How to Take Proper Care of Your Leather Jacket

A leather jacket or coat can be one of the most expensive items of clothing in your closet. By taking care of it properly, you can make this a worthwhile investment as well as a stylish addition to your attire. Leather jackets are meant to look nice and be enjoyed for years after purchase. Accidental bleaching, cracking, unwanted smells, moisture damage, and ripping are all possible if you don't condition it or store it correctly. However, these things are usually preventable with a little effort.

Ideally, you should begin caring for your leather coat as soon as you bring it home. Treat the jacket with a product that will waterproof and condition it to prevent future damage. You should a product that is specifically designed for this purpose, and be careful not to apply too much. Research the different options that are available for your wardrobe, because different leather jacket conditioners have different properties. Smothering it with excess product or using something that contains oils or waxes can prevent the leather from getting air circulation. For proper care, you will need to strip off the conditioner product occasionally and apply a new coat.

It's also important to store a leather jacket in the correct way. Use padded hangers to keep it in your closet, rather than thin wire or plastic ones. It should never be folded for any length of time, because you could end up with unwanted lines or cracks. A leather coat needs to breathe, so you shouldn't keep it in a bag or container where air can't circulate. Don't apply products that will keep air from getting to the leather. Extra care measures are needed for proper care if you live in an environment that is either very dry or very humid. When dryness is an issue, you need to treat the leather jacket on a regular basis so that it doesn't begin to crack. In a wet climate, waterproofing and correct storage are bigger issues.

If your leather coat does get wet, it's not necessarily a disaster if you properly take care of it as soon as possible. Do not try to use a hair dryer or any other source of heat to dry it. Allow the jacket to air dry, and put at least one application of a leather care product or conditioner on it. Ideally, you should apply one coat when the jacket is almost dry and a second coat after it has finished drying. If something other than water ends up on your leather, begin by gently removing as much of the substance as possible. Clean it with a mild soap and warm water, and then use the tips above for drying the coat.

By following these tips for proper care, you will be able to get the most use out of your leather jacket and keeping it looking nice. It's more difficult to stop further damage if the leather begins to crack, because that obviously makes it easier for more moisture to get inside. Prevent this from happening by properly caring for your jacket with the right products as soon as you get it.