Leather Jacket Care Guide

How To Clean A Leather Jacket

For everyday dust and light marks, a dry microfibre cloth is usually all you need. Wipe with the grain, working in sections, and pay attention to the collar and cuffs where skin oils build up fastest.

For anything more stubborn, dampen a cloth with clean water — not soaked, just barely damp — and wipe the area, then dry it immediately with a second dry cloth. If you need a cleaner, use one formulated for leather, test it on a hidden seam first, and follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Never put a leather jacket in a washing machine or a tumble dryer. Water plus agitation strips the natural oils out of the hide, and the heat shrinks and stiffens it permanently. For a deep clean, use a professional leather cleaner.

How To Condition Leather

Conditioning replaces the oils that leather loses over time. Without it, the hide dries out, loses suppleness, and eventually cracks at the flex points — elbows, cuffs and the collar fold.

Apply a small amount of leather conditioner to a clean cloth rather than directly onto the jacket, and work it in using small circular motions. A thin, even coat absorbs properly, whereas a heavy one sits on the surface and attracts dust. Let it absorb, then buff off any excess with a dry cloth.

How often? Once a season is a sensible baseline — roughly every three to four months. Condition more often if you wear it daily, live somewhere dry, or notice the leather looking dull or feeling stiff. Suede and nubuck take a dedicated suede protector, not a cream conditioner.

How To Store A Leather Jacket

Most damage happens in storage, not in wear.

• Use a broad hanger. A wide wooden or padded hanger supports the shoulders. Wire hangers leave permanent dents.
• Let it breathe. Store it in a breathable cotton garment bag. Never seal leather in plastic — trapped moisture encourages mildew.
• Keep it cool and dark. Direct sunlight fades dyed leather unevenly, and radiators dry it out.
• Give it room. Compressed between other garments, the hide creases and the lining twists out of shape.
• Condition before long storage. A jacket going away for a season keeps better if it goes away conditioned.

If Your Leather Jacket Gets Wet

Light rain will not ruin a leather jacket, but how you dry it matters enormously.

1. Blot the surface with a dry towel — press rather than rub.
2. Hang it on a broad hanger at room temperature, away from radiators, hairdryers and direct sun.
3. Let it dry slowly and completely. This can take a full day.
4. Once dry, condition it to restore the oils the water drew out.

If a jacket has been soaked through, or has water stains that dry unevenly, take it to a professional leather cleaner.

Removing Minor Stains Safely

The mildest method that works is always the right one.

• Fresh grease or oil: blot, dust with cornflour or talc, leave for several hours, then brush off gently.
• Ink: one of the hardest marks to remove and easy to spread — go to a professional.
• Salt or road grit: wipe with a barely damp cloth, dry immediately, then condition.
• Scuffs on suede: use a suede brush in one direction. Never water or cream conditioner.

What Never To Use On Leather

• Washing machines and tumble dryers — the fastest way to destroy a jacket.
• Household detergents and dish soap — they strip the finish and natural oils.
• Bleach, ammonia and solvent cleaners — these discolour leather permanently.
• Baby wipes and alcohol wipes — the alcohol dries and lifts the finish.
• Direct heat — radiators, hairdryers, car heaters and hot sun shrink and stiffen the hide.
• Olive oil and kitchen oils — they go rancid and leave dark patches.
• Cream conditioner on suede — it mats the nap flat.

Care By Hide Type

• Cowhide: the most robust and forgiving. A dry wipe after wear and seasonal conditioning is all it asks. It develops a patina at the flex points that most owners come to prefer.
• Sheepskin: softer and thinner, so it benefits from slightly more frequent conditioning. Keep it away from sharp edges and rough bag straps.
• Suede: needs a suede brush and a dedicated suede protector. Treat a new piece before first wear, and keep it out of heavy rain.
• Faux leather: wipes clean with a barely damp cloth and needs no conditioning. Avoid solvent cleaners, which can craze the surface.

Each product page lists the hide it is cut from — browse men's or women's leather jackets.