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The $5 Zara Leather Jacket... how to seriously clean leather?

rae

(website)

Veteran

Snatched this cream/beige leather jacket at the flea market for $5 - could not resist with that rayon lining. Figured I'll either keep or sell. DH likes it and says keep - what do you think? I'm not too concerned about SYC for $5.

Regardless of who gets it, I need to clean this baby. I've not bought anything this far gone before, and I've kept my new leathers very clean. I'm in new territory. Any deep cleaning suggestions? Or if a pro is the only answer, do you know how much it costs?

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27 replies

Latest reply was from Nicole in OC

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Don't know how to clean it but I love it on you!

Mochi

Veteran

First of all, what is my cat doing in your pic?

Secondly, if I weren't feeling lazy I would google for you, since I don't know. But I'm sure plenty of women here have some experience. I just wanted to say that no matter that this is a cool li'l score, I am not sure it would be worth it to hire a pro to do the (likely expensive) job of deep cleaning. Unless you were truly, madly in love.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I understand if you don't want to go there - so feel free to ignore - but it worked for me.

I bought a pair of light brown leather pants about 30 years ago & pretty soon realised I wasn't going to be able to keep up with the dry cleaning required. So I got to a point with them that I didn't mind if I wrecked them. This is what started me on the washing leather route. I have hand washed my jackets as well. I used warm water to wash & rinse & I gently rubbed any stains. Dried them on a hanger & applied leather conditioner when dry.

There are things that can go wrong with this approach I know; like the lining can shrink & the leather can harden, but worth a try if all else fails.

Julie

Veteran

Wow! This can get tricky. Having no idea what the former owner has done or not done regarding the care of this garment, it can be a crap shoot. Sometimes overuse of products such as cremes can cause dirt to be attracted to the leather.

Hopefully there are some areas of the hide that turned to the inside. These make good test areas. If you splash some water from your finger tips onto the jacket, does it bead up, or does the leather take on a wet look? Hopefully, it takes on a wet look. This will allow you to use a mild, repeat mild, soap for the initial cleaning. Try a mild liquid hand soap. Take a soft damp cloth, apply a small amount of the soap, work up a lather and gently clean a small section. Wipe off the lather with another damp cloth, and pat dry with a soft towel. Allow the leather to dry thoroughly before applying any type of conditioner.
Do this on an inconspicuous area and see what happens. If the test is successful proceed to do the whole garment. And remember, cleaning leather can change the colour and appearance.

Cheers

Julie

Thistle

Veteran

I would google it. Humans have been wearing leather for thousands of years before there were dry cleaners. It has to be able to be done!

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I dunno anything about leather, but I love this jacket and your kitty!

Agnes

is it wrong to say I kind of like it dirty? it would look great over this. see pic.

I dont mean you shouldn't clean it, but if it ended up a bit stained it would look cool and worn in.

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Suz

(website)

Veteran

Mochi, that is not your cat. It is MY cat!!!

Rae, the jacket is an awesome score! I am sure you will find the best way to clean with the help of the collective YLF wisdom and Google. I don't know the best way myself; I'd probably take it to Danier! A little impractical for your purposes however.

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

I have a light deerskin jacket that I have gotten cleaned about three times in the 13+ years I've owned it. If you are at all concerned with damaging it I'd go ahead and spring for professional cleaning...probably around $25? Not cheap, but if you have them waterproof it as well then you likely won't have to bring it back for a long time.

Gaylene

Veteran

Well, I've got a friend who washes her leather pants in her washing machine with a smidgen of Woolite. If you google "washing leather in a machine", you'll see she is not alone in doing this. Might be worth trying with a $5 jacket.

ironkurtin

Veteran

If the lining weren't rayon I'd just throw it into the washer. It's worked out fine for the purses I've tried.

ClaraT

Veteran

Well, I had great success washing a leather Fossil purse I bought at a garage sale-even put it in the dryer with some beach towels for a bit on low then treated with leather conditioner. The purse is clean and perfect. If you take the coat to the cleaners it will cost ~$50 to clean (in my neighborhood), but that is the safer route I'm sure.

rae

(website)

Veteran

Thank you for the tips, everyone! And the encouragement to keep. I did some Googling and the leather care pros say the same as Julie and Gaylene about mild face soap or Woolite. Apparently the pH is better than harsher leather cleaners, that are not meant for garment leather. Who knew?

