Washing leather jackets

[Hobbes1]

I know there are pro's and con's discussed here and online about throwing your leather jacket in a washinng machine.
I had one jacket that was a bit odorous and put a small amount of detergent in with the jacket. No harm at all. I use the kind that is free of all scents, etc.
Today, I decided to wash my two 5* jackets. No detergent just cold water and delicate cycle. No apparent harm.
Two, 15 minute cycles in the clothes dryer on extra low. Sixty minutes on Air Only. Some time hanging on the rather warm radiator. Tried them both on a couple times during this. No harm no problems.
I only post this as I'm now firmly in the mind that there is no problem washing a leather jacket if you take some care. That's all. Cheers!

 

[ton312]

I’ve washed when needed. The black Schott suede type 3 I picked up needed it badly. There were spots where the suede had been worn to an almost finished side shine. I was apprehensive to say the least. Thankfully the suede completely rejuvenated. Only down side, if there is one, is that it now fades like a denim jacket.

 

[barnabus]

I have absolutely no qualms about washing a leather jacket in the machine.

I've done it to every jacket so far.

 

[Will Zach]

All good, just be careful with the radiator. Any hot spot will permanently shrink and deform the leather. Better to dry lying flat on some towels, but it takes 5 days, lol.

 

[barnabus]

All good, just be careful with the radiator. Any hot spot will permanently shrink and deform the leather. Better to dry lying flat on some towels, but it takes 5 days, lol.

Agree. Drying them is where the problems start.

 

[BigPond]

Sheesh…you guys have balls of steel.

Glad y’all are risking it for our edification.

Got something that may need this arriving on monday.

In the past, I’ve used the old wardrobe dept technique of spraying down lining with vodka which works great for odors.

 

[Aloysius]

I saw a really cool pair of products online recently, which I think I'll try sometime.

It's a detergent for washing leather goods, and their other product is a conditioner that's introduced after washing when liquid softener would be.

 

[Hobbes1]

All good, just be careful with the radiator. Any hot spot will permanently shrink and deform the leather. Better to dry lying flat on some towels, but it takes 5 days, lol.

You know, I can see the benefit of a slow dry but also, I would be concerned that mold would start growing in the damp lining, especially.
My experience is that drying takes about a day and I utilize multiple methods with short exposure times to each method. Air dry, low clothes dryer, air only dryer, radiator. I do keep the radiators at "not blistering" temps...just aggressively warm, I'd say. Anyway, so far so good.

On one jacket, the older vintage one that I used a little detergent, I just went over it with Obenauf's Leather Oil afterwards. It was just as soft supple. No issues. I don't think the 5* jackets will require that.

Sheesh…you guys have balls of steel.

Glad y’all are risking it for our edification.

With the 5* jackets, I decided to gamble. I knew the first (vintage) jacket I washed came through fine. For these, I was prepared to risk them, especially the crosszip as I just don't wear it much. I was thinking about selling or donating it anyway so if I blew it, no harm done. They are decent jackets but the Cafe Racer type is more my style and as I've been looking for another one of those, I thought "why not see what happens" with washing it. If it shrinks a little that's fine. If it gets less squeaky, that's fine too. If nothing happens, I'll live.

I did want to post the results as I thought others might benefit from the discussion. Some people seem terrified to get their jackets damp or in the rain. I used to wonder about that and be a little nervous. Not any more. The vintage jacket I have has clearly been well worn in probably all weathers. Just my $0.02.

 

[bolted]

Thanks for that supportive info. I do not know about you but if cool water works as well as shown with the OP’s pics I’d skip any additives myself.
GoodLuck!

 

[AHP91]

Sheesh…you guys have balls of steel.

Glad y’all are risking it for our edification.

Got something that may need this arriving on monday.

In the past, I’ve used the old wardrobe dept technique of spraying down lining with vodka which works great for odors.

I hand wash my beanie which I try to keep looking nice. I literally could never imagine throwing a few hundred dollar leather jacket in the washing machine. I’d give it to a specialist before I chuck my Guidemaster Wolf in a color cycle. Madness

 

[Al 916]

Gave my Model A a 30 degree 400 spin.

Time for the Drying Game..

View attachment 447076

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/why-should-i-buy-a-vanson.104065/page-16

 

[Faux59]

Do you put the jacket inside out like you do with denim?

 

[Al 916]

I did not.

Beginning to end is over a few posts

 

[Al 916]

I have machine washed five or six good quality jackets dating from the 60s to the Os.

In my opinion the secret is looking for the weak spots and deciding if they can take the stress of 10-15ibs wet twisting tensions (and never fast spin!).

Dry gently
Al

 

[AeroFan_07]

I have machine washed five or six good quality jackets dating from the 60s to the Os.

In my opinion the secret is looking for the weak spots and deciding if they can take the stress of 10-15ibs wet twisting tensions (and never fast spin!).

Dry gently
Al

This is an important note. I completely "ruined" an old Cal-Leather in the washing machine, as the seams literally ripped apart. Even through there was only the jacket and a couple towels in with it. It was so filthy it really needed the wash. It's long gone now.

 

[Hobbes1]

This is an important note. I completely "ruined" an old Cal-Leather in the washing machine, as the seams literally ripped apart. Even through there was only the jacket and a couple towels in with it. It was so filthy it really needed the wash. It's long gone now.

Not doubting you but I don't understand why centrifugal force (centrepetal?) wouldn't keep the jackets plastered to the side.of the spinning wash tub. Seems like it would be safe from destruction in that manner.

 

[Daniel Veit]

Not doubting you but I don't understand why centrifugal force (centrepetal?) wouldn't keep the jackets plastered to the side.of the spinning wash tub. Seems like it would be safe from destruction in that manner.

Normal wash cycles include spinning in different directions and that at a slow speed, so that the fabric or leather tumbles over itself. Sheer forces may tear the seams apart if they are already weakened by age.

I think it is worthwhile to test if pulling the sleeves inside the main body might reduce the force on the delicate parts of an older leather jacket.
I will try and report. The jacket in question is rather lightweight though, so the results maybe not very significant.

Daniel

 

[Will Zach]

No need to use the washing machine. At all. Fill a tub with warm water, add a mild detergent, submerge the jacket, knead gently, repeat if needed. Tons of dirt and dyes will come out. Dry lying flat on some towels, also put towels inside jacket for quicker water absorption. Replace wet towels. I did about 5 jackets like that, no mold.

 

[Doctor Damage]

No need to use the washing machine. At all. Fill a tub with warm water, add a mild detergent, submerge the jacket, knead gently, repeat if needed. Tons of dirt and dyes will come out. Dry lying flat on some towels, also put towels inside jacket for quicker water absorption. Replace wet towels. I did about 5 jackets like that, no mold.

Former friend of mine use to wash his (extremely expensive) camelhair overcoat like that and it worked out well, but yeah, drying is the challenge. I wonder if it's a good idea for those doing this at home to wait until the warm, dry weather arrives (for those of us in the northern half of the continent) which would help dry a jacket faster through "natural" means.

 

[AeroFan_07]

I had washed several "mall" jackets just to try it - in fact bought 2 from a local resale shop just t see how the process would work.

My suspicion was the (very) old thread in that Cal just could not take the spin cycle. I also failed to use the "delicate" cycle.