Not all leather pants are made of brown or black leather. In recent years, white leather pants have become increasingly popular. Worn by men and women alike, they offer a clean and attractive casual style. As you may have guessed, though, white leather pants are somewhat vulnerable to discoloration. When not properly maintained, they made lose their naturally bright-white tone. The good news is that you can protect your white leather pants from discoloration by following a few basic tips.
#1) Choose High-Quality, Genuine Leather Pants
The quality of white leather pants will affect their susceptibility to discoloration. High-quality white leather pants consisting of genuine leather are less likely to experience discoloration than low-quality white leather pants consisting of fake or faux leather.
White leather pants made of napa leather are known for their superior quality. Napa leather has a finer and more subtle grain than other types of leather. As a result, it feels softer and more supple. More importantly, napa leather doesn’t suffer from the same discoloration as other types of leather, making it an excellent choice when shopping for white leather pants.
#2) Don’t Clean Them in the Washing Machine
You shouldn’t attempt to clean your white leather pants in the washing machine. Unlike most other fabrics, genuine leather isn’t machine washing friendly. As your white leather pants sit in the washing machine, it will soak up water — and lots of it. When this occurs, your white leather pants may develop a darker, dingier appearance. This is why it’s best to err on the side of caution by keeping your white leather pants, as well as your other leather garments and accessories, out of the washing machine.
#3) Spot Cleaning When Dirty
Instead of cleaning your white leather pants in the washing machine, try to get into the habit of spot cleaning them. When performed correctly, spot cleaning is just as effective at cleaning white leather. The difference, however, is that involves less water, meaning it won’t cause discoloration.
To spot a pair of white leather pants, run a washcloth under lukewarm water and add a few drops of mild dish soap. Next, blot the surface of your white leather pants to remove any superficial dirt and debris. When finished, leave your leather pants to dry in an open and well-ventilated area, after which you can proceed to wear them.
#4) Keep Them Out of the Sun
You might be surprised to learn that prolonged exposure to sunlight can cause discoloration in white leather pants. Sunlight contains ultraviolet rays, including UVA and UVB rays, that penetrate deep into leather. When this occurs, it can turn a pair or otherwise bright-white leather pants into a darker tone.
Granted, wearing your leather pants outdoors on a sunny day won’t cause any noticeable discoloration. But if you store your white leather pants next to a window where they are constantly exposed to sunlight, they’ll fade to a darker and dingier tone. To protect your white leather pants from discoloration, you must store them in a dark area where they aren’t directly exposed to sunlight.
#5) Use a Leather Conditioner
Conditioning your white leather pants with a leather conditioner can protect them from discoloration. Leather conditioners like saddle soap are designed to hydrate and protect leather. Over time, leather pants can dry out, especially when stored or worn in environments with low humidity. As the leather dries out, it will crack to reveal a different color underneath.
Here are some tips on how to use a leather conditioner on white leather pants:
- When conditioning leather pants, follow the “less is more” approach. Applying too much conditioner may over-saturate your white leather pants, resulting in discoloration.
- Try to get into the habit of conditioning your white leather pants once every three to six months.
- Gently rub the conditioner into the surface of your white leather pants until it’s no longer visible.
- Always use a dry and clean washcloth to apply a leather conditioner.
- Before conditioning our white leather pants, spot clean them to ensure there’s no dirt, dust or debris on the surface.
- Stick with high-quality leather conditioning products, such as saddle soap.
- Look on the care tag to see if the manufacturer offers recommendations on when and how to condition your white leather pants.
#6) Don’t Store With Non-White Clothes
You can store your white leather pants with other clothes — but only if they are white. What’s wrong with storing white leather pants with non-white clothes exactly? Well, if you place a dark-colored shirt or garment directly on a pair of white leather pants, the pants may absorb some of the shirt’s dye.
If you’re worried that your white leather pants will succumb to discoloration, only store them with other white clothes. Whether a garment is black, brown, green or any other color, it may leak some of its dye onto your white leather pants. And if this happens, you can expect some degree of discoloration with your white leather pants.
#7) Get the Right Size
It’s important to wear white leather pants in the right size. Aside from being uncomfortable, oversized leather pants are prone discoloration. If your white leather pants are too big for your body, the bottom of the pant legs may extend several inches over the top of your shoes or boots. As a result, the pant legs may absorb some of the dye from your shoes or boots. If you are wearing black shoes, for example, you may notice black stains on the bottom of your white leather pants. To prevent this from happening, you need to choose white leather pants in an appropriate size for your body.
In Conclusion
Don’t let the possibility of discoloration stop you from wearing white leather pants. By following these tips, you can keep your white leather pants bright white, allowing you to get more use out of this fashionable garment.