Leather Jacket CareWardrobe Advice

Perhaps nothing looks as good as a leather piece of clothing. From a jacket to pants, you name it, nothing wears quite like leather. On the same token though, nothing looks worse than leather clothing that has scratches in it. While the deep scratches are extremely bad, event the smaller scratches can make even the nicest leather garment you own look dull and drab and can leave you so frustrated with a feeling of just wanting to throw them all away. So how do you repair scratches in your leather clothing?

There are a couple of ways that you can go about fixing your scratched leather clothing but probably the easiest way is to obtain a leather repair kit that can be found at almost any department store. Then you simply follow these four easy steps to once again make your leather look as good as new:

1.   Choose or mix your color: The kit will contain different colored liquid adhesives as there are different colors of leather. If the kit does not contain the precise color of your leather garment then you will have to mix and match as best you can until you match the color of the leather piece you are going to repair. This may take some time but do not rush this step. If you use an adhesive color that is too off from the garment, then it will stick out like a sore thumb.
2.   Apply adhesive: Once you have the right color you then apply that colored adhesive to the scratches on the leather garment using a toothpick. Be sure to smooth in the adhesive and try not to apply too much adhesive because that will result in a high spot that won’t look right.
3.   Use grain paper: The kit will also contain a number of grain papers that are meant to look like the grain of your leather garment. Compare the way the grain looks on the paper to the grain on your garment and when you find a match lay the paper flatly over the adhesive you applied on the garment. This will leave the grain appearance so that no one will be able to tell that you used a repair kit.
4.   Heat it all up: The last step in the leather repair process is to use the heat applicator that also comes in the kit to properly bond the adhesive to the leather garment. Take the heat applicator and work it around on top of the grain paper in small circular motions for several minutes and be sure that the entire area is treated.

After the process is finished you need only let the area on the garment completely cool off and dry overnight and come morning you should have a great looking leather garment that no longer contains those nasty scratches. So before you give up on your leather goods simply because they have a few scratches, try one of these repair kits, the results may surprise you and the cost will be far less than going out and buying all new leather.

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.

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Tag Archives: leather jacket care

How to Repair Scratches on Leather Clothing

How to Care for a Leather Jacket