Encouragement for nemosmom re. leather jackets

April

Didn't want to hijack Kari's thread but I wanted to let you know that in my experience, leather jackets are not particularly fragile.

I went through a saga with one that I LOVED but which had a moldy smell that I could not get rid of. (It came that way and I mistakenly believed it would fade.)

I tried EVERYTHING. Just so you know, one of my desperate moves included throwing it in the washing machine, with detergent. More than once.

It didn't work for the bad smell but neither did it harm the jacket.

4 years ago

General

10 replies

Latest reply was from April

Style Fan

Veteran

Good to know, April. Do you remember what kind of lining the jacket had? I am trying to imagine how to wash a leather jacket. Sending one to the cleaners is so expensive. I usually use a damp cloth to freshen mine up.
I think leather is very resilient. All of my leather bags, shoes, belts and jackets have lasted a long time.

4 years ago

April

Veteran

SF, I think it was kind of a standard acetate lining.

The jacket is pictured here if anyone is curious.

4 years ago

nemosmom

Veteran

That's great to hear, April! Thank you for posting!

I have read horror stories of folks who send their leather jackets to leather dry cleaners, and the jacket ends up shrinking - but not the zipper - so there is a 'wave' of bumps on the zipper when it's closed.

I had my eye on a second-hand lined bomber jacket. I showed photos to my dry cleaner to get an estimate on cleaning and conditioning. They won't even clean it because of the sherpa lining

It's good to hear the washer didn't destroy your jacket (bummer that you couldn't get the smell out, though!)

4 years ago

Anonymous

I’ve washed leather belts, boots, and jacket , and as long as they are properly dried no harm came to them.
Good post, leather is expensive and trying to preserve and use our leather products it as long as possible is the goal and to not be wasteful.

@April Did you use Oxi products to help remove set in odor? Most newer machines have an Oxi setting and it’s perfect for removing deep stains and odors, a little bit Downy helps too.

4 years ago

April

Veteran

Jess, no, that may be the one thing I didn't try!

I gave the jacket away years ago, however, so maybe whoever ended up with it was smarter than I was about what to do.

4 years ago

Theodora

Active Member

I have have 30 year old leather jackets and suede jackets, tops etc. that look fabulous! Just keep out of sun, or dye will fade. They were so well made, and the jackets have a much nicer, heavier lining than used today. (In the interest of honesty, my husband was a women’s suede/leather clothing designer. So I have WAY more than most would. Went out of business in 1994..)

I just wish I could fit in the skirts and beautiful leather pants - hard to believe I was ever that small!

4 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

I had a stinky handbag and I put it in a plastic bin with aquarium charcoal. The stink went away after a month or so.

4 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You are dead right. Leather jackets are ROBUST. Suede gets grubby though.

4 years ago

kkards

Veteran

ha, i would never have thought to wash leather...might try this on an old NAS piece that i have. don't wear it much because i hate the price of dry cleaning

4 years ago

April

Veteran

kk -- you're so right, leather cleaning is shockingly high. I washed my jacket *after* the expensive professional cleaning failed to remove the choking mold fumes.

4 years ago

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