How to Clean a Leather Jacket at Home: Step-by-Step Care Guide
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To clean a leather jacket at home, brush or wipe off the dust, wipe the leather with a cloth dampened in mild soapy water (or a leather cleaner), wipe off the soap, let it dry naturally, then condition it. Never put a leather jacket in the washing machine or tumble dryer. This guide covers cleaning step by step, the inside and lining, stains, a wet jacket, smells, washing, conditioning, storage, and how to stop leather cracking.
What You'll Need
- Two or three soft, lint-free cloths (microfibre is ideal)
- A soft brush, such as a clean shoe brush or soft toothbrush, for seams
- Mild soap (a few drops of gentle dish soap or saddle soap) or a leather cleaner
- Leather conditioner (cream or balm)
- Lukewarm water and a wide, shaped hanger
How to Clean a Leather Jacket: Step by Step
- Check the label. Make sure it's smooth leather, not suede or faux leather, and look for any care instructions. Suede needs a different method; see our suede jacket care guide.
- Empty the pockets and remove dust. Brush off loose dirt, paying attention to seams, collar and cuffs, or wipe with a dry cloth.
- Spot test. Try your soap mix or cleaner on a hidden spot, such as inside the hem, and let it dry. If the colour changes or comes off on the cloth, stop and use a leather specialist.
- Wipe the leather. Mix a few drops of mild soap into a bowl of lukewarm water. Dip a cloth, wring it until it's barely damp, and wipe the jacket panel by panel in gentle strokes. Don't soak the leather or scrub.
- Remove the soap. Wipe again with a second cloth dampened in clean water, then pat dry with a dry cloth.
- Let it dry naturally. Hang it on a wide hanger at room temperature, away from radiators, heaters and direct sun, until it's completely dry. Never use a hair dryer.
- Condition. Rub a small amount of conditioner into the leather in small circles with a clean cloth, let it soak in for an hour, then buff off any excess.
How to Clean the Inside and Lining of a Leather Jacket
Linings collect sweat and smells, especially at the collar, underarms and lower back. Turn the jacket inside out, dab the lining with a cloth dampened in mild soapy water, then wipe with a clean damp cloth. Keep water away from the leather seams, and let the jacket dry fully inside out before turning it back. For heavy staining or a loose lining, use a leather specialist.
Can You Wash a Leather Jacket?
No, not in a washing machine. Soaking and spinning stretch the leather, wash out its natural oils and can leave it stiff, shrunken or cracked when it dries, and the tumble dryer makes it worse. Even "hand washing" in a basin soaks the leather too much. Clean the surface with a damp cloth as above instead. Ordinary dry cleaning isn't suitable either: if the jacket needs a deep clean, use a dry cleaner that specialises in leather.
Faux leather (PU) jackets are different: some can be washed gently, so check the label. Real leather should never be.
How to Remove Stains From a Leather Jacket
| Stain | What to do |
|---|---|
| Water spots | Dampen the whole panel evenly with a barely damp cloth so it dries one shade, then let it dry naturally. |
| Grease or oil | Blot (don't rub), cover with cornflour or baking soda, leave overnight to draw out the oil, then brush off. Repeat if needed. |
| Salt marks (winter) | Dab with a cloth dampened in equal parts white vinegar and water, wipe with a clean damp cloth, dry, then condition. |
| Food and drink | Blot straight away, then clean the spot with mild soapy water and wipe with clean water. |
| Ink | Fresh ink is the hardest. Take it to a leather specialist; home remedies like alcohol can lift the colour from the leather too. |
| Mould or mildew | Wipe with a cloth dampened in equal parts white vinegar and water, dry in a well-aired room, then condition. |
Always spot test first, and don't use bleach, ammonia, nail polish remover, baby wipes or household sprays on leather.
What to Do if Your Leather Jacket Gets Wet
- Shake off the water and blot the surface with a towel.
- Hang it on a wide, shaped hanger so the shoulders keep their shape.
- Let it dry slowly at room temperature, away from heat and direct sun. This can take a day.
- When it's dry, condition it, because water draws out the leather's oils.
Light rain and snow won't harm a leather jacket that's dried this way. Soaking, followed by fast drying near heat, is what causes stiffness and cracks.
How to Get a Smell Out of a Leather Jacket
- Air it out: hang it outside in the shade or by an open window for a day.
- Clean the lining: most smells, including sweat and smoke, live in the lining. Clean it as above.
- Baking soda: put the jacket in a large bag with an open bowl of baking soda (not touching the leather) for a day or two to absorb odours.
- A new-leather smell fades with wear and airing; it isn't a fault.
- Avoid spraying perfume or fabric fresheners onto the leather, which can stain it.
