How to Get Lumps Out of Your Leather Jacket

Leather jackets require special care to keep them looking fresh.

Leather is a popular natural material for clothing, as an alternative to fiber-based clothes like cotton or wool. Most chemicals that are used to clean fibers can damage leather. Imperfections in leather give it a distinct appeal, but sometimes undesired lumps and bumps can develop, if the leather is stored or treated improperly. Heat, moisture and physical action are used to shape leather initially, and these can be used to reshape it to remove minor lumps and wrinkles.

Things You'll Need

• Wooden or padded hanger
• Ironing board
• Cloth
• Iron
• Heavy brown paper or pressing cloth

Instructions

Moisture

1. Hang the leather jacket in the bathroom on a broad wooden or padded hanger.

2. Turn on the hot water in the shower, and close the door.

3. Allow the shower to run for about 5 minutes. Then open the door and turn it off.

4. Smooth out the lumps with your hands. The steam will loosen the leather slightly, which can be enough to remove bumps and wrinkles.

5. Hang the jacket in a cool, dry place and allow to dry completely.

Heat and Moisture

1. Lay the jacket on an ironing board, with the lumpy area facing up.

2. Lightly dampen the lumps on the jacket, using a damp cloth. Do not use too much water, or it could damage the leather.

3. Place a piece of heavy brown paper or a pressing cloth over the affected area. This will protect the leather from the direct heat of the iron.

4. Remove the water from the iron, unless it's already empty, and set it to the lowest temperature setting. After letting it warm up for about 5 minutes, place the iron down on the brown paper or cloth. Then continually move the iron in a circular fashion, to allow the jacket to heat up evenly and smooth out the lumps.

5. If the lumps persist, stack several books on the warmed leather and allow it to set for about an hour. Repeat these steps as necessary.

Tips & Warnings

• As an alternative to an iron, warm the leather with a hair dryer on the low heat setting, and smooth out the lumps with your hand.

• A cotton or linen handkerchief can be used as a pressing cloth.

• Set the iron to heat less than 80 degrees Fahrenheit, if your iron has such a setting, to ensure the safety of the leather. Or just use the lowest setting on the iron.

• If the affected area is large or in a conspicuous place on the jacket, test the procedure first on a small area to be sure it will not damage the leather.

• Don't use the iron's steam function, which could damage the leather.

References

• Good Housekeeping: Smoothing Leather Wrinkles
• Fashion Leather: About Leather
• Wilson Leather: Experience Leather
• Pop's Leather: Leather Selection, Types and Care