How to machine and hand wash a faux leather jacket at home
Leather replacement jackets are quite a popular item in both women's and men's wardrobes. They look sleek, don't wrinkle, suit any body type, and best of all, they cost less than their genuine leather counterparts. But the question often arises after the purchase, is it possible to wash a leatherette jacket in your washing machine, or it will completely spoil the whole appearance of the thing. In fact, you can, but you have to use a special mode.
General rules for the maintenance of imitation leather
There are a few basic rules, following which you can prolong the life of your new faux leather jacket. Especially:
- do not use aggressive detergents and other cleaning products;
- you can not use coarse brushes, devices with hard bristles;
- you cannot handle the skin roughly;
- it is necessary to exclude various mechanical influences;
- if machine washed, use the gentlest mode.
As a rule, the manufacturer writes everything on the product label. Therefore, you should not be lazy to read this information. As practice shows, most of the problems associated with washing imitation leather could be avoided if the meaning of a particular symbol was initially deciphered.
How to wash your hands at home
It is recommended to first understand if the jacket really needs a wash. Usually enough to refresh the look. It is necessary to make a rule to wipe the place of pollution with a certain means and immediately remove the stains - then they do not eat away at the structure. You can use a regular soap solution - add a few grams of soap or shampoo to a liter of warm water. Wipe the places of the jacket with a cloth, then remove the liquid dry. You should hang the jacket in a dark but well-ventilated place.
It will be great if you apply yourself to regularly wiping the areas of the jacket that are very prone to dirt - elbows, wrists, pockets.
If the jacket really needs to be washed and regular wiping does not help, then you should take care to prepare it properly. Need of:
- scan pockets for valuables;
- fasten all zippers;
- turn the pocket inside out;
- turn the jacket itself to the opposite side.
After that, you need to soak the jacket for several hours in a mild soapy solution. Then rinse with lukewarm water and wash directly by hand. First, warm water is poured into a large basin; the temperature of the leatherette should not exceed 30 degrees. You need to dilute a special liquid detergent. It is not worth taking risks and using assets, with a serious composition. Leatherette is a fairly fragile material, and it can easily discolor or even break when in contact with aggressive supports.
Start the hand wash with the liner. Stretch it slightly from the collar to the hem. Then process the sleeves, collars, pockets. Then proceed to hand wash from the outside. A soft sponge is taken, each time it is moistened in water.
After washing, the jacket should be rinsed thoroughly. There should be no soap solution left. You need to squeeze it lightly, but don't twist it. Then it is left on a hanger in a well-ventilated place. You can also lay out clothes on the table - this way they will definitely not lose their shape.
Unusual ways to wash leatherette
There are several effective methods for washing such material.
Dry method
The dry method is a rather unusual way of cleaning dirt from the jacket. As the name suggests, its peculiarity is that humidity is practically not used.
First, you need to clean all stains and oily areas. For this, the following components are used:
- alcohol - used for stains from markers and pens, removes greasy stains, applied with a clean, dry towel and gently wiped off until completely gone;
- soda is a recognized means of removing strong dental plaque, soda is diluted with water and applied with a dry napkin, removed after 5 minutes, washed off with warm water;
- lemon - removes light grease, adds shine to the product, lemon juice is squeezed on a soft towel and evenly distributed on the jacket, if the product is light, you can not wash it off, stay on a dark, can lead to discoloration.
If you wear a jacket carefully and wipe off stains at the slightest pollution, air it regularly and process it from pests, then the jacket for 3-5 years may not need to be washed in a washing machine or by hand in a basin at all - only the dry will suffice.
In the washing machine
Only a high quality product can be machine washed. Those that were made in handicraft production do not differ in a long service life, they will crack after the first wash.
There are different ways to test the machine wash. The first is to fold the fabric. It should be as supple, soft and tender as possible. You can also try heating the leatherette with your hand - just rub it hard for 15 seconds.
If there is strong heat or, on the contrary, the jacket remains cold, then it will not be suitable for machine washing.
When washing with the automatic method, a number of nuances should be taken into account:
- it is necessary to wash the jacket separately from other things;
- the water temperature is set at no more than 30 degrees;
- the type of washing is delicate, not universal;
- use a specific powder for artificial leather, as soft as possible;
- place the jacket in a polystyrene bag;
- you cannot wring the jacket.
After the garment is removed from the drum, it is wrapped in a warm but rough cloth. It will absorb moisture in 2-3 hours. The jacket is then placed on a hanger in a ventilated place, but not in direct sunlight.
Removal of serious contaminants
Strong and aggressive chemicals are not used to wash leatherette jackets. They lead to cracking, discoloration and other unpleasant consequences, after which it will no longer be possible to wear clothes.They choose homemade and gentle products, the components of which are aimed at carrying out gentle and gentle cleansing.
Liquid soap
Liquid soap is used to restore shine. Removes stubborn stains, lightly removes grease. Mandatory:
- dilute soap or baby shampoo in water;
- with a soft cloth or sponge, go over the jacket;
- wipe off the moisture with a clean, dry cloth.
But this method does not always cope with contamination, which has already penetrated the fabric structure. Therefore, other more active components are used.
Gel for washing
There are special washing gels on sale. They have a powerful composition, but their peculiarity is that the concentration can be chosen by dosage. By adding a few drops of gel to water, an amazing effect is achieved, while the fabric will remain the same strong and will not lose its appearance .
Carpet cleaners
Carpet cleaners are not often used for replacement leather jackets. And in vain, because the product resists pollution no worse than expensive specialized formulations. It must be diluted with water, applied to a sponge. Treat the entire surface of the jacket, let stand 10 minutes. Convenient washing. Removes grease and restores shine to the product.
A soda
Soda removes plaque, removes stains from coffee, tea, wine and other dyes. Soda is diluted in water to a soft gruel, applied to the stain and squeezed out with a napkin. Leave on for 15-20 minutes. Remove with a regular dry towel. The place where the substance was is washed with warm soapy water.
Washing powder
The washing powder is selected with the greatest care.A product without active ingredients, intended for hand washing, or machine washing in delicate mode, for delicate fabrics, is suitable. The powder is not used in a dry state, it is diluted with water.
How to dry well
Proper drying is a guarantee that the product will retain its shape. It is impossible to categorically wring the jacket. The correct procedure is as follows:
- wrap in a fabric that will absorb moisture;
- spread out on a table on a napkin;
- hang on a hanger.
The shoulders must be level, otherwise bumps will appear on the fabric.
Common Mistakes
Owners of faux leather jackets make the following mistakes:
- machine washed under normal conditions;
- use aggressive powders;
- forgetting to rinse the product;
- use spin.
Additional tips and tricks
Recommended:
- wash the dermantine jacket no more than twice a year;
- iron without steam and from the inside out;
- machine wash only high quality products.
A faux leather jacket is a versatile item that often becomes a favorite. In order for it to serve for a long time, it is necessary to fulfill the conditions for washing.