How Often to Clean and Condition a Leather Jacket
| Task | How often |
|---|---|
| Brush or wipe off dust | After heavy wear, or every couple of weeks |
| Clean with mild soap | Every few months, or when it looks dirty |
| Clean the lining | Once or twice a season if worn often |
| Condition | Every 3 to 6 months, and after it gets wet |
Don't over-condition: too much makes leather soft, sticky or darker. If the leather feels dry or looks dull, it's time.
How to Make a Leather Jacket Shine
Most leather jackets look best with a soft, natural sheen rather than a gloss. After conditioning, buff the leather with a clean dry cloth; that brings up the shine. Avoid shoe polish and silicone sprays, which can leave a sticky finish and block the leather from breathing.
How to Stop a Leather Jacket From Cracking
Leather cracks when it dries out, usually from heat, sun, or being soaked and dried too fast. To prevent it:
- Condition every few months, more often in dry climates.
- Keep it away from radiators, car dashboards and long hours in strong sun.
- Dry it slowly after rain and condition afterwards.
- Don't fold it tightly or crush it in a bag for long periods.
Small surface cracks can look better after conditioning; deep cracks need a leather repair specialist.
How to Store a Leather Jacket
- Hang it on a wide, shaped hanger, never a thin wire one, so the shoulders don't dent.
- Use a breathable cotton cover, never plastic, which traps moisture and can cause mould.
- Keep it somewhere cool, dry and dark, with space around it.
- Empty the pockets so they don't stretch.
- Before storing it for summer, clean and condition it.
Leather Care Through the Seasons
- Rain: a light protector spray made for smooth leather helps water bead off; dry it naturally after.
- Snow and winter: wipe off salt and slush the same day before it dries into marks.
- Heat and sun: don't leave it in a hot car or in direct sun; condition more often in dry, hot weather.
- Off-season: clean, condition and store it in a breathable cover.
Cleaning Different Kinds of Leather Jackets
- Lambskin: very soft and thin, so use the least water possible and a gentle cleaner.
- Cowhide and motorcycle jackets: tougher; after riding, wipe off dust and insects with a damp cloth before they dry on.
- White and light leather: wipe more often, as marks show sooner; use a cleaner made for light leather.
- Vintage or second-hand jackets: air out and clean the lining first, then clean and condition the leather; very dry old leather may need several light coats of conditioner.
- Suede and nubuck: no water or conditioner cream; brush and use a suede eraser, as in the suede care guide linked above.
- Faux leather: wipe with mild soapy water; it doesn't need conditioner.
- Leather coats and vests: clean them exactly the same way as jackets; coats need more drying space.
When to Use a Professional
Use a leather specialist for ink, large oil stains, mould that keeps coming back, torn linings, deep cracks, or a jacket that's very valuable or old. Ask for a cleaner that specialises in leather, not an ordinary dry cleaner.
Made to Order and Custom Options
Every jacket we sell is made to order in XS to 4XL or 5XL, depending on the style, with custom sizes, colours, leather types (lambskin, sheepskin, cowhide or suede) and linings, including real shearling instead of the standard faux shearling. To order one, see our custom order process (free design consultation) or contact us. To choose a jacket that lasts, see our leather jacket buying guide.
See every style in our men's leather jackets and women's leather jackets collections.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you clean a leather jacket at home?
Brush off dust, wipe it with a cloth barely dampened in mild soapy water, wipe off the soap with a clean damp cloth, let it dry naturally, then condition it.
Can you put a leather jacket in the washing machine?
No. Soaking and spinning damage leather and can leave it stiff, shrunken or cracked. Clean the surface by hand instead.
Can a leather jacket be dry cleaned?
Only by a dry cleaner that specialises in leather. Ordinary dry cleaning can dry out and damage it.
What can I use to clean a leather jacket?
A few drops of mild soap in lukewarm water, saddle soap, or a cleaner made for leather. Avoid bleach, ammonia, alcohol and household sprays.
How do you clean the inside of a leather jacket?
Turn it inside out, dab the lining with mild soapy water, wipe with a clean damp cloth, and let it dry fully inside out.
Can you clean a leather jacket with vinegar?
Diluted white vinegar (equal parts with water) helps with salt marks and mildew. Spot test first, and condition afterwards, because vinegar dries leather.
How often should I condition my leather jacket?
Every 3 to 6 months, and after it gets wet. More often in hot, dry climates.
How do I dry a wet leather jacket?
Blot it, hang it on a wide hanger and let it dry slowly at room temperature, away from heat. Condition it once dry.
How do I get rid of a smell in my leather jacket?
Air it out, clean the lining, and leave it in a bag with an open bowl of baking soda for a day or two.