How to iron a leather jacket at home: step-by-step instructions on how to iron a wrinkled jacket with folds after purchasing it

For many years now, leather jackets have not lost their relevance and still remain popular among the population.

They are worn by everyone: men and women, older people and young people. Such clothes can be worn for several seasons and look stylish.

However, long-term use of leather products is only possible if they are properly and promptly cared for.

Often during storage, the jacket may become wrinkled and wrinkles may appear, which spoils the appearance of the product.

Therefore, at the beginning of the season, many people have a question about how to iron a leather jacket correctly. Let's look at the most common mistakes and the most effective methods that will return outerwear to their proper appearance.

Leather jacket hanger

The most commonplace method is a hanger (or “trempel” in the people). This method should not be considered truly effective; most likely, it is worth starting with this method so that subsequent methods are more effective.

The jacket just needs to be hung on a trempel for a few days. It is worth noting that it does not need to be sprayed or soaked with water, as this can lead to stains that will be even more difficult to remove.

Of course, do not forget that if you start storing your leather jacket on a hanger, you can avoid the formation of wrinkles and bruises.

Leatherette

Faux leather is very often chosen as a material for sewing clothes.

How to smooth it depends on the characteristics of the material and the method of its manufacture. Many methods suitable for natural leather are also suitable for artificial leather.

Processing should begin by studying the information on the label , including the composition and care rules. Artificial material can be ironed from the inside out, at a minimum temperature, by steaming.

Artificial material is less plastic, has worse breathability, and is rougher. Clothing made from artificial leather lasts less and loses its appearance faster.

At the same time, the requirements for storage conditions for these clothes are the same as for genuine leather.

Iron for leather jacket

If the creases in the material are quite strong, you can proceed to ironing. Before you begin, make sure what kind of leather your jacket is made of. You can do this yourself, by feeling - it's quite simple.

Let's look at ironing methods for all skin types:

Smooth – ironing of this type of product on the outside is allowed. Keep in mind that there should be some kind of bedding, preferably cotton, between the object being ironed and the iron. This is done to ensure that the material does not melt and remain on the iron. Set the iron to the minimum temperature, turn off the steam function and iron without pressing, lightly touching. After processing, you need to hang the product on a hanger and let it cool.
Varnish (or with laser processing) - here you encounter the first difficulties regarding this topic. You can only iron it from the inside. Experts recommend applying pressure to the entire jacket, as exposure to heat can cause the surface to lose its shine. In this case, the shine will be lost evenly and the product will not lose its appearance. The principle is exactly the same as when processing a smooth surface. It is very important not to apply pressure, because corrosion and coagulation of the leather cannot be avoided (especially if it is leatherette).
Treated (for example, a down jacket made of leather) - this item of clothing can be ironed both outside and inside. The only mandatory condition is the presence of an ironing iron (a cloth or piece of fabric through which the material is ironed). It is very important not to put pressure on the fabric, since in this case deformation cannot be avoided even with a cloth.

First steps before smoothing

There are several ways to get rid of creases on a genuine leather jacket. But using any of them is effective only on a clean surface. Leather that has been cleaned before storage can simply be wiped with a damp cloth.

The dusty product should be washed with a sponge soaked in soapy water. If the item is dirty, use soapy water with the addition of ammonia (15 ml of the substance per glass of liquid).

Remains of detergent are removed with a sponge and clean water. Then the skin is wiped dry and the creases begin to straighten.

Steamer for leather jacket

Professionals have different opinions about this method: some believe that steam can smooth out wrinkles, while others speak extremely negatively about the method, since the product can literally “cook.”

If your leather jacket is not made of a thin varnish coating, then you can walk with a stream of steam at a distance of 10-30 cm from the leather. After this, hang the product on a hanger and let it cool. After this you can wear it again.

Method 1 – hang the product

If you have a lot of time, after purchasing the item, you can straighten it using a regular chair or hanger. You will just need to hang the product and wait for it to smooth out under its own weight. In most cases, to achieve this effect, a few days (if the jacket is thin) or a week (if the leather of your product is thick enough) is enough.

Important: the presented method makes it possible to remove small folds in the material. If your jacket is not just wrinkled, but creases have formed on it, you will have to use more radical methods.

Steam treatment

The same method with steam has already been mentioned above, but the essence of this method is slightly different. Let's get acquainted with the algorithm:

Turn on the hot water in the bathroom and close the door so that the steam does not escape.
Wait until the room is filled with steam.
Take the leather jacket and place it on the trampoline in the bathroom.
Leave the item for 30-40 minutes.
Place it in a cool, dry place so that it can dry out from the steam.
The jacket smoothed out on its own.

Prohibited tricks

Leather is a special material, and some techniques that will solve the problem of wrinkles on other fabrics will only harm it. What manipulations should never be carried out with leather products?

Try to level the surface using hot air from a hair dryer. The skin will become tough, and the creases will “harden”.
Wet the jacket with hot water. The product will crack and lose color.
Stretch the folds with your hands. The material becomes deformed or breaks.
Leave the crumpled segments under pressure for a long time. There will be a mark on the skin that will be impossible to remove.

Is it possible to wash a leather item to remove wrinkles? In no case. The model's shape will be lost forever.

Pressing

This method implies that you need to put heavy objects, such as books, on the folds of the item. Iron this area with a cloth.

When it gets hot enough, you need to place a heavy object (book) on it for several hours. Next, hang the leather jacket on a hanger and let it hang.

Method 2 - use Vaseline

If you don't know how to smooth leather at home using an iron, or are afraid to use one, you can try smoothing it using Vaseline. To do this, you will also need to carefully hang the product and then treat the creases with Vaseline.

It will soften the material and remove creases. You will only need to leave the product hanging on a hanger for a few hours, and you will be able to go out in public wearing this outerwear.

How to care for your skin?

Tip: If you don't have Vaseline, you can use regular castor oil. It copes just as well with skin creases, and is found in almost every home.

Dry cleaning

Experts say there is no better way to salvage a wrinkled jacket than dry cleaning. Indeed, when you can’t cope or you lack knowledge, the best way out is to turn to specialists.

By dry ironing

The iron successfully straightens smooth surfaces on leather clothing without trim or folds. On an inconspicuous area, first test the skin's reaction to heat. If the color changes, you need to check whether it returns after cooling. If the color is not restored, ironing is prohibited.

When performing the procedure, the following conditions must be met:

Processing should be done from the front side. Ironing from the inside out is allowed only if there is no lining.
Set the heating temperature to minimum or to the “silk” position.
Be sure to use a pad to avoid direct contact with skin. Wrapping paper, a thin cloth with a flat surface, or baking paper are suitable. Gauze cannot be used - it leaves a mesh pattern.

Important! When ironing, wrinkled leather should not be exposed to steam.

In problem areas, the iron should be pressed for a few seconds.
You won’t be able to stroke the product with your