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How to Clean the Inside of a Leather Jacket

by Dan Antony

Overview

Having a leather jacket dry cleaned can cost $25 to $75, depending on the condition and quality of the leather. But the lining usually requires more frequent treatment than the leather itself. The lining accumulates sweat and body oil. Pockets retain the odor of what is carried in them. There is nothing magical about cleaning the lining by hand, but you must take care not to soak through to the leather.

Step 1

Turn the jacket inside out and hang it in a shower, outside, or wherever else it can drip freely. Turn the pockets inside out.
Step 2

Mix a mild solution of a gentle, liquid laundry detergent. A teaspoon in an 8-oz. glass is sufficient.
Step 3

Sponge the inside of the pockets with a generous amount of the detergent solution, then wring them dry. Pockets will have accumulated the odor of whatever you've put in them, such as candy, perfume, lip balm or tobacco.
Step 4

Soak your cloth or sponge in the detergent and wring it out, leaving it damp. If you are able to pull the lining away from the armpit, do so, and hold it away while you sponge the lining. If you are unable to pull the lining away, sponge gently, but do not soak the lining; you are trying to prevent detergent from penetrating the leather. Repeat.
Step 5

Sponge the lining down both arms, the back and inside front of the jacket. Repeat. Leave the jacket hanging inside out overnight to allow the lining to dry thoroughly.

1
Mild, liquid laundry detergent for silk and wool Clean, soft cloths or a new synthetic sponge Home dry cleaning sheets (optional)
Mild, liquid laundry detergent for silk and wool
Clean, soft cloths or a new synthetic sponge
Home dry cleaning sheets (optional)
The lining of a leather jacket is most likely acetate, which absorbs odors readily, but dries quickly and easily. As an alternative to detergent, put two home dry cleaning sheets in your clothes dryer, on high, for five minutes. This releases the cleaning chemicals. Sponge the inside of your leather jacket with the sheets, instead of the wet sponge. For any stubborn stains, a spray spot remover that dries to a powder you brush off can help, but take care not to soak the fabric through; use several light dustings.
The lining of a leather jacket is most likely acetate, which absorbs odors readily, but dries quickly and easily.
As an alternative to detergent, put two home dry cleaning sheets in your clothes dryer, on high, for five minutes. This releases the cleaning chemicals. Sponge the inside of your leather jacket with the sheets, instead of the wet sponge.
For any stubborn stains, a spray spot remover that dries to a powder you brush off can help, but take care not to soak the fabric through; use several light dustings.
Do not substitute regular laundry detergent for the mild, hand-washable kind; detergents not designed for gentle fabrics are harsher and will be harder on the leather. Twice as much detergent is not twice as good. Leather can withstand water better than it can detergents. Do not attempt to speed drying by using your clothes dryer or hanging the jacket in the sun. Doing so will dry the leather.
Do not substitute regular laundry detergent for the mild, hand-washable kind; detergents not designed for gentle fabrics are harsher and will be harder on the leather.
Twice as much detergent is not twice as good. Leather can withstand water better than it can detergents.
Do not attempt to speed drying by using your clothes dryer or hanging the jacket in the sun. Doing so will dry the leather.