Leather Riding Jacket - how do you clean them?

davidc

Member
Hi Everyone!

Newbie question: I'm planning to have my leather riding jacket cleaned.

How do you guys clean your leather jackets? Do you send it to the dry cleaners...or just wiped it off using some leather cleaning solution?

Thank you for your input.
 
Wipe in down with the leather solution! Forget the dry cleaners!!

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mild soap and warm water.
 
mild soap and warm water.

followed by applying a leather conditioner.

or send them to John Bickle for some work and get you stuff back cleaned and treated, I was suprized at how soft my suit was when I got it back from him
 
followed by applying a leather conditioner.

or send them to John Bickle for some work and get you stuff back cleaned and treated, I was suprized at how soft my suit was when I got it back from him

If you want to save a few $$, condition it yourself.
If you want it to last a lifetime, try this:

http://www.homehardware.ca/en/rec/i...L-Neatsfoot-Oil/_/N-ntjlj/Ne-ntc74/R-I5254226

From baseball gloves, to horse hoofs, and anything inbetween.
I have a 40 yr old leather jacket (not a motorcycle jacket) that's gets a yearly treatment.
Although it doesn't come close to fitting me anymore, it's still looks and feels as new as the day I bought it.
Also used on my baseball gloves - from infancy until I was drafted by the Pitts Pirates.
 
Saddle Soap from Greenhawks. Make sure you go in the store in your full leathers, show up all the people that wear their riding chaps to shop there :)

-Jamie M.
 
Myself being a new rider wearing a hand me down Joe Rocket yellow/purple/black jacket looking also for what other guys use.

In the past I have had GREAT sucess with Woolite (sold everywhere) in a 20% water solution (80% water) using a Magic Eraser to scrub. I brought some super light grey leather seats to near new condition with this method.

Once it has dried from cleaning, followed that with an aerosol leather protector stuff they sell at Foot Locker.

I'd also bet that a professional would be able to achive greater results, but for about 10 bux its worth a shot.
 
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I just use a damp cloth followed with a dry one so the leather does not stay wet. Do you really need to use a special leather solution? Mind you, I usually clean my jacket after each longer ride so it's not hard to get the bug splatter off.
 
Urinate on it...the pH of the urine is great for removing the bugs stuck on to the leather (low but not too low), the uric acid from your pee interacts with the leather and softens it by breaking down the protein chains in the cowhide, you are also forming esters which have a typically fruity smell as a byproduct so you get cleaning, softening, and a nice smell. Try it.












Please don't try this.....your jacket will just smell of piss.
 
Just wait for a good rainstorm and go for a ride. I don't clean my gear since the rain seems to do a good enough job.
 
Just wait for a good rainstorm and go for a ride. I don't clean my gear since the rain seems to do a good enough job.

Pretty much this. Rain does a good job cleaning the bugs off.
 
I take my Riding jacket and pants to a nearby dry cleaners probably twice a year. (or anytime it gets really dirty)

Costs less than $30 to get it all cleaned.
 
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