How to Clean Suede & Leather Jackets
Suede and leather jackets are beautiful and durable but do require extra special care. Because they are made from porous animal hide, these jackets can really hold on to stains. Unfortunately, you can't simply throw full grain leather and suede into the wash --- water is a bane to leather and suede, which is why tags on leather and suede jackets inevitably recommend professional leather cleaning only. However, although professional cleaning is recommended, there are a few things you can do at home in between visits to the dry cleaners. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Suede brush
- Suede cleaner
- Leather cleaner (can be saddle soap or similar leather cleaner)
- Dry cloths
Instructions
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How to Clean Suede and Leather Jackets
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1
Brush your entire jacket with a soft cloth and a suede brush. Remove as much dust and grime as possible before applying any cleaner.
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2
Test the cleaner by applying a little to a spot of suede, such as a bottom corner of the jacket, to make sure that no color fades. If you rub a cloth on the spot and no color is transferred, you can continue using the suede cleaner. Otherwise, try to simply remove as much as possible with a dry cloth and a suede stain eraser (sold at leather cleaning supply stores).
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3
Spot treat by spraying a little cleaner on a fresh cloth. Spraying on the cloth rather than directly on the suede will prevent making the suede too wet. Rub the soiled areas gently, using back and forth and circular motions.
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4
Wipe off the full-grain areas of the leather again and then dip a clean cloth in a jar of saddle soap. Start with just a quarter size dollop and spread it over the leather, rubbing it in with circular motions.
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5
Rub the leather again with a clean cloth to remove excess cleaner. Allow the jacket to air out in a well-ventilated area.
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Tips & Warnings
After cleaning, keep the jacket away from sunlight until all of the cleaning product has had a chance to evaporate. Otherwise, the heat of the sun on the chemicals can cause fading or stains where you spot-cleaned.
Do not use the saddle soap on suede --- it will ruin the nap and permanently stain the suede. Avoid wetting stains too much with suede cleaner --- this can make the stain's appearance even worse.
