How and what to clean a leather jacket at home
Leather products have a long service life. But at the same time it is necessary to monitor the appearance of the jacket, quickly cleaning its surface from dirt. Over time, places of contact with human skin become greasy. Stains, smudges on the sleeves, the back may appear after traveling by public transport, rain, snow. How to clean a leather jacket at home?
Content
- 1 General recommendations
- 2 can i wash
- 3 Basic methods
- 4 Features of Skin Spot Removal
- 5 Folk cleaning methods
- 6 Presentation of professional tools
- 7 Liner washing rules
- 8 How to Clean a White Leather Jacket
- 9 How to get rid of smoke smell
- 10 Useful tips and tricks
- 11 How to dry well
- 12 Rules of care and storage
General recommendations
The maintenance of the jacket should be regular, which will maintain the attractive appearance of the product and save time and effort. When cleaning, do not leave:
- mechanical damage to the skin;
- degreasing;
- excessive drying.
Without knowing it, it is easy to ruin any type of skin.
can i wash
When the jacket has been worn for several seasons without cleaning, the degree of soiling may be such that the question of washing arises. How to wash it in this case? Can I use a washing machine or wash it by hand?
Basic methods
The cleaning methods depend on the degree of contamination, the type of skin: the finer and softer the skin, the more delicate the manipulations. Not all cleaning methods that apply to other materials are suitable for leather products.
Dry cleaning
For all heavily polluted leather products, this is the best way to restore it to its former appearance. Nubuck, velvet, dry clean suede.
Use a washing machine
The jacket cannot be machine washed. Prolonged mechanical, chemical and wetting exposure will damage the product. Regardless of the type of skin (artificial, natural), the remnants of subcutaneous fat are preserved in it. Thanks to it, the skin retains its radiance, softness and shape. Automatic washing also removes color pigments and fixers.
Hand washable leather
You can wash heavily soiled items by hand using special technology. The item is placed on a horizontal surface. The sponge is moistened in warm soapy water and wrung out. The surface of the product is wiped from top to bottom. You should not leave the skin too wet so that it does not deform when it dries.
Contaminated areas are treated several times. The lining is washed in the same way. The remaining moisture is removed with dry towels.
Features of Skin Spot Removal
Home dry cleaning is the preferred option.When removing dirt from the surface of the jacket, it should be remembered that there are various technological methods for dressing and dyeing leather.To give shine, fixatives, emulsions are used, pigments are used for tinting.
To avoid breaking the cover, you must not:
- exert effort;
- applying aggressive agents for a long time;
- allow skin to wet completely.
Ignoring these conditions will lead to abrasions, warping and discoloration.
Slight pollution
When there are no "difficult" spots on the jacket, just dust and light streaks, it can be washed using an ammonia soap solution. The soft tissue is wetted in the liquid. The product is wiped completely or in dirty places.
Applied foam can be washed off in the shower for 10-15 seconds and wiped off. After final drying, the skin is softened by the application of glycerin, a natural care cream.
How to remove greasy marks
Greasy marks in places of frequent contact with the neck, hands, fingers, as well as greasy food stains, are removed with the help of special and home remedies. Laundry soap will not help in this case.
It will be effective to treat dirty stains with 90% alcohol: apply a moistened piece of cotton for a few minutes.
Another method is recommended for a fresh stain: put a paper towel on it, pressing firmly, and heat it with a hair dryer for 3 minutes on medium mode.
How to remove traces of paint
How paint stains are removed depends on the type of paint.Fresh water-based stains are soaked with a towel and then washed in warm water until all stains are removed. Dry stains are first wiped off and then removed with a damp sponge.
Depending on the type of paint, use a solvent, turpentine, gasoline. The product is applied to a piece of cotton, a soft cloth and wipe the stain without pressure. The degreased surface is restored by applying glycerin, a skin care product. To remove the smell, you can apply lemon juice, drag in the air.
How to remove ink
Traces of a ballpoint pen (felt-tip pen) on the skin lend themselves well to treatment with medical alcohol. Just wipe them with a cloth soaked in ethanol.
Saline stains
The 9% food grade vinegar will help remove traces of salt from the jacket. The moistened cotton swab is applied for 5 minutes, then wiped off with clean water.
Blood spots
Easily removes fresh blood stains with cold water and laundry soap. It is necessary to clean the stain from the edge towards the center. Dried blood is removed with hydrogen peroxide or acetylsalicylic acid solution. Peroxide should not be used on thin skin. One aspirin tablet is dissolved in 2 tablespoons of water and applied to the stain with a toothbrush. After 7 minutes, the stain is wiped off.
Folk cleaning methods
Home remedies are equally effective in cleaning stains from a jacket when used correctly. Traditional methods are gentler, which is important for thin, soft leather jackets.
Rub with onion juice
To get rid of the shine, just wipe these places with a slice of raw onion. The bulbous odor is eliminated by washing the treated area with soap and water, then with clean water.
Egg white processing
A well-beaten protein is applied for 1 minute to oily areas, then removed with a soft towel.
Hydrogen peroxide purification
A cotton swab is moistened with hydrogen peroxide and wiped off greasy stains. After using this product, the streaks will remain on dark skin.
How to clean with dish soap
V composition of dishwashing liquid includes a degreaser. A few drops on the stain are enough to remove fresh stains. On stubborn traces of grease, the solution is applied for 5-7 minutes, then removed with a damp cloth. Treated areas should be lubricated with glycerin skin cream.
Toothpaste
The cleaning method is used for light-colored items. A whitening toothpaste is applied to the brush and rubbed into the skin. After a few hours, it can be removed with a damp sponge then dry.
