How do you look after a leather jacket?
Wipe it down with a soft, barely damp cloth, let it dry, then condition the smooth leather with a thin coat two or three times a year, or whenever it feels dry. Store it on a wide shouldered hanger in a breathable cover. Test any product on an inside facing or under the collar first.
Check the leather first
Most jackets and bags are finished, smooth leather, and those are straightforward. Be careful with three kinds: aniline leather (very soft, darkens when touched with a damp finger), suede and nubuck (napped), and patent (glossy). Renapur does not recommend its balsam on any of those (Renapur help centre).
The method for smooth leather
- Empty and dust it. Turn out the pockets or the bag and brush off dust and crumbs.
- Wipe. A soft cloth, barely damp. For grime on handles and edges, use Renapur Leather Cleaner Spray on the cloth.
- Test. A dab of conditioner inside a facing or under a flap. Wait an hour.
- Condition thinly. A little balsam on a sponge, worked over panel by panel. Elbows, cuffs, collar and bag handles need it most.
- Leave it to settle overnight before wearing or carrying.
Caught in the rain?
Blot, do not rub. Hang the jacket on a wide hanger, or stuff the bag with paper, and let it dry at room temperature away from heaters. Condition once it is fully dry. A conditioned surface sheds light rain far better than a dry one.
How should you store leather?
- Wide, shaped hangers for jackets, so the shoulders keep their shape.
- Cotton dust bags, not plastic. Leather needs to breathe and plastic traps moisture, which leads to mould.
- Stuff handbags with paper so they hold their shape and the creases do not set.
- Somewhere cool and dark. Sunlight fades leather fast.
Suede jackets and bags
Brush them with a soft brush to lift the nap, and protect them with a suede protector while they are clean. Never use a balsam or conditioner on suede.
Can you fix scuffs and scratches?
Light scuffs on smooth leather often fade with conditioning, because the scuff is dry, lifted fibres. Deep scratches through the colour need a colourant or a repairer.
