How to Boost the Longevity of Your Leather Jacket?
Once you have found the perfect leather jacket and have worn it for any duration of time, you will need to clean it in order to keep it in an ideal condition. And while there are several cleaning solutions on the market and there are several professionals which can offer cleaning services, understanding the basics of how to care for your leather jacket will increase its longevity as well as save you a ton of money over its lifespan.
Know the Material
Owners of leather should understand that not all leather is the same. You have the thicker cow’s hide leather which can take a bit more wear and tear than the thinner leathers. Thicker leathers can also be spruced up with polish. Lambskin leather is relatively thin and requires a bit more care, specifically where it pertains to avoiding tears in the fabric. Nubuck leather is luxury top layer hide which has been sanded and buffed down to give it the smooth surface. As such to clean a leather jacket made of nubuck requires a nubuck cloth and careful attention not to ruin the surface.
Having a firm grasp of the materials or the material blends used on your leather jacket will ensure that you purchase the correct cleaning supplies for the jacket. Generic is generally something which you want to avoid in the care and maintenance of your leather jacket (especially if you spent thousands on it).
Repair any Seams which are Frayed or too Tight
One of the most overlooked areas on a jacket is in the stitching. Fraying of the threads can easily be seen and fixed. Going without fixes can cause the lining and the hide to become further damaged. And while most people check for such fraying, many neglects to check for seams which are too tight. This problem dramatically reduces the longevity of your coat. There are many causes for the seams tightening on a jacket whether the reason is poor craftsmanship, expanding or shrinkage of the leather, or excessive strain on a seam (such as moving the arm too far back or forward causing the stitching to be stressed). Regardless of the reason, if the stitching it too tight it can cause the leather to tear. Check and have any areas where such is occurring repaired.
Let it Breathe
When you store your leather jacket, have it in an area where the material can breathe. You do not want to have it in a high moisture area, such as a basement, as the skin is absorbent and over time may collect water and rot if left in storage for a season. On the other hand, you do not want to store the jacket in an attic as the temperatures could dry out the leather and cause it to crack. Putting the jacket into an air-tight bag is not recommended either as (1) to get it air tight you have to suck out the air from the bag which means that you have to apply force against the leather material which is not good and (2) if the leather has any debris upon it, air locking it in a bag may only help to increase the potential for damage. For best results store your leather jacket in a closet which has adequate space and moderate temperatures.
Before and After Season Cleaning
If you are anything like me, your jackets have to be in the best condition before they are worn in public. This means that you have to give those jackets which have been in cleaning a good clean and conditioning treatment. Again, you will want to ensure that to clean a leather jacket properly that you use the cleaners and conditioners which are appropriate for the material. If you have any questions about which cleaners and conditioners to use, ask your local professional leather artisan. At the end of the season, you should give your leather jacket a nice clean and conditioning prior to storage. Ensure that you allow for any cleaner to have time to dry prior to storage.
Clean out Your Pockets
A leather jacket is fairly easy to clean. However, if you forget that you have candy in your pocket and ant’s or vermin eat a hole in the liner to get to it, then all that effort is wasted. If you have a bottle of cleaner in your leather jacket pocket and leave it there, it could spill or corrode the jacket, again not good. The bottom line, clean out your jacket when it is not in use, clean your jacket and take care of it if you want it to last, and when in doubt seek out professional cleaning services to ensure that your jacket last.
Author Bio: Michael K. is a leather artisan who has 10 years as a leather craft. He always thinks of the products that he creates are his big honor and his pride. Check out his blog Rainier Leather to learn more about Michael K.