Leather has long been prized in the clothing industry for its durability, versatility, and style. With new manufacturing techniques, leather skins were made to be lighter, breathable, and perfect for all types of weather. But even the highest-quality leather can become worn and faded over time. If you love wearing leather clothing, it is important that you know how to properly take care of them at home to make your apparel long-lasting.
When buying leather clothes, the first thing you need to do is feel its texture to know the quality of the material. With different raw materials used, knowing the quality of the leather is important in order to know the right leather garment care techniques your jacket or pants need.
Making sure that the quality of your leather garment is maintained is not as easy as other fabrics. Here is everything you need to know about how to wash leather clothes:
1. Properly Take Care of Stains
Little accidents such as ink, oil, or wine stains are inevitable when going out. That’s why you have to be ready to deal with minor stains all the time. Water-based stains are easy, just avoid using blow dryers and let it dry naturally. The best method for getting rid of stains on your leather clothing is to use rubbing alcohol on the area. If this doesn’t work, you can use soap as an alternative instead.
Keep in mind that when cleaning leather clothes at home, you must test any cleaning agents on a small portion of the leather fabric before covering a larger area. This will make sure that the solution will not change the color of your garment.
2. Clean with Damp Cloth Regularly
The best way to keep the leather clean and in tip-top shape is to clean it with a damp cloth regularly. Leather garments can easily accumulate dust and dirt when left for a long time. This may cause your leather clothing to become brittle and even lead to premature wear and tear. Regular cleaning can help preserve your leather by simply wiping off the dust buildup at least once biweekly.
3. Be Mindful of the Elements
Leather materials have always been sensitive to certain elements, so it is important to weatherproof your leather clothing before using it. You can use leather protectants to make sure that your garment is ready for any type of weather condition. This solution can also help protect the leather from accidental stains.
Since leather is sensitive to much heat, you should avoid wearing your apparel when the weather is hot. This can actually benefit you as well because leather is not comfortable to wear in hot weather. Protect yourself and your garment from heat by not choosing it as an outfit for your summer travels.
4. Let Your Leather Breathe
Since leather garments are made with skin, it needs some ventilation to be able to breathe and prevent the material from rotting. Avoid sealing up the garment in plastic so that it can get the air needed to breathe. You can instead use travel bags or boxes that allow more air to pass through the material.
5. Storing Your Leather Clothing
In order to keep leather garments in the best condition, you must keep them in a cool and non-cramped place. You can use a wooden hanger to keep the leather in good shape for a long time. Like mentioned earlier, avoid using plastic to store your leather clothing to prevent wear and tear.
Another tip is to avoid storing the apparel in hot places, or places where it can be reached by direct sunlight. For proper leather garment care, store your apparel in places where it can hang freely in a cool, dry place.
6. Professional Cleaning
Unlike other fabrics, leather can be complicated to clean and take care of. It is recommended to choose professional care to properly clean the material instead of doing it on your own because there are certain blemishes, stains, and damages you cannot treat at home. While this may seem like an expensive option, professional cleaning can actually save you more money than buying expensive solutions for leather care.
Keep in mind that not all laundry services are capable of washing and cleaning your leather garments because they cannot be dry-cleaned. Since heat treatments can negatively affect the leather, it is not recommended to use dry clean machines.
If you are looking for the best Durango laundry services that include leather care, Kelly’s Dry Cleaners is here to take care of all types of stains and blemishes your leather clothing may have. We have a team of professionals to make sure that the quality of your leather apparel is preserved. Contact us now!
