Genuine leather is an expensive material. Products made from it never go out of fashion. Most leather clothes are classic versions of models that can be worn for more than one year. But because of the material, they always look a little provocative.
Unfortunately, immediately after purchase and some time after wear, creases and folds appear on leather items. And if things made from ordinary fabric can be ironed, then what to do with a leather skirt?
Leather and leatherette
Is it possible to iron a leather skirt? Yes, this procedure is permissible if the correct temperature conditions are observed. In addition, there are many alternative ways to get rid of folds and creases.
However, before you begin any manipulations, you should make sure that the product is actually made of natural skin.
The fact is that real leather is a material with special, characteristic properties. It is durable, wear-resistant, waterproof. But it can absorb some water, and characteristic dark spots remain on the wet surface. Genuine leather stretches easily and tends to dry out and become less elastic over time. It can be recognized by its characteristic non-repeating pattern, small pores on the surface and suede underside.
There are a lot of leather substitutes of varying degrees of quality. They all differ in properties, and they need to be cared for differently than natural materials. Leatherette can be recognized by a repeating print, the same in any area, and a fabric backing.
Six ways to smooth out a leather bag
Use steam treatment. Steam effectively straightens creases and folds on the bag. To do this, take a steam generator or an iron with a steam function. Set the iron to the minimum temperature setting, hang the bag on a hanger and carefully process each area of the front side, holding the device at a distance of 10-15 centimeters. If condensation and moisture collect on the skin, wipe the material with a dry soft cloth; If the bag is very wrinkled, you can iron the problem areas from the wrong side through a thin layer of gauze or fabric using an iron with a minimum temperature, only lightly touching the sole to the lining; If you do not have a steam generator or an iron with a steam function, you can use traditional steam treatment over boiling water. Hang the bag on a hanger or hook above the bathtub, in which you first fill it with boiling water or simply turn on the hot water
It is important to prevent water from getting on the material! Leave the product for twenty minutes, then wipe the skin with a dry soft cloth and hang to dry at room temperature; Lightly wipe the front side of a bag made of genuine leather or leatherette with a damp and wrung out sponge soaked in water at a temperature of 18-22 degrees. Straighten out the problem areas and place a heavy, flat object inside the bag.
Wrap another heavy item in a terry towel and press the outside of the bag. It will straighten the product and absorb excess moisture. Leave the accessory to dry at room temperature; Cracks and creases can be smoothed out more easily if the defects are treated with glycine, petroleum jelly or oil. By the way, these products also restore shine to leather items and improve their appearance. Treat the surface of the accessory with the selected solution in a thick layer. Do not rub or rinse! Wait until the applied composition is absorbed and wipe the product with a soft woolen cloth; For thin and exclusive bags, for light and white leather, use a glycerin solution. To do this, mix glycerin with warm water, pour the resulting solution into a spray bottle and spray it over the surface of the product. Then put something heavy inside the bag and hang it for a day. The bag will hang and straighten without harming the delicate material.
Using an iron
How to iron a leather product? It must be remembered that only smooth material can be ironed. Leather with embossing and inserts must be straightened differently. The procedure is as follows:
- Set the device to the minimum temperature. Remove water from the steam compartment.
- Before ironing a leather skirt, you need to lay it out and straighten it. It is preferable to work from the inside out, but this is not always possible due to the lining. You can iron the product from the front side, but only through the lining - thick paper or fabric. If you touch a material without a protective layer with your sole, the skin will wrinkle.
- As a lining, you can use wrapping paper, parchment or light-colored material with a smooth texture.
- The process should occur slowly and in stages. First, iron a small area - slowly and without pressing the device. Then the lining is removed and the result can be assessed. If it is far from ideal, then you need to repeat it. If the skin has smoothed out, you need to wait until the area cools down and only then move on to another.
- Small details on the skirt can be ironed using the pull-out bar on the ironing board.
- Do not heat the product for too long, otherwise the leather will dry out and crack.
How to iron a leather dress or skirt if it is made of artificial material? The procedure is almost the same. However, leatherette should only be ironed from the inside out. It may take more effort to tidy it up, as it is a rougher and less pliable material.
