Wash Leather

Expensive leather should only be wiped and spot-cleaned, but if you have a leather purse or another smooth leather item that has seen better days, you can wash it in the washing machine. Make sure you use the right kind of soap and and cold water so the leather doesn't get warped. Read on to learn more about how to wash leather.

Steps

Using a Washing Machine

  1. Pick an item that isn't too expensive. It must be stressed that if you're using the washing machine method, there's no guarantee your leather item will come out looking perfect. Pick an item you don't mind taking a risk with. If you have an expensive leather item that needs to be cleaned, like a pair of boots or a nice suede jacket, use a spot cleaning method or take it to a professional cleaner.
    • Don't wash leather that is brightly colored, as it may lose color in the washing machine.
    • Avoid washing leather items that have delicate seams or lots of detailing, unless you're fine taking the risk that they will get damaged.
  2. Buy castile soap. This gentle soap is easy on leather and other fabrics that can be easily damaged by more abrasive soaps. Any type of castile soap will do. If you can't find it at the store, you can make your own.
  3. Pour 1/4 cup of soap into your detergent dispenser. You can use the castile soap the same way you'd use regular laundry detergent.
  4. Put your leather item in the washer and set the cycle to gentle. Make sure the water you use is cold, not warm or hot. Use the gentlest setting your washer has. If you wash the item using hot water or use the cycle meant for heavily soiled items you may not be pleased with the results.[1]
  5. Run the wash cycle. Remove the item from the washing machine as soon as the cycle is finished, so it doesn't get a chance to dry in there.
  6. Restore the item's shape. Lay it out flat or stand it up and smooth out the wrinkles and folds that formed in the wash.
  7. Let the item dry. You can dry it in the sun, in a warm room, or using the lowest, gentlest cycle in your dryer.
    • Don't use a hair dryer or any type of directed heat on your leather item.
    • If you use the dryer, make sure it's the "low" or "no-heat" setting.
  8. Apply leather conditioner to the item. This will help restore the leather to its previous texture and protect it from getting dirty again. The item is now ready to use.

Washing By Hand

  1. Choose an item that is moderately dirty. This method won't thoroughly clean your leather item, but it works well for scuffs, marks, and dirt that isn't completely caking the leather piece. Again, if the item is expensive or made of hard leather, use a spot-cleaning method or take it to a professional cleaner.
  2. Make a soapy water solution with castile soap. Pour 1/4 cup of castile soap into a bowl of lukewarm or room temperature water. Agitate it with your hand or a whisk to create some bubbles.
  3. Dip a soft cotton cloth in the water. You can use a dishcloth or a microfiber cloth. Avoid using a sponge or any type of abrasive material, since this may scratch the leather.
  4. Wipe the leather with the cloth. In areas where there is caked-on dirt or a tough-to-remove spot, rub the cloth in a light circular motion to remove the debris.
  5. Go back over the leather with a damp rag. This will remove all remaining debris and traces of soap. There's no need to completely drench the leather; just wipe away the dirt that was left behind from your initial treatment.
  6. Let the item dry. Either flatten it out or stand it up, depending on what the item is, and let it air dry completely.
  7. Treat the item with leather conditioner. This last step will restore the leather's smooth texture and protect it from getting dirty again. The item is now ready to use.

Washing Unfinished Leather Products

  1. Identify the item to ensure that it is made of unfinished leather. The leather on these items will have a rough-looking surface, and will commonly appear on items that generally receive wear and tear, such as construction boots, horse saddles and baseball gloves.
  2. Pour a quarter-sized portion of saddle soap onto a clean, damp cloth. Don't mix it with water; rough leather should be treated with saddle soap alone.
  3. Begin wiping the object with the cloth. Work the soaped up cloth into the leather until a light lather forms. Make sure to work the soap into all of the cracks and crevices in the object.
  4. Wet another clean cloth and wipe away the soapy lather on the object. Remove all traces of the soap and debris.
  5. Set the object outside and allow it to air dry overnight.
  6. Treat the leather. Pour a leather preservative, such as mink oil onto the dried item. Taking a third clean cloth, work a generous amount of oil onto the object, especially into any cracks or signs of wear that may appear. The item is now ready to use.

Tips

  • Saddle soap and Mink oil can be purchased at hardware stores, Western stores, and some drug stores or supermarkets.
  • When cleaning finished leather, avoid products such as mink oil and leather waxes. This can destroy the polish and look of finished leather products.

Things You'll Need

  • Castile soap
  • Saddle soap

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2013/06/how-to-wash-a-leather-purse.html

You may like

Retrieved from "https://kipkis.com/index.php?title=Wash_Leather&oldid=272171"