Does your leather jacket look old and worn out? If you wear any coat or coat long enough, it will eventually show signs of wear – and leather jackets are no different. Thus, you can restore an old worn leather jacket by following a few simple steps.
Step 1 – Clean Leather Jacket Exterior
You can’t expect to restore the look of an old leather jacket without cleaning it. Over time, leather jackets will collect dirt, dust, and debris that, if left unchecked, will lead to a dirty appearance. However, you can clean an old leather jacket by wiping the surface with a wet washcloth and mildly made dish soap. Alternatively, there are leather soaps and detergents available specially designed for leather products.
Step 2 – Inspect Leather Jacket for damage
In addition to cleaning your leather jacket, you will also need to inspect your leather jacket for damage. High-quality leather jackets – those made of genuine leather – are naturally protected from damage. That being said, they can still do damage if they are exposed to physical stress.
Therefore, you should take a few minutes to inspect your leather jacket for damage. Look around the stitches for signs of broken stitches or other types of damage. If you find any damage, you will need to repair it. Otherwise, it will spread while causing further damage to the process.
Step 3 – Store the Leather Jacket on a Clothes Hanger
If you think you are not doing that already, you should get into the habit of keeping your leather jacket on a clothes hanger. When you throw your leather jacket on the floor, your bed, or elsewhere in your home may sound harmless, leaving your coat in danger of turning over. Your skin will lose its original shape if it is not stored in a clothes hanger. Fortunately, however, you can preserve or restore the original shape of your leather jacket by storing it in a heavy clothing hanger, preferably made of wood rather than plastic.
Step 4 – Keep Leather Jacket Dry
If you think you are not doing that already, you should get into the habit of keeping your leather jacket on a clothes hanger. When you throw your leather jacket on the floor, your bed, or elsewhere in your home may sound harmless, leaving your coat in danger of turning over. Your skin will lose its original shape if it is not stored in a clothes hanger. Fortunately, however, you can preserve or restore the original shape of your leather jacket by storing it in a heavy clothing hanger, preferably made of wood rather than plastic.
Step 5 – Replace Loose or Missing Buttons
If there are buttons on your loose or missing leather jacket, you should replace them. You only need a few basic things to change the buttons on a leather jacket, including a particular thread, needle, and switch buttons. It is recommended that you select the switch buttons with the same color, shape, and style as the old buttons. By doing so, you can restore your leather jacket to its original look.
If you are not comfortable changing the buttons yourself, you can take your local leather jacket tailor. The tailor will probably charge you for changing the button (or a few buttons) on your leather jacket, but the minimum you can pay is considering the service and the price offered for a genuine leather jacket.
Step 6 – Condition Leather Jacket
Perhaps the most important step in renovating an old leather jacket is to repair it. We’ve talked about this before in our blog here at Leatherings, but in case you missed it, the repair refers to using a hydrating product to protect skin products from drying out. Although too much moisture can damage the skin, you cannot have enough moisture.
Step 7 – Don’t Wash and Dry the Leather Jacket
Although comfortable and stylish, most leather jackets are not mechanical. As a result, you should not try to clean your leather jacket with a washing machine or dryer. What is wrong with washing and drying leather jackets? As mentioned earlier, the skin does not react when exposed to moisture for a long time. If it is washed in a washing machine, it will absorb and absorb water, which may cause carbon dioxide to build up.
Drying your leather jacket in a regular drop dryer is also bad. The heat from the tumble dryer may cause your leather jacket to shrink, causing permanent damage.
Step 8 – Keep Cleaning Leather Jacket Away
You should not use any other cleaning products on your leather jacket except mild dish soap, skin soap and detergents, and excellent skin. Some people think that bleach is suitable for small quantities in leather jackets. Even when cleansed, bleach is more aggressive than real leather. It can leave your leather jacket in an uneven tone where some areas are lighter than others.
To restore your leather jacket’s appearance, it is best to make a mistake by avoiding all cleaning products except mild dish soap, skin soap and detergents, and skin heaters. From bleach and ammonia to rubbing alcohol and other solvents, countless cleansing ingredients can damage jackets made of genuine leather.
Step 9 – Consider Replacing
In some cases, your only option might be to replace your old leather jacket with a new leather jacket. If your current leather jacket does not fit, you should consider changing it. Whether it is too small or too large, there is no easy way to change the size of a leather jacket.
You may also want to change your leather jacket if it is badly damaged. You can repair minor damage. If your leather jacket is missing a button, you should be able to replace it. If your leather jacket is badly damaged, on the other hand, you should consider replacing it. A high-quality genuine leather jacket can last for more than a decade, making it a wise investment for all fashion-conscious men and women.
Note: These steps should not be used on suede jackets. Since suede is easily stained, a professional should clean it.