How to Clean a Leather Motorcycle Jacket Without Damage?

Leather motorcycle jacket is not only piece of riding equipment, but also a sign of the road, protection. In the course of time, the wind, sun, sweat, mud, and rain can make your jacket look old and dusty. Cleaning of leather should be done with care and by using the right strategies. If done improperly, it can crack, fade, or bend out the very material, which is supposed to keep you safe.

So you want to know how to wash and clean a motorcycle jacket of leather without ruining it? This guide will take you step by step through the process just so that you can keep your jacket in excellent condition and go on miles of fine riding with it.

The Reasons Why Leather requires Special Care.

Leather, unlike synthetic materials, is a living breathing material as it stretches, absorbs moisture and is natural. It is loaded, and difficult to wear down, which is why it is great in motorcycle gear, but it is also susceptible to drying out, cracking and fading of color when not cared adequately.

Cleaning of the leather on a regular basis will aid in removing the sweat, oils and the grime that can corrode the leather in the long run. What is more crucial is that its flexibility and strength are retained through conditioning after clean-up.

Step 1: Check the care label provided by the Manufacturer

Make sure to consult a care label or even a manual that came with your jacket before starting on cleaning. Certain types of leather particularly pigmented or treated leather, may have particular requirements as far as cleaning is concerned. In case you have armor inserts or removable linings in your jacket, remove them first. These parts require possible extra cleaning.

Step 2: Get the Correct Cleaning Equipment

You will require products that are gentle and leather friendly in order to clean your leather jacket safely. Dry cleaning soaps and detergents or chalky alcohol-based cleaners will dry out the leather and nothing will have a more damaging effect.

Use a soft microfiber cloth or sponge, a bowl of lukewarm water, mild soap (such as baby shampoo or saddle soap), and a quality leather conditioner. Other items not necessary but can be useful are a cleaner made to deal with leather type, and a brush with a soft brush to deal with hard to remove dirt.

Step 3: Clean up Surface Dirt

When starting, simply remove loosely stationed dirt and dust using a clean dry cloth. Use light even pressure to wipe the jacket back and forth. This move prevents the grinding of dirt on the leather when using the wet cleaning process.

Step 4: Wipe Out Clean Carefully

Take a clean cloth or a sponge and wet it in a basin of tepid water and a drop of little soap. Ring out excess liquid—this is to make your cloth wet after all, but not soaking. It is advised that you wipe the leather in small areas using circular motions. The surface can be scratched or worn out by scrubbing.

A cleaner made especially to deal with leather may be a more viable idea, in case you fall into the greasy areas or into pieces that are very dirty. Wet the cloth with a cleaner but do not put this whole liquid directly on the jacket; instead rub in the affected zone.

Step 5: Dry the Jacket

After completing the cleaning of the whole area, you can wipe off excess wetness with the help of the dry microfiber handkerchief. Air dry the jacket naturally in an airy shady place. A hair dryer, radiator and direct sunlight must never be used to hasten drying. Leather has tendency to shrink or crack due to heat.

Step 6: Leather conditioning

As soon as the jacket is completely dry, one has to replenish its natural oils. Use a good quality leather conditioner as per the instructions of the product. In most cases, this can be simply performed by applying little of it on a soft cloth and rubbing it on the leather in a round motion.

Conditioning saves the leather against drying and assistance to keep the leather soft and increase the resilience of the water. Give the conditioner time to absorb (it can take several hours); then store or put the jacket back on.

Step 7: Put It Away Properly

The important part of ensuring that your leather jacket enjoys good condition when it comes to the actual storage. You should hang it on a padded hanger to keep it in its shape. It should be kept in a cool dry place and should not be exposed to direct sunlight or moisture. Plastic covers that hold moisture are not recommended; a breathable garment bag can be used, however, when necessary.

The Don and The Do-Not Do

Your leather jacket should not be put through the machine wash or tumble dried. The agitation and heat will entail irreversible damages. Do not use household cleaners, bleach, or alcohol-based cleaners; it will dry out the leather and make it stain. Do not ever put your jacket under water no matter how dirty it appears. Cleaning should be done in a controlled level of moisture each time to clean leather.

Leather Motorcycle Jacket: How Much and How Often to have it cleaned?

This is one of the reasons why you do not have to clean your leather jacket after each ride, unless you get the jacket visibly dirty. A gentle wipe-down every few weeks, combined with a more thorough clean and conditioning every few months (or once per riding season), is usually sufficient. Cleaning and conditioning may be more frequent in case you ride in hot weather or when it catches rain a lot of times.

Final Thoughts

Keeping a leather motorcycle jacket clean does not have to be rocket science as long as you are patient and understanding of what to use. When you take care of your jacket, not only will it continue to look good, but will also have a longer life and be able to provide a protective factor to you. Be a commuter or take a ride on the weekend, good maintenance on your leather items will make it as tough as the road.