by April Quibido
A wife, a mom, and a definite homebody who loves writing about all sorts of interesting things online. She loves fashion, interior design, and other creative pursuits—writing included. She also has entrepreneurial endeavors and, like everyone else, wants to thrive and grow in all aspects of life.
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Your leather jacket is not just a piece of clothing or a fashion statement; it is an extension of your personality and a representation of your attitude. So, it’s important to want to keep it looking fresh.
Leather jackets are typically durable, especially if they are made from high-quality material, but you can’t just rely on the fact that it is. You still need to keep it clean so it lasts for a long time.
When cleaning your leather jacket, you want to use a product that doesn’t harm it. One such example is saddle soap which is a compound used for cleaning, conditioning, and protecting leather. It’s mainly used to clean leather boots, but it works just as well on jackets.
You should apply saddle soap to your leather jacket at least once every 3-4 months to clean the surface and preserve the original appearance. But if you can’t get saddle soap anywhere near you and your leather jacket is in desperate need of cleaning, then you can use alternatives. Here are some good options:
Wipes
This is easily one of the first alternatives anyone can think of when it comes to cleaning dust and grime off surfaces like leather. Wipes can clean your leather jacket without causing any damage, so it is ideal if you want to maintain the quality of the material.
Any kind of wipe can be useful to clean your leather jacket. These could be baby wipes, anti-bacterial wipes, etc.
If you use wipes to clean off your leather jacket, just take 1 or 2 pieces and thoroughly wipe down your jacket. Reminder: be gentle! You don’t have to scrub as you don’t want to damage your jacket by doing so.
The dirt on your jacket should come right off once you start wiping it down. After you finish wiping your leather jacket, apply some leather conditioner on it to keep it from chapping.
Soap and Water
This is also a no-brainer cleaning agent. The soap and water combination is one of the most basic ways you can clean anything. It is ideal to use soap with a neutral pH level like face soaps, body soaps, and dishwashing soaps. Just like wipes, soap and water won’t cause any damage to your leather jacket.
When cleaning with soap and water, you can take a clean rag and wet it in the solution. But don’t get it too wet! You can also wet the rag first then lather soap on it. Then, wipe down the surface of your leather jacket with the rag, making sure to cover all the nooks.
After you’re done, do not rinse it off with water! Just wipe it down with a dry clean rag.
White Vinegar and Olive Oil
White vinegar is a very common addition to home remedy cleanings. Meanwhile, olive oil adds the nourishing agent you need when cleaning off your leather jacket that a saddle soap offers.
To clean your jacket, simply mix ½ part olive oil with ¼ part white vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray the solution onto your leather jacket and then lather with a clean rag, making sure you clean all the possible dirt surfaces. Again, don’t scrub!
After you’re done, buff your jacket out with a dry clean rag, and you’re good to go! No need to put in a leather conditioner because olive oil can do that for you already.
Conclusion
There are a lot of alternatives you can use instead of saddle soap to clean your leather jacket. What we’ve offered here are some remedies you can find in the comforts of your own home. This way, you don’t have to worry about going out and getting it cleaned, especially if you are short on time.