Does your leather jacket make an unusual “squeaking” sound whenever you wear it? Well, you aren’t alone. Countless owners of leather jackets report this same issue. While a squeaking sound doesn’t cause any immediate need for concern, it’s still rather obnoxious. If you’re in a quiet place, such as a library or work office, you probably don’t want your jacket to make this annoying noise. The good news is that you can continue to wear your leather jacket without creating a squeaking sound.
Why Leather Squeaks
All leather may squeak when the fabric is moved or otherwise disrupted. This is due to the fact that leather is a natural textile consisting of tanned and processed animal hide. Once processed, leather has a soft, shiny texture that squeaks as it rubs together. Moving your arms while wearing a leather jacket, for instance, may cause it to squeak. You may also hear the squeaking sound when you put on or take off your leather jacket. This noise is completely normal and doesn’t pose any risk to your jacket’s structural integrity. And if you want to stop your leather jacket from squeaking, there are a few steps you can take.
Choose a Genuine, High-Quality Leather Jacket
First, choose a jacket that’s made of genuine, high-quality leather. Jackets made of faux leather are more likely to squeak because of the way in which they are produced. Faux leather is just a traditional textile covered with a plastic coating. The presence of this plastic coating makes the jacket squeak when worn. Jackets made of genuine leather may also squeak, though it’s less common. To minimize the risk of squeaking, choose a genuine, high-quality leather jacket. Not only will it reduce the risk of squeaking, but a high-quality leather jacket will also offer countless years of use, allowing you to get a better bang for your buck.
Break It In
Although there are exceptions, new leather jackets are more likely to squeak than old leather jackets. This is because old leather jackets have been broken in. After wearing a leather jacket for many months or years, the fabric will become softer and more bendable, thus reducing the risk of squeaking. When a leather jacket is broken in, it’s able to bend freely without creating the otherwise annoying squeaking sound. So, if you want your leather jacket to stop squeaking, you must wear it. Try wearing your leather jacket for at least 30 minutes a day, preferably while walking or moving. After a few weeks, you should notice less noise along with a more comfortable fit.
Sprinkle Talcum Powder On It
You might be surprised to learn that talcum powder can stop leather jackets from squeaking. Using a bottle of talcum powder, sprinkle a light coating over the surface of your leather jacket, paying close attention to seams around the arms and in the front. The key thing to remember is that you only want a very small amount of talcum powder. Too much will dry out your leather jacket, potentially causing other issues. As long as you have a light coating over it, this shouldn’t be a problem, nor should anyone be able to tell that your jacket is even coated in the powder.
Toss It in the Dryer
Another idea is to stop your leather jacket from squeaking is to place in the clothes dryer on the tumble-dry setting for five to 10 minutes. Most manufacturers of leather jackets discourage customers from placing their jackets in the clothes dryer. Dryers are simply too aggressive and may damage the leather materials. But if you only place your jacket in the dryer for up to 10 minutes, it shouldn’t cause any problems. It can actually help to soften and break in the jacket, which subsequently reduces the risk of squeaking noises. If you’re worried about your leather jacket drying out, place a couple ice cubes inside the dryer with it. The ice cubes will add moisture to your jacket, helping to soften and moisture it while it breaks it.
Give It a Massage
No, that’s not a typo. You can break in a leather jacket and prevent it from squeaking by giving it a massage. Simply run the leather material through your hands, gently massaging it. Over time, this will make the leather soft while preventing it from squeaking in the process. The key thing to remember is that you should use the right amount of pressure to help break in the leather without damaging it. You don’t want to pull or tug on the leather. Rather, massage it gently but with enough force to help break in the material.
Use a Leather Conditioner
Perhaps the most important step to preventing leather from squeaking is to use a conditioner. We’ve talked about this before on our blog, but it’s worth mentioning again that leather conditioning products are designed to hydrate and restore leather. The leather conditioner saddle soap, for instance, is a popular choice for leather saddles, boots, furniture and even jackets. Once applied, it adds valuable moisture to the leather, protecting it from dryness and related damage. As a side benefit, however, a conditioner like saddle soap will also minimize squeaking or other unwanted sounds. With that said, you should only condition your leather jacket once every few months. Conditioning it too much may saturate your jacket with an excess amount of moisture, which can encourage mold and mildew to grow.
Keep Wearing It
Finally, keep wearing your leather jacket. The more you wear it, the less it should squeak. Again, this goes back to the importance of breaking in leather. Allowing your leather jacket to sit on a clothes hanger in your closet isn’t going to break it in. On the contrary, it will become stiffer the longer it sits unused. If you want your leather jacket to stop squeaking, wear it regularly. Whether you’re going to work, running errands or having a dinner party, wear your leather jacket to help break it in.