How can I clean my leather jacket?

frobisher

I just found one that I really, really like from a second hand shop but there's a bit of a linger of the ghost of parties past off it. I don't think dry cleaners take leather. Any ideas how i can clean it?

Hellm0

Cilit Bang?

biko

Google suggests bleach

The Hill Billy

A good dry cleaners should be able to do it for you.



/imagines Mr Muscle doing Barry Scott up the wrong un'.

BossArky

Its got character, take it as it is.

Do you mean it smells or is actually stained? If it smells just hang it outside for a while.

Gordon

Shoe polish!

juanjo

googling for "how to clean leather" produced thias as first result:

http://www.ehow.com/how_3138_clean-leather.html

It suggests the aid of professionals in some cases, but it explains as well ho
w to get rid of stains.

Hellm0

BossArky wrote:

Do you mean it smells or is actually stained? If it smells just hang it outside for a while.

He wont be able to get into certain metal bars if he gets rid of the smell.

connundrum

I would suggest some of this in conjunction with one of these

Bomber jackets rule ftw!

Ruu_Old

Give your local dry cleaners a call and ask them whats best. You could get it waterproofed to keep it in its current condition.

Kintarō Hattori

Not meaning to sound like a moaney cnut, but shouldn't this be in Fashion/Appearance?

Ruu_Old

It is old chum.

jdivision

Dry cleaners will clean it but it can be expensive. Circa e40

oulu

Baby wipes are great for cleaning Leather

Endurance Man

Ye, im in the same boat as the moment. My jacket isnt that smooth shiny leather, think its called unfinished leather. Its black but has a good few marks on it. I took it to a dry cleanres in Navan and they said theres a place in dublin that could do it.
Any ideas which one it could be?

DublinWriter

Hill Billy wrote:

A good dry cleaners should be able to do it for you.

They normally have to send them away themselves to specialist leather cleaners.

johnnyrotten

STP Son of a gun

Karl Hungus

You can get a special leather cleaning spray. Not sure where in Ireland to get it, as I got some when I bought a leather jacket in a specialist leather store in England years ago. Very handy.

il gatto

It's easy to do yourself. Get some saddle soap and a wet rag. Dip the rag in the soap and rub your jacket with a circular motion. Use one or two fingers (that sounds rude:o ). Dry the jacket with a cloth and apply eiter a leater food (widely available) or better again Neatsfoot oil. It's for saddles and bridles but its brilliant. Then hang your jacket on a hanger fot a day or two. If it still looks oily, take a dry cloth and wipe it off. You can buy the stuff in a tack shop or farm supplies store. It is easy enough to get in Dublin too, despite the apparent lack of such emporia. You can use them on shoes and anyting leather, and it'll last years.

Endurance Man

il gatto wrote:

It's easy to do yourself. Get some saddle soap and a wet rag. Dip the rag in the soap and rub your jacket with a circular motion. Use one or two fingers (that sounds rude:o ). Dry the jacket with a cloth and apply eiter a leater food (widely available) or better again Neatsfoot oil. It's for saddles and bridles but its brilliant. Then hang your jacket on a hanger fot a day or two. If it still looks oily, take a dry cloth and wipe it off. You can buy the stuff in a tack shop or farm supplies store. It is easy enough to get in Dublin too, despite the apparent lack of such emporia. You can use them on shoes and anyting leather, and it'll last years.

Sounds good, will this work with unfinished leather to? Its not that shiny leather, more like suede. Where can i get this saddle soap?

Grem

Bring it to a dry cleaners that specialises in leather goods. If you are located in Dublin there is one on the main street of Rathmines and if not - i'm sure a quick google search will bring up one near where you are located.

il gatto

Endurance Man wrote:

Sounds good, will this work with unfinished leather to? Its not that shiny leather, more like suede. Where can i get this saddle soap?

Should work with unfinished leather, as long as it's not suede. Suede and water or oil is a no no. If it's smooth leather without the glossy finish, it should be fine. I'm not from Dublin, but I know there used to be a good saddlery in Mulhuddart called Goodwins. I found a list on the net. There's one in Phibsboro, Swords, Sandyford, Garristown, Mulhuddart and on the North Road.http://www.polocenter.com/tack/tackir.htm

DublinWriter

il gatto wrote:

It's easy to do yourself. Get some saddle soap and a wet rag. Dip the rag in the soap and rub your jacket with a circular motion. Use one or two fingers (that sounds rude:o ). Dry the jacket with a cloth and apply eiter a leater food (widely available) or better again Neatsfoot oil. It's for saddles and bridles but its brilliant. Then hang your jacket on a hanger fot a day or two. If it still looks oily, take a dry cloth and wipe it off. You can buy the stuff in a tack shop or farm supplies store. It is easy enough to get in Dublin too, despite the apparent lack of such emporia.

...or you could pay someone to do it.

Go on, stick it in the washing machine, I dare you.

dubstub

il gatto wrote:

Should work with unfinished leather, as long as it's not suede. Suede and water or oil is a no no. If it's smooth leather without the glossy finish, it should be fine. I'm not from Dublin, but I know there used to be a good saddlery in Mulhuddart called Goodwins. I found a list on the net. There's one in Phibsboro, Swords, Sandyford, Garristown, Mulhuddart and on the North Road.http://www.polocenter.com/tack/tackir.htm

A lot of the shoe repair shops sell saddle soap. I know the one on South Anne st. definitely does. Saddle soap is great for leather jackets, cleans them very well while preserving the finish. As mentioned, don't use it on suede.