Anyone know where/how I can clean a leather moto jacket? | GTAMotorcycle.com

Anyone know where/how I can clean a leather moto jacket?

polo

polo

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I purchased a leather motorcycle jacket from some guy and I didn't notice until I got that the interior WREAKED of B-O!!!

it's pretty bad. I've tried washing it out, but it's pretty in there. And it's embarrassing when people smell it and i need to be explaining it aint me!

anyway, any tips on how to clean it would be appreciated or if anyone knows a leather specialist or a good dry clean shop in the mississauga area.

thanks!

polo
 
polo said:
I purchased a leather motorcycle jacket from some guy and I didn't notice until I got that the interior WREAKED of B-O!!!

it's pretty bad. I've tried washing it out, but it's pretty in there. And it's embarrassing when people smell it and i need to be explaining it aint me!

anyway, any tips on how to clean it would be appreciated or if anyone knows a leather specialist or a good dry clean shop in the mississauga area.

thanks!

polo
Click to expand...

haha reminds me of seinfeld and the B.O. car. Some people get out B.O. from stinky shoes by leaving those bounce sheets in there.

Otherwise take it to a professional.
 
Go to a grocery store and buy a couple of boxes of baking soda ($1.20CAD/box), also called sodium bicarbonate. Sprinkle liberally inside your jacket and wait. The baking soda should absorb the odours. It works for your fridge, pet and human urine and other bad odours, so it should work for a leather jacket. After a couple of days remove and discard the baking soda. Repeat as necessary.

Airing outside is also useful.
 
Speak with John from www.bickleracing.com, he's the guy all the local racers go to for anything leather, if anybody can fix it or tell you how it's him.
 
eww


I don't think baking soda would work if it's from odors caused by fluids that have been absorbed into it the jacket.

Is it the leather itself that stinks, or is it a liner?
If it's just the liner i would think taking it out and washing it with some good detergent should do the trick.

If it's the leather, i would turn it inside out and give it a good scrub with some warm water, a mild soap and a soft bristled brush. It will be safe, as you don't leave it soaking in water for an extended period of time.
 
I take mine to a dry cleaner who specializes in leather cleaning. I can remove the armour easily and wash that in the sink with a little ivory soap, water and a soft bristle brush.
 
that was sooo funny. i didn't get the jacket in woodbridge, but from a white guy in brampton, and he was wearing a wifebeater! lol

The stink is in the liner and the leather on the inside. trouble is that the liner is a sort of mesh which is stiched in to the jacket, so it can't really be removed.

I tried washing it with soap and water and it kinda helped but it's still very in there.

tried spraying with febreeze EVERYDAY and it's still there.

i may have to try a combination of things. grab a ceder box, wash teh jacket, spray it with febreeez, sprinkle baking soda on it, put it in the box, throw in some bounce and close the box.

i'll try washing it again. failing that, I'll get a specialist. i'll also check out the site.

polo
 
Good thing you didn't buy pants from him.
 
in a washing machine with white vinegar. yes, in a washing machine... do a search on the WERA forums, that where I found this info. I tried everything to get the smell out of my leather summer gloves. This worked, now they are nice and fresh.
 
"If" you can get it inside out,, if it is one colour,, put it in the washing machine on gentle, rinse cycle,, just water.[remove armour and wash it as well]
Dry cleaners do use chemicals. If the jacket is something you are looking for protection then I don't recommend dry cleaners. If it's just a fashion jacket,, well, maybe.
I have a product that kills the bacteria and gets rid of the smell. You need the one that is Nok-Out Broad spectrum disinfectant. I use it in leathers I have to fix and well,, you get the idea.
It works better then anything I have used. It has a DIN number and recognized by the gov't to kill everything. I have used everything everyone has suggested and many more.
You can try a smaller hockey shop,, they might carry it. Some hockey shops have a deal now you can pay about $25 and throw all you gear in. It kills all bacteria,, that's an option as well.[turn the jacket inside out]

Try the washing machine,, if it's multi colour ,,colours can run! So be aware. But cool water,gentle cycle, and then lay it on towels to dry and try to put something up the sleeves to open up the arms to dry. Don't hang it,, it will stretch if it can. Don't put it in the sun , it will shrink. Natural air drying only.

John
bickleracing.com
 
thanks john. that was very informative. I'll see what I can find. It is a multi-colored jacket (corona racing).

i'd really like to be able to get it done right. i'd hate for a dry cleaner to mess it up.

I may try to hand wash it first, then we'll see from there
 
Going to clarify here - although I take it to a dry cleaner they do not dry clean it. They use detergent and wash it. I would do it myself but when I started I didn't have a washing machine (rental) and now it is just convinient to drop off/pick up in the spring when I get my winter coats done.
 
polo said:
thanks john. that was very informative. I'll see what I can find. It is a multi-colored jacket (corona racing).

i'd really like to be able to get it done right. i'd hate for a dry cleaner to mess it up.

I may try to hand wash it first, then we'll see from there
Click to expand...

If you're worried about the colurs running,, turn it inside out,, wash any armour.[probably velcro pockets you can open] Take the armour out first if you can,, the jacket is easier to reverse then.
Then hand wash the inside. You can get it pretty wet before the colours will run. Most of it will be in the lining and any armour.
If you can test a spot under the arm,, where you can't see it. Soak the spot and see if anything runs.

John
bickleracing.com
 
So I threw my nexo leather/textile jacket in the wash. Since I rode out in the pouring rain on Friday, I figure the leather can handle the water. Added some nikwax washing stuff (just a bit...i figured too much will mess up the leather?) pulled out the armour before, flipped it inside out as well.

Stuffed some old clean towels in the arm holes to keep the shape (only thing i could find that I could stuff 'em with) and layed it out on the ground.

So far...the jacket is wet, but not as wet as the rain...spin cycle dried out most of the loose water. The leather is still a bit greasy from...grease... gonna chalk that up to the inside out-ness and the little bit of detergent that I used and the delicate cycle and the cold water. But that can be cleaned after.

The great part...smells nice 'n clean. Used to smell like hockey gear used by a guy who never showered and slept in his gear after games.
 
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