Club Obi Wan

I was thinking,if one is to clean ones jacket how it will affect it? Meaning,my Wested needs some tending and I live across a leather "cleaner" If they use a press to it will it shrink,or how the procedure goes,anybody here "been there,done that"?

MARQ wrote:I was thinking,if one is to clean ones jacket how it will affect it? Meaning,my Wested needs some tending and I live across a leather "cleaner" If they use a press to it will it shrink,or how the procedure goes,anybody here "been there,done that"?

Well, 1) I use pecards and lexol (depending on the hide in question) to clean and prep my leather jackets and have, 2) only had one experience with a cleaner doing one for me and this was not out of choice. I took one of my cowhide jackets to have a simple seam repaired (pocket of jacket) to our cleaner who employs a seamstress. While they had it -- they decided I must want it 'leather cleaned,' as well. I was mad as one can get when it returned. The process didn't really harm the jacket, but it took some of the character away from it and I had to start working 'that' (the character) back into the garment! That said...I would not recommend professional leather cleaning, personally, however if there is some severe stuff going on with one of yours, et. all, you might want to attempt to find a leather specialist or leather repair shop/person and consult with them as to your best options. Now, these are just what they are -- my thoughts and opinions and mine only. There are many others on this board much more qualified than myself to truly answer this for you. W>

I guess the first question would be what needs to be cleaned? If its the leather shell, unless you got motor oil on it I would try using Lexol cleaner on it before handing it to someone else. If its the lining you may be able to do something with a damp cloth.

I've tried to have jackets professionally cleaned 3 times. While they didn't really damage anything and the jackets didn't shrink, the results weren't great in that for what they charged all they did was give me back a cleaner "dirty jacket." In other words the soiling I wanted removed was still there - just "clean."

I get better results cheaper with a damp cloth, leather cleaner and either a leather cream or dressing like Pecards afterwards.

I have washed a few jackets and with differing results.

Normally I would expect the shape of the jacket to alter a bit causing a little bit of shrinkage here or there.

There is a bit of theory here. Leather is obviously soaked and washed several times in it's production. One of the last steps is stretching it out to dry and feeding it with oils and waxes. The stretching is the bit you need to worry about. Once soaked it may want to go back to it's original size so it could be more or less depending on which how much and which way the leather was pegged out when drying.

So I have washed several types of leather

1) Lamb showed a little bit of shrinkage noticeable on the back panel hem, there was a slight roll at the bottom.

2) Washed goat, no real change.

3) Horse, whole jackets gained a lot of texture and seemed smaller overall,

4) Cow similar reaction to the horse. Overall about 1/2 a size smaller!

But sometimes a jacket has just got too funky after a lot of wear and needs a clean. Gentle, cool wash with mild detergent in a delicates cycle and no spin is what I do. YMMV.

Never really sent one off to be cleaned, cost here is about half the price of a jacket.... and I balked at that.

The shrinkage part doesn´t worry me,I´d prefer actually little smaller jacket as it is lamb Wested. But if there´s difference in quality of leather and "change in individual piece" that remains to be seen. I guess they don´t treat the leather with anything,only if requested?

I will never again send my jacket into a place that 'cleans' leather. I did it and was horrified at the results.

For the exterior, a good wipe down with a cloth and some mild soap and water, and then a rub with a Lexol or Pecards will do.

For the inside, I spray it down, including the inner sleeves, with a spray bottle with a light mixture of Oxi-Clean, then hose it out, shake it out, and let dry on a hanger, outside, out of direct sunlight.

Indiana Bugs wrote: For the inside, I spray it down, including the inner sleeves, with a spray bottle with a light mixture of Oxi-Clean, then hose it out, shake it out, and let dry on a hanger, outside, out of direct sunlight.

Bugs, I can see that working with a cotton lining, but are you also talking about the slick rayon lining too?

Regards! Michaelson

Oxyclean works on many types of cloth. If the rayon is water washable, then I'd use the same OC process on it. I spray stuff with OC that I wouldn't put in a washing machine.

Although, you might want to try it on a very small spot of it before doing the whole thing.

That's the problem...all jackets I've owned with that kind of lining has called for professional dry cleaning or professional leather cleaning. 'Oxy-anything' is water soluable, so I'd be a bit leary of using such a method on those type linings myself.

Regards! Michaelson

Yes, 'professional dry clean only' goes for any garment that bears the tag. Do not wash at home.