Remover
A cotton swab soaked in liquid easily removes traces of a ballpoint pen, felt-tip pen, oil paint splashes. After treatment, it is necessary to apply glycerin.
Soda or cornstarch
A thick paste is prepared from soda or starch by adding a little water. Then it is applied to the places that need cleaning and left for half an hour (soda) or for 3-5 hours (starch). Remove product remains with a dry, soft cloth. The skin is lubricated with glycerin, a skin cream.
rubbing alcohol
High quality ethanol will help remove traces of grease from the collar and wrists. With a cotton swab dipped in alcohol, carefully wipe the contaminated areas. Then lemon juice and glycerin are applied.
Ammonia
An ammonia solution is used to remove dust or to regain color after exposure to rain. Water (500 milliliters) is mixed with 5 drops of ammonia and poured into a spray bottle. The jacket is evenly sprayed from all sides and left to dry on a hanger.
To clean stubborn dirt, 20 milliliters of ammonia are added to a soap emulsion from 100 grams of laundry soap and a liter of hot water. The soap is previously crushed on a grater and kept in water for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
The mixture is applied to a sponge and wiped on the jacket. Then washed off with warm water and smeared with an emollient.
Presentation of professional tools
For leather products, care products are produced that allow them to retain their shape, appearance and facilitate the cleaning of dirt.
Water repellent spray
The special product is designed to protect the skin from pollution. Use after washing, cleaning after drying.
special sponge
The sponge impregnated with a special oil helps maintain the elasticity of the skin.
Wax
Products containing wax give the skin an extra glow and create a barrier against dirt. Do not use more than 3 times per month.
foam cleaner
Manufacturers recommend dry cleaning shampoo foam for all types of leather. The product is applied to the stain and rubbed with a soft brush until it disappears.
Liner washing rules
The jacket lining is washed, being careful not to soak the skin. To do this, turn the jacket inside out and separate the lining. A soapy foam solution is applied to the fabric using a sponge, brush. After rubbing the entire surface of the cleaner, rinse it off.Use a sponge soaked in clean water acidified with vinegar (1 teaspoon for 1 liter of water). To speed up drying, the wet liner is dried with absorbent wipes. Dry the thing on a hanger, turned over.
How to Clean a White Leather Jacket
On light skin, the most insignificant impurities are noticeable, which must be removed immediately:
- Ballpoint pen marks are removed with 90% ethanol: gently wipe with a moistened cotton swab.
- Dust is removed with a soap-ammonia solution: a few drops of ammonia are added to the suds of laundry soap and water. Wash with clean water, pat dry, apply an emollient.
- Paint stains can be cleaned with a milk-turpentine mixture: 1 tablespoon of solvent per glass of milk. This product cleans and whitens the leather surface. After treatment, allow to dry and wipe with a dry cloth.
- Egg white whipped with lemon juice removes greasy stains. The product is applied for 1 minute, then wiped off with a damp absorbent cloth. The treated area is lubricated with glycerin.
- Stubborn stains are treated with a mixture of talc and turpentine (50x50). Apply to pollution. After a quarter of an hour, scrub with a soft brush. Remove with a damp cloth, apply a greasy cream.
In case of heavy contamination, difficult stains, it is recommended to dry clean the jackets.
How to get rid of smoke smell
Natural or artificial leather has the ability to absorb odors, including tobacco smoke. The smell of tobacco, mingling with the smell of skin, gives persistent unpleasant fumes. You can get rid of it in several ways.
vinegar and water
Vinegar dissolved in hot water can kill the unpleasant smell.The jacket is hung over a tub with hot water and dissolved vinegar (200-400 milliliters). After 3 hours, the item is transferred to a dry room and dried.
Special sheets
The dryer sheets are placed in a plastic bag with a leather jacket and sealed tightly. After 20 minutes, remove and hang on a hanger.
dry coffee grounds
Dried coffee grounds have a pleasant aroma. A thin layer of powder is poured onto a spread shirt and left for 3 hours.
Outdoor hanging
A few hours in a draft will remove odors from your leather jacket.
Useful tips and tricks
Frequent degreasing of the leather surface will destroy the protective and coloring layer. Detergent used several times a month should be as gentle as possible. To refresh and remove minor dirt, the best remedy is soap solutions. The surface of the jacket is then wiped with a towel dipped in clean water. An emollient is then applied and left to dry on a hanger.
Do not wear wet jackets: wet skin will stretch easily causing the jacket to lose its shape. Using a scarf in your wardrobe will eliminate the need to clean the collar of fatty deposits. When dry, leather jackets give off a specific smell, which will get rid of a few drops of lemon juice.
How to dry well
Leather is a special material. To maintain its original shape, it must dry evenly. Otherwise, in one place with a higher temperature, it will shrink, in another, on the contrary, it will stretch. As a result, the thing is irreparably distorted. This happens especially often with a collar that gets dirty around the neck and needs to be cleaned frequently.
The jacket is dried on a hanger, suitable for the size, avoiding sagging, creases.Air circulation should be natural. The product is not placed near:
- central heating batteries;
- ovens;
- chimneys;
- radiators.
Drying in direct sunlight is contraindicated. In the open air, it is semi-shaded with ventilation.
Rules of care and storage
Leather items after exposure to rain or snow should be wiped with a dry absorbent cloth. For daily use, as well as in the off season, it is recommended to use a soaker.
Storage conditions of the leather jacket:
- Leather items are sensitive to high temperatures and humidity. In order to prevent the appearance of mold on the jacket, the loss of shine, it is stored in the closet, thereby preventing other things from fitting tightly.
- A soak through the size of the product will not allow its individual parts to deform.
- The waterproof and breathable cover prevents the accumulation of dust.
Regular use of leather care products will prolong the wear period.