Help! Old Jacket Smells Like Barn!

[SymphonyMoon]

I bought a Grais horsehide leather jacket from the 50s. The person never told me where it had been. I’m shocked the condition it was in since it was clearly unconditioned and untouched since the 50s. Unfortunately he bought it at a barn sale. It had bird feces on the sleeve, really nice he didn’t clean it before sending it. It smelled like barn floor. No joke. If it is in the room it stinks up the whole thing. I’ve done everything. Baking soda, vinegar, alcohol, detergent, leaving it sit in a car with vinegar, drier sheets, etc. Talked to a dry cleaner he wants to charge $45 to send it somewhere to be cleaned but I have a feeling it’ll be the same result. I just bought an ozone as a last resort. I can always return it if it’s a bad idea. I just wanted any advice on this.

 

[Oil Tanned]

I've had xlnt luck w/ ozone bombs but I'm a little anxious each time as I suspect I'll eventually notice something unfortunate, particularly w/ an older jacket.

I hang it in the car, roll up the windows, turn on the air (set to recirculate) and toss in the bomb. Fifteen minutes later the stink is gone. Yours might be a little more persistent and may need a second shot w/ the jacket inside out.

 

[AeroFan_07]

Return it. Not worth is and if not disclosed, I would not even touch it. Back in the box and send it out.

 

[SymphonyMoon]

Return it. Not worth is and if not disclosed, I would not even touch it. Back in the box and send it out.

Too late now.

 

[AeroFan_07]

You may find some good help in these prior threads...

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/washing-leather-jackets.114328/

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/biker-jacket-cleaning.114669/

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/horsehide-leather-jacket-care-maintenance.94183/

 

[raf]

I've had xlnt luck w/ ozone bombs but I'm a little anxious each time as I suspect I'll eventually notice something unfortunate, particularly w/ an older jacket.

I hang it in the car, roll up the windows, turn on the air (set to recirculate) and toss in the bomb. Fifteen minutes later the stink is gone. Yours might be a little more persistent and may need a second shot w/ the jacket inside out.

Concur. You will almost certainly need to flip over the jacket and turn the sleeves inside out in order to expose all surfaces to the Ozone. Ozone will only be effective if the heavier-than-air Ozone gas can reach the surface(s) to be treated. The higher the Oxone concentration, and the longer the exposure time, the greater the effect.

Airing-out the jacket on a clothesline with direct sun exposure and a warm/dry breeze may also help but will take some time. Again, turning the jacket/sleeves inside out will be necessary. I'd do the Ozone first, then the airing-out if needed.

 

[Boyo]

To me it all comes down to 2 factors
1- the jacket, does it fit, look good/a style your looking for and unlikely to be found again.
2- are you looking for a hobby.. meaning do you have the time to spend and willingness to get the jacket wearable and odor free

if the answer to either is no.. return it, sell it or donate it.

 

[SymphonyMoon]

To me it all comes down to 2 factors
1- the jacket, does it fit, look good/a style your looking for and unlikely to be found again.
2- are you looking for a hobby.. meaning do you have the time to spend and willingness to get the jacket wearable and odor free

if the answer to either is no.. return it, sell it or donate it.

Yes and yes

 

[SymphonyMoon]

Update: I put it in my car and ran the ozone machine. I opened it up so it could get as much exposure in the lining as possible. It worked for the most part. I’d say it’s 80%-90% gone. It’s still there somewhat but it is not strong and it eliminated most of the funk smell. It now just smells like an old leather jacket. I did a wipe down of vinegar reduced with water on the outside to get rid of the ozone smell. The jacket had some white wax pilling on the outside. Still trying to figure out how to prevent this in the seasons I am not wearing it. I reconditioned it with Picard’s Antique Leather Dressing. I conditioned the leather about a year ago so it didn’t need a thick coat. Overall it worked! As long as, down the road, it didn’t dry the horsehide out too much. Thanks for your guys’ input and hopefully this is helpful to someone else.

 

[amonr4]

Nothing will get rid of that smell. Just wash it. Warm water put some detergent and good smelling fabric softener. Short and gentle cycle. Than stuff some towels on arms, pull gently to straighten the leather and hang it to dry on shade. Than condition it few times. Washing is only solution and it's not that catastrophic for leather

 

[Peacoat]

Before washing it, I would try another ozone treatment. Much simpler than washing. Sometimes it takes more than one trip through the ozone to get rid of all of the odor. I have had good success with my machine. Never had an odor it didn't eliminate.

If that doesn't work, then washing would be the next step.

 

[Oil Tanned]

Before washing it, I would try another ozone treatment.

Hang it the opposite way from what you did prior. Rightside out first time? Then inside out this time, etc.

 

[SymphonyMoon]

Another update: Even though I ran the ozone for two hours the smell kind of went dormant for a while. Two weeks later the underlying smell is back but I’d say not as potent. I decided to give it a wash. Washed it with detergent and fabric softener ran for 18 mins cold. It is currently drying in the dark right now. I have bought more Picard leather dressing to restore it a few times. I hope this is what it needed. Will follow up with another update if I remember. I feel like an idiot.

 

[Oil Tanned]

I've read of others here tossing a jacket in the wash machine and not done it myself. My only full send experience w/ leather has been to fill a plastic tub large enough to hold roughly 15-20 gallons of water and put a cup or so of OxyClean detergent in with the water. Stir it up, drop the jacket in and leave it there for a day or two, gently agitating the tub w/ a stick a couple three times a day.

After that I've let it dry slowly and called it good. I expected the leather to be super dry and in bad need of attention when it finally was dry enough to wear but it turned out a hell of a lot better than I expected and didn't look or feel like it needed to be conditioned.

I've only tried it on full top grain and only on a jacket (or backpack, etc.) that I didn't mind losing if something went wrong.