Various materials
The ironing method and choice of temperature also depend on the material from which the pleated skirt is made:
- silk is ironed only from the wrong side without using water, which can leave stains on the product;
- chiffon can be moistened with water, but the lining should be ironed separately;
- For knitwear, ironing through double gauze using steam is suitable;
- Silk knitwear, which combines features of both silk and knitwear, should be ironed only when absolutely necessary and only from the inside out through a damp cloth.
By following the rules for ironing skirts made of different fabrics, you can return your favorite wardrobe item to a neat appearance without damaging its shape. To do this, you need to be careful and use only proven products.
Steaming
How to iron a leather skirt? You can use the steam function on the iron. But the procedure will be slightly different:
- Place the item in a vertical position on a rack or hanger. There is no need to cover the product with anything.
- Select the “Steam” mode on the device and wait until the iron heats up to the optimal temperature to produce steam.
- Bring the iron to the surface of the product and steam the problem areas with folds and creases. Touching the surface of the skin with the sole of the device is strictly prohibited.
- Safe distance – 15 cm.
How to iron leather trousers or a skirt using a steamer? This is not difficult to do, and the algorithm of actions will be as follows:
- Hang the product on wide hangers so that it does not fold anywhere.
- Steam the item. You need to start with a distance of 20-25 cm. If this does not help, then it can be reduced to 15 cm.
- You need to steam the product starting with small parts and the most wrinkled areas.
- Large folds can be processed intensively, but not for longer than a few seconds.
- After the procedure, the item should be left suspended for several hours so that it straightens even more under its own weight.
- During hot processing, do not touch the surface of the product with your hands. Otherwise, marks may remain.
Basics of proper care
Following daily rules will help maintain the shape of your leather item. Then restoration and ironing will not be required. Here are the main ones:
What to wear with a leather skirt
- Storage of a leather skirt is organized in the closet, after hanging it on special hangers for skirts. The product must be completely straightened, and adjacent items of clothing must not press, compress or put pressure on the item.
- The use of hooks to place a leather skirt is strictly prohibited.
- The skirt must match the size of its owner. Otherwise, problem areas will either sag or stretch under pressure. Loss of shape in this case is guaranteed.
- Avoid frequent cleaning, especially with the use of gasoline and solvents. The thin protective layer can wear out quickly.
All the methods described in this article are highly effective and safe for the skin if all recommendations are followed correctly. But if you have any doubts or no desire, you can always contact specialized services that work with skin.
We also recommend studying the rules for caring for skirts made of other materials:
- how to wash a tulle skirt;
- how to wash and iron a pleated skirt.
Steaming under hot water
How to iron a leather skirt at home without the help of an iron and steamer? This is possible if you use ordinary boiling water instead of a steam generator instead of using household appliances. The procedure is as follows:
- Hang the product on hangers. It’s good if they are a little narrower than needed.
- Place the product over a container of boiling water. It is best to do this in the bathroom, as this room is adapted to high humidity.
- Do not allow the edges of the material to touch hot water.
- Close the bathroom and wait one hour.
- Open the room and leave the skirt hanging for another 2-3 hours. Before putting on the product, you need to make sure that it has cooled completely. Otherwise it can be deformed.
Washing the skirt
Contaminated areas of skin can be cleaned without using water. There are several alternative dry cleaning methods. However, these methods are not always effective. In some cases, clothes have to be washed, so it is important to know how to do it correctly.
In the washing machine
Real leather cannot be washed in a machine, but synthetic leather can, if you remember 3 important nuances:
- washing should be quick;
- water should not be heated above 25 °C;
- You need to wash without powder, stain remover and fabric softener.
Stain removers and fabric softeners contain aggressive substances that help remove stains from coarser fabrics. Leatherette is too sensitive to such components. The use of these products may change the color of the material.
Manually
Washing is required only when dirt cannot be removed by other means. A real leather skirt can be washed no more than once a month.
Procedure:
- Fill the product with warm water (25 °C) and leave for 5 minutes.
- Make a solution of soap with 2-3 drops of ammonia. Cleaning components should be applied to the stained areas of the skirt with a cotton napkin or a special brush. Do not rub the skin with your hands, crumple it or squeeze it.
- Use a soft sponge to carefully wipe off the dirt. Then rinse the product with warm water so that no traces of soap remain on the surface of the skirt.
- After rinsing, shake the skirt several times to remove excess moisture. It is forbidden to twist the skin or squeeze it with your hands!
- Excess moisture should be removed with a piece of cotton cloth.
- Turn the product inside out and dry it flat.
