It’s not uncommon for leather jackets to last for decades. In fact, when properly cared for, a high-quality leather jacket can last a lifetime. Some people still own and wear their original bomber jackets. While jackets made of other materials tend to degrade over time, this isn’t true for leather jackets. You can make your leather jacket last a lifetime by following these seven tips.
#1) Choose a Napa Leather Jacket
Napa leather jackets typically last longer than those made of other types of leather because of their superior quality. It’s an extremely fine grain for an out-of-this-world level of softness. Sold here at LeatherCult, the Pure Leather Biker Jacket #3 is made entirely of Napa leather. It’s soft yet still incredibly durable, allowing you to get countless years of use out of it.
#2) Don’t Store it in Direct Sunlight
Whether you choose a jacket made of cowhide or Napa sheepskin leather, you shouldn’t store it in direct sunlight. Long-term exposure to sunlight can damage most textiles, and leather is no exception. You can still wear your leather jacket outdoors on bright and sunny days. But if you store it in an area where it’s constantly exposed to direct sunlight, your leather jacket may dry out and crack, resulting in permanent damage that’s difficult to repair.
Here are some other tips on how to store your leather jacket:
- Store in a climate-controlled environment, such as your bedroom, where you can regulate the temperature and humidity.
- Don’t store in a sealed, airtight container.
- Don’t store around plumbing pipes or sources of water.
- Keep it away from other garments, especially those containing dye that may bleed onto your leather jacket.
- Brush off any dust or debris before storing it.
- Remove contents from pockets before storing it.
- Unbutton or unzip leather jacket before storing it.
- Clean your leather jacket before storing it.
- Inspect your leather jacket for damage periodically while in storage.
- Check your leather jacket’s care tag for more information on how to store it.
#3) Hang It UP
When you aren’t wearing your leather jacket, try to get into the habit of keeping it on a clothes hanger. Some people toss their leather jacket in a drawer or even on the floor. If you don’t hang it up, though, it will lose its natural form, which may cause it to no longer fit. You can prevent this from happening by hanging up your leather jacket on a heavy-duty, preferably wooden, clothes hanger when you aren’t wearing it.
#4) Avoid Using Chemical-Based Stain Removers
Refrain from using chemical-based stain removers on your leather jacket. Even if a stain-removing product is safe to use on other garments, it may damage your leather jacket. Leather is porous, so any products you use on it will absorbed. If a product contains harsh chemicals, those chemicals may slowly damage or degrade your leather jacket. This is why it’s best to err on the side of caution by avoiding any and all chemical-based stain removers.
#5) Line Dry When Wet or Damp
If your leather jacket gets wet or damp — something that’s bound to happen sooner or later — hang it on a line to dry. Placing your leather jacket in a clothes dryer to dry will only expose it to unnecessary stress. Clothes dryers work by tumbling around garments in hot air. Although they are effective at drying garments, including leather jackets, they can shorten the lifespan of your garments.
If you want your leather jacket to last a lifetime, you should line dry it rather than placing it in a clothes dryer. A simple way to line dry a leather jacket is to hang it from a shower curtain. With the shower turned off, of course, place your leather jacket on a clothes hanger and then hang it from the shower curtain. After a few hours of hanging, it should be dry and ready to wear.
#6) Spot Clean
It’s a good idea to spot clean your leather jacket when it’s dirty. In other words, don’t wash in the washing machine. Cleaning your leather jacket in the washing machine may sound harmless, but if you check the care tag, you’ll probably discover that the manufacturer advises against the use of a washing machine. The problem with using a washing machine to clean a leather jacket is that it submerges the jacket in water. Leather jackets hold up fine when exposed to small amounts of water or moisture. But if a leather jacket is submerged in water for a prolonged period, it may develop mildew. Therefore, it’s recommended that you skip the washing machine and, instead, spot clean your leather jacket.
To spot clean your leather jacket, get a damp washcloth and blot the surface of the leather. Even without any soap or detergent, this should remove most superficial dirt and debris. If it’s not enough to fully clean your leather jacket, you can add a small amount of liquid dish soap. You shouldn’t, however, use any chemical-based products to clean your leather jacket. As previously mentioned, chemical-based products may damage leather. And if your leather jacket is damaged, you may be forced to send it to an early grave.
#7) Use Caution When Zipping Up or Down
Assuming your leather jacket has a zipper on the front, use caution when zipping it up or down. It’s not uncommon for zippers to get stuck. Even on a high-quality leather jacket, you may struggle to zip up or down the front if the zipper gets stuck. But that doesn’t mean you should aggressively pull or yank the zipper. Rather, gently tug the zipper until it slides back on the rails.
By following these tips, your leather jacket should last a lifetime. Just remember to follow the manufacturer’s instructions as listed on the care tag.