Perhaps nothing looks better than a nice leather jacket. This versatile garment can be worn year round and goes with almost any pair of pants or jeans. The great thing about leather jackets is that everyone looks great in them. Leather jackets can also be expensive so it is important to take proper care of your leather jacket if you wish to enjoy it for an extended period of time.

Leather is a fickle material so special care must be taken to ensure your leather jacket is always at its best. Here are some easy but important ways to care for your leather jacket:

•    Apply a protectant: The first thing you should do when you purchase a leather jacket is protect it using a colorless, odorless aerosol spray that will help repel water and stains. There a number of different brands available and which one you use is really a personal preference, but you should never leave your leather jacket untreated. The protectant should be reapplied every six months to ensure that your leather jacket will always stay looking its best.
•    Keep it dry: Just as with oil, leather does not mix well with water. If your leather jacket does happen to get wet do not dry it in the dryer or with a blow dryer as this is a recipe for disaster. Simply towel dry the jacket as best you can and then hang your leather jacket up and allow the rest of the moisture to air dry. Try to avoid water all together if you can. If the weather looks sketchy, don’t risk it, leave the jacket at home or at the very least make sure you bring an umbrella.
•    Pad it up: When you hang up your jacket you should do so on a heavy duty padded hanger. This will keep the jacket from getting those nasty looking hanger marks and will also allow the jacket to naturally remain wrinkle free.
•    Condition: At least one time per year you should have you leather jacket conditioned. You can either do this yourself or take the jacket to a professional and have it done for you. Conditioning the leather on a regular basis will keep the leather softer and help to avoid cracking in the leather. If you do this yourself be sure to take special care and pay extra attention to the elbows of the jacket as these areas are bent more frequently and more susceptible to cracking if not properly treated.
•    Avoid plastic: If you plan on storing your leather jacket for any period of time avoid doing so in a plastic cover like the ones you get from a dry cleaner. These types of bags do not allow the jacket to breath and that spells trouble for the leather. Instead use a fabric garment bag that is breathable. This will protect your jacket and also allow the leather to get some much needed air.

With proper care and regular maintenance your leather jacket will look as good as the day you bought it for many years to come.