The lining should be washed separately. The skirt is first turned inside out, the lining is dipped in water, washed as usual, then wrung out.
Skirts made of light-colored material should be washed in a soapy solution of baby shampoo and ammonia. For 1 liter of water you need no more than 5 drops. If you add more ammonia, light skin may turn yellow.
Cold water
How to iron a leather skirt? You can use knowledge about the properties of the material. The skin partially absorbs moisture, swells and becomes more elastic. Therefore, you can try to remove folds and creases using cold water.
To do this, the skirt is sprayed with cold filtered water from a spray bottle. The item must be in a vertical position - on a stand or hanger.
Then the products are left for 10-12 hours in a room with a constant microclimate - without drafts, nearby heating devices and direct sunlight. This way the skirt will dry evenly and not become deformed in the process.
What not to do
Leather products are very demanding to care for. It’s worth knowing what not to do to avoid damage to your favorite trousers or dress.
| What not to do | What is necessary |
| Iron clothes right side out. | Iron a raincoat or skirt from the wrong side and through the fabric |
| Store folded or tightly clamp it with things. This can lead to wrinkles and creases. | Hang on a hanger. |
| Do not straighten wrinkled clothing with your hands; strong tension may cause the material to tear. | It is best to straighten a leather belt, remove wrinkles from a bag or things by steaming. |
| Iron a product with stains | Before smoothing, treat to remove all dirt. |
| Dry the skirt with hot air or on radiators. | The product should dry naturally, lying on a horizontal surface or vertically on a hanger. |
Using the press
Another way to iron a leather skirt? One of the most popular methods used at home is aging under pressure. The latter can be any smooth, heavy objects, such as books or water bottles. However, you should not use weights that are too heavy, otherwise you may end up with unsightly dents. The algorithm of actions is as follows:
- Place the skirt on a flat, hard surface (table, ironing board) and smooth it out.
- Straighten the product, but do not stretch it. Otherwise, the item may be deformed.
- Level the lining, if any.
- Place the load on problem areas. In this case, you need to carefully smooth out the area on which the load will be lowered in order to prevent new deformations.
- Leave for 8-10 hours. Then you can evaluate the result.
How to store it correctly?
Storage conditions:
Any clothes made of genuine leather are stored only in their original form: the item is not folded, because unsightly folds will certainly appear on it.- For storage, it is better to use special cases made from natural fabrics.
- Do not store things in a damp place. Optimal storage conditions for leather products are air temperature 15-25, humidity not less than 50%.
- It is forbidden to place heavy objects on the skin, otherwise your favorite item will be damaged and dents will remain on it.
Aging on a hanger
How to iron a leather skirt? A very popular method is when you just leave the item on a hanger and wait for a while, and the wrinkles will disappear. This is true, but this technique has a number of serious disadvantages:
- You will have to wait a long time - from several days to several weeks.
- Things stretch under their own weight. Leather skirts are mostly characterized by minimalist sizes and low material thickness for greater elasticity. Consequently, the weight of such products is small, and you will have to wait a long time.
- This technique will help get rid of folds, but not creases.
Ironing
You should iron a wrinkled pleated skirt carefully so that the special folds do not disappear. To do this, you must follow certain rules:
- You should start ironing when the item is still slightly damp after washing.
- There is no need to remove the firmware made before washing. Threads are removed only after ironing.
- You can iron pleating only through gauze. In this case, the set temperature should be minimal.
If you are afraid of ruining your favorite item, it is recommended to take it to the dry cleaner. There the product will be washed and ironed without harming the fabric or shape.
Softening
Leather hardens after a while due to improper use or poor quality material. On the Internet, you can often come across articles where it is recommended to use coconut oil to soften the skin.
This is wrong advice. Coconut oil can affect the structure of the skin and change its color. In addition, it has a smell that is absorbed into the material and does not disappear for a long time.
The skirt must be lubricated with special products to moisturize real leather and its substitutes. These conditioning creams can be purchased at hardware stores. Before applying the product, the surface of the product must be cleaned of dust.
The conditioner is applied to the skin and left for 10-15 minutes. Then remove the remaining cream with a clean microfiber cloth. To prevent the skin from hardening, this procedure should be repeated every 6 months.
Such products should be used with caution. Some of them may slightly discolor the skin if applied to areas with chafing.
The material may become lighter in color at the site of damage.
