jackets

[sweetfights]

I’ve washed when needed. The black Schott suede type 3 I picked up needed it badly. There were spots where the suede had been worn to an almost finished side shine. I was apprehensive to say the least. Thankfully the suede completely rejuvenated. Only down side, if there is one, is that it now fades like a denim jacket.
View attachment 601607

I wondered about washing suede. When you say it fades like denim, what do you mean brother?

 

[bigmanbigtruck]

I wondered about washing suede. When you say it fades like denim, what do you mean brother?

probably mean something along the lines of the pic below. would be more dramatic where the sleeve creases are especially

 

[zebedee]

If you have to wash a leather jacket, put it in a pillow case, cold rinse, no detergent, 15 mins in the machine.

Dry outside over about three days. Condition with Renapur or Obenauf or whatever.

You might weaken the stitching slightly if you don't use a pillow case. You will screw up the pillow case. Personally, I wouldn't wash a leather jacket unless you're covered in building site dust/chalk/fallout.

 

[sweetfights]

probably mean something along the lines of the pic below. would be more dramatic where the sleeve creases are especially
View attachment 608541

Thanks!

 

[barnabus]

Renapur

I use this. It's excellent.

 

[zebedee]

I use this. It's excellent.

It's the best stuff I've come across. Works for shoes, jackets, boots, etc

 

[VansonRider]

I’ve washed leather jackets and super heavy wool overcoats in the tub, haven’t had any issues.
The trick is the drip dry without deforming or tearing.
I use folding step ladder.

I take the coat, wash and rinse in the tub, and then let the coat sit in the empty tub for an hour.

Then raise up the collar and shoulders onto the first step of the ladder, in the tub, the water drains out of the bit on that step.

Move the collar and shoulders up to the next step, wait a bit, the next step, wait… and so on, until the entire coat is up on the ladder.

Leave it over night to drop in the tub.

The next day It’s dry enough to hang it and it won’t make a puddle on the floor.

I’ll open up the coat, drape and shape it over the ladder, sometimes I put a rolled up towel inside across the shoulders, sometimes I use a thick wetsuit type coat hanger.

Then I set up a fan and blow air into it. I make sure there’s some air moving through the sleeves, too.

Then it’s dry in about 24/36 hours. I can wash a heavy wool watch coat, like 7/8 pounds of wool, and it’s dry and ready to wear 48 hours later.

This is how I lanolize my coats and woolens

 

[Yango]

No need to use the washing machine. At all. Fill a tub with warm water, add a mild detergent, submerge the jacket, knead gently, repeat if needed. Tons of dirt and dyes will come out. Dry lying flat on some towels, also put towels inside jacket for quicker water absorption. Replace wet towels. I did about 5 jackets like that, no mold.

This is the process I used. It worked beautifully. After treating the leather, the jacket looks and smells brand new !

 

[VansonRider]

This is the process I used. It worked beautifully. After treating the leather, the jacket looks and smells brand new !

I don’t like using detergent, but that’s just me. If lining is stanky I’ve had good luck hosing down the inside with vinegar, letting it sit for maybe an hour or two, and then soaking in the tub. But then, I’ve been lucky in never had to deal with anything to stubborn like smoke or intense B.O. or anything like that.
…although Fabreeze comes close… I had a heck of a time getting that stank out of a waxed cotton A7.

 

[Helix]

This is the process I used. It worked beautifully. After treating the leather, the jacket looks and smells brand new !

Did the leather shrink after doing this?

 

[Yango]

Did the leather shrink after doing this?

Not at all.

You just need to have the patience to go through the whole process. My jacket looks like new, and smells great!
I documented the process here:

Thread 'Biker jacket cleaning'
https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/biker-jacket-cleaning.114669/