IK, I am worried about the rayon going through the washer and dryer, too.

Agnes, I like where you are going with this! I don't think I'd mind it being distressed in the end at all. But it is seriously dirty right now, lol!

ETA: Suz and Mochi - I knew Hank was a diva, but apparently he is also making secret trips across the globe! Naughty, naughty boy has been cheating on me.

dlb1960

Saddle soap!

ElleH

Veteran

I like the jacket on you so keep. As far as cleaning goes, Lexol PH wipes or liquid is the correct ph for leather. Test on inside first & it will probably go dark but wait for it to dry. You may want to wash it anyway if it is really dirty to get the lining clean. I would do it by hand not in the machine. If the lining shrinks though you will have to have it replaced. If the lining is dark the color could bleed into the leather so I wouldn't wash it if that is the case.

Maybe the previous owner wasn't very careful but it is making me rethink light coloured leather jackets. For $5 I wouldn't mind but not full or even half price.

Mander

(website)

Veteran

I don't think I'd put it in the dryer, but is rayon so shrink-prone that a cold water wash would do it in?

rute

Veteran

I would clean it and keep it! Love the fit

Glory

Veteran

I have a leather sofa in this light cream colour which I have had for over 25 years. I use dish soap, warm water and a microfiber cloth. I tried many many leather cleaners , tried a combination of murphy oil soap and water, plus several other items on internet. None of those worked as well.
I also like Caro's idea of putting it into the wash. Someone on the forum did that with a Fossil purse and it came out well. I think it would need to be a machine without an agitator. You could try a handwash as well. After all, it is skin, right? You could condition the leather after it dries.

ramya

Veteran

Rae, how I wish you could shop for me !!!!

Please keep them

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

Try this leather cleaner.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/produ.....P4O0YRN3UF
Somebody sent this link to me when I was torn over my leather jeans.
I haven't tried it but it seems like a good solution!

Sarah A

Veteran

I also thrifted a dirty white leather jacket, I just used a very little 7th Generation brand dish soap on a soft rag then went over with a clean damp cloth with great results. The leather was pretty "sealed" though and the water beaded on it as compared to my more expensive leathers (where water would soak in) so I figured I was cleaning the "white coating" not the actual leather IYKWIM. Maybe try dabbing water under small part of the underarm or inside the cuff as a test to see what the leather is like? Light touch of water and a bit of friction from a soft cloth might be all you need?

ironkurtin

Veteran

Oh man, people put leather in the drier?

Rae, it was $5 and from Zara - I'd wash on gentle in the washer, cold, then hang to dry.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I'd go the washing machine route - in a mesh bag:

http://www.unicornproducts.com.....eather.php

K. Period.

Veteran

Want to try a really cheap, simple fix first? Try baby wipes. They work fabulously because they have skin conditioners and are meant to be gentle while they clean. They work great on my light tan leather seats and on worked great on my sister's cream colored sofa. I've used them on lots of my garment leather since then. Two year old with jammy hands + leather jacket = baby wipes salvation. They are also something you'll be able to use again if they don't work on the jacket, so not a total loss.

I have to admit that I laughed that the google results said that leather cleaners are harsher than facial cleaners or Woolite. Woolite is harsh. It is a straight up surfactant. I took a class in fabric conservation and they recommended plain Ivory dish soap for preserving very old textiles. And what really made me laugh was that the fallback for cleaning saddles is glycerin soap, the same stuff that Neutrogena sells as face soap. Also, I've bought Coach's leather cleaner and conditioner and felt like they were a huge waste of money compared to Lexol cleaners and conditioners. The only downside with Lexol is that you have to find them at a specialty merchant and often you have to buy a larger quantity than you might want. (But you get a lot more for the same price as the Coach cleaner and conditioner.)

Since buying the cleaning products is an investment in itself, I'd take it in for a leather cleaning if the baby wipes don't work.

catgirl

Veteran

Wow, interesting answers! My only thought was that if your washing technique didn't work you could dye it. And it would probably come out looking very Indiana Jones worn-in.

rachylou

Veteran

I have learned a lot here today... gosh, who knew? Leather in the washer.

Nicole in OC

I need to know where Rae goes to find these awesome finds.. I'm in Orange County so I could definitely hit up some of the places! RAE- where do you go.... teach me your ways o' fashionable one!!!