There’s no substitution for the timeless style and ultra-comfortable texture of a leather jacket. You can wear a leather jacket in most of your daily outfits. Their timeless style means that they’ll match most of the garments with which they are worn. Combined with their soft and supple texture, you can rest assured knowing that they are comfortable.
You probably won’t wear your leather jacket all 365 days a year, however. There are instances in which you may want to store your leather jacket. Leather jackets require a little extra care when being stored. This post reveals the dos and don’ts of storing a leather jacket.
Do Check the Pockets
It’s a good idea to check the pockets before storing your leather jacket. Nearly all leather jackets have pockets. Some of them have two pockets on the front — one pocket on each side of the front — whereas others have four or more pockets. Before storing your leather jacket, take a moment to check the pockets to ensure they are empty. If there are any items inside of the pockets, you should take them out.
Don’t Store in Direct Sunlight
When choosing a place to store your leather jacket, make sure it’s not directly exposed to sunlight. Even if store your leather jacket indoors, it may be directly exposed to sunlight. Storing your leather jacket near a window, for instance, may result in sunlight beaming through the windows and striking it. Why is this a bad idea?
Leather jackets can typically withstand some sunlight. Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, though, can cause them to dry out. If your leather jacket is exposed to direct sunlight for multiple consecutive months, it may dry out while subsequently cracking or sustaining other forms of damage. To prevent this from happening, choose a dark area to store your leather jacket.
Do Spot Clean Beforehand
It’s a good idea to spot clean your leather jacket before storing it. Allowing stains to go untreated — even if the stains are minor — can damage your leather jacket. Small stains, for example, can work their way deeper into your leather jacket where they are difficult or impossible to remove. This doesn’t happen overnight, though. Stains often have to sit for many months for them to become permanent.
Before storing your leather jacket for long periods, it’s recommended that you spot clean it. Spot cleaning is a basic cleaning process that involves the use of a washcloth to manually clean the surface of your leather jacket. You can use a damp washcloth with some gentle dish soap to spot clean your leather jacket. After removing all minor stains and blemishes from it, your leather jacket will be ready for storage.
Along with spot cleaning, you may want to condition your leather jacket before storing it. Conditioning isn’t the same as cleaning. Conditioning lives up to namesake by involving the use of a conditioning cream. There are conditioning creams that are designed to hydrate and moisture leather. You can apply a conditioning cream to the surface of your leather jacket, after which your jacket will feel softer and suppler. If you haven’t conditioned your leather jacket in a long time, you may want to do so before storing it.
Don’t Store When Wet
Avoid storing your leather jacket when it’s wet (or even damp). Assuming your leather jacket is made of real leather, it will retain some moisture. Real leather is absorbent. It has a porous surface that allows it to absorb and hold moisture. If you store your leather jacket when it’s wet, all of this excess moisture may cause it to develop mildew.
If your leather jacket is wet, wait for it to dry before storing it. You can dry your leather jacket by exposing it to fresh air. Just a half-hour of fresh air exposure should make it dry. And once your leather jacket is completely dry, you can proceed to store it.
Do Hang It Up
While there are different ways to store a leather jacket, the best method is to use a clothes hanger. In other words, don’t store your leather jacket by folding it and placing it in a closet or chest of drawers. Instead, hang it up.
You can use a traditional clothes hanger to store your leather jacket. With that said, make sure the clothes hanger can frequently support the weight of your leather jacket. Most leather jackets are heavier than shirts, sweaters and other common garments. As a result, some clothes hangers may fail to support them. There are wooden clothes hangers that work well for leather jackets. They are made of solid wood, so they tend to support heavier garments than plastic clothes hangers.
Don’t Store Near Air Vents
Another mistake to avoid is storing your leather jacket near air vents. Air vents, of course, release conditioned air. They may release warm air during the winter and cool air during the summer.
Because they release conditioned air, air vents can take a toll on your leather jacket. Your leather jacket will be exposed to fluctuating temperatures, which can cause wear and tear. To err on the side of caution, choose a place to store your leather jacket that’s not located near any air vents.
Do Refer to the Care Tag
Always refer to the care tag when storing your leather jacket. Most garments come with a care tag — and leather jackets are no exception. Also known as a care label, it reveals instructions on how to clean and care for the leather jacket.
Manufacturers create care tags so that owners know how to make their leather jackets last a lifetime. Different leather jackets are made with different materials and different craftsmanship. As a result, some of them require different maintenance than others. You can find the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance listed on the care tag. By following the instructions on the care tag, your leather jacket will last for many years.