Leather coats are extremely versatile clothes that have never been considered out of fashion and always give a classy look. Nevertheless, their cleaning and maintenance may be quite a problem given the fact that the material used in the manufacture of leather may easily wear out. That is why, as opposed to fabric, leather needs more attentiveness and care to avoid product’s deterioration. This guide is a detailed procedure of how one should clean and wash his or her leather coat properly.
Understanding Leather Types
It is very important that one knows the type of leather first before getting into cleaning it to avoid damages.
Different types of leather react differently to cleaning methods:
1. Full-grain leather: This is the finest and most robust type of leather with which you want to be compatible, but the most volatile to the cleaning chemicals.
2. Top-grain leather: Slightly less processed that full-grain, it also requires careful handling because it is relatively tough.
3. Suede: As compared to leather, suede is softer, has a slightly rougher texture, and can easily get stained and hence needs special washing.
4. Faux leather: As it is derived from synthetic fiber, faux leather is cheaper and easier to maintain than genuine leather but it has to be well-maintained to avoid cracking and peeling.
How to Clean Your Leather Coat
1. Read the Care Label
First of all, you should refer to the label that is available inside your leather coat. This small tag will give humane information concerning the washing ability of the coat, the ability of the coat to be dry cleaned or if it can only be spot cleaned. Just like any other material that is used to make other apparels, most leather jackets come with indications that it is not safe to be washed using a washing machine or even exposed to a lot of water. Most of the time, avoid using high voltage since it tends to damage the equipment irreversibly, and this should be done by strictly adhering to the manufacturers’ regulations.
2. Gather Your Cleaning Supplies
It is worth to underline that it is not necessary to use perfect and expensive materials to clean a leather coat.
Here’s what you’ll need:
Soft and non abrasive cloth or a microfiber towel
A mild soap or leather cleaner The above guidance is used to explain the approach to cleaning recommends a mild soap or leather cleaner.
Lukewarm water
Leather conditioner
A soft-bristle brush (for suede)
Sponges (optional)
Do not apply any strong chemicals, bleach or ammonia on the leather as they tend to remove the skin oils and hence dry up and cracked.
3. Clean the Leather through Dusting as Well as Wiping
First of all you should clean the outer part of the leather jacket or coat with a soft and dry cloth. This clean off any form of dust, dirt or debris that may have accumulated on the area to be cleaned. In case there is a little elaboration on the stitching or on areas which attract dust, wash those areas carefully using a soft brush.
If using suede leather, for instance, be very careful for it can easily get scratched.
Test Your Cleaning Solution
When using any soap or a leather cleaner on the whole coat, always do this on a small area which is not easily seen so that in case it bleaches, fades, or in any way damages – it will not easily be noticed. If the reaction is good go for cleaning.
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5. Clean the Leather
If your coat is full-grain or top-grain leather:If your coat is full-grain or top-grain leather:
The two-word mixture for washing is warm water and a few drops of mild washing soap.
Take a sponge cloth, immerse it in the solution and after squeezing the excess liquid clean the leather in circular fashion.
Make sure not to immerse the leather too much in water so that it doesn’t develop some water marks or even alter the shape of the coat.
Then with another clean damp cloth remove soaps from the surface as this is countered to bacteria growth.
If your coat is made of suede:If your coat is made of suede:
Because it will form water spots do not use water directly on the surface. To clean the stains, do not rub the suede instead use suede brush to brush the stain lightly.
Of course, for some of the more difficult stench and stains, you can purchase a specialized product namely the suede eraser to remove the mark.
For faux leather:
For instance, faux leather is more comfortable to maintain cleanliness of contrasted to genuine leather. You can use the same method that is used on the real leather but has to be careful not to compromise the leather and make it crumble.
6. Talk how to Dry the Leather Coat Naturally
Once you make a decision to wash your coat then after washing should be dried on natural air at room temperature. It is also suggested that the leather coat is not placed near sources of heat such as radiators, heaters and sunlight because it will cause the leather to dry and therefore become stiff. Place the coat on a padded hanger and ensure that it dries with the right shape it was bought.
7. Condition the Leather
After washing your leather coat and making sure it is totally dry, use a leather conditioner to replenlish the natural oils of the leather so as to make it soft. Leather like skin tend to dry up after sometime and even after washing it. Conditioning is done on the leather to ensure that it retains some flexibility other than cracking.
Rub in a little quantity of leather conditioner to the soft leather cloth.
Massage the conditioner into the leather in circular motions by this, you ensure you’re all the surface area of the coat is covered.
It is advisable to rinse the conditioner on the hair for about five minutes and then dry it using a clean piece of fabric.
For suede leather, what you need is a suede protector spray instead of conditioners, that is if the furniture is made from this type of leather. This will be useful to avoid cases where the coat gets stained with mud or painted with water in the next days coming future.
8. Stain Removal Tips
If your leather coat has specific stains, you might need to employ different cleaning methods:If your leather coat has specific stains, you might need to employ different cleaning methods:
Ink stains: Using a cotton swab which is soaked in rubbing alcohol pat over the staining ink lightly. Do not rub the surface since that will spread the ink across the surface.
Oil or grease stains: Rub cornstarch or talcum powder over the area and leave the area exposed overnight. Take a soft brush and brush it in the morning.
Water stains: In case of minor water stains apply color wipe on the black area and rub the entire area with damp cloth to produce uniform color. Dry it naturally.
How often you should clean a leather coat?
This is because leather garments do not require too much washing or thorough washing unlike the fabric garments. It is good to wash a coat each time it is visibly dirty, or at least wash and condition it every 6 to 12 months, in their frequency of use. Some tips on how to maintain your leather coat includes always ensuring that the coat is stored in a cool dry area away from direct sunlight which Fade or cause the leather to dry out.
Conclusion
As you look for proper ways to wear your leather coat, it is also important that you take proper care of it so as to avoid its early deterioration. It’s therefore important to follow these steps and use the right techniques in the process of maintaining the coat to have it looking as new as it is for many years. Remember that because leather is an organic material and should be treated with considerable deference; do not rush when cleaning, drying or moisturizing the leather as this may reduce its durability as well as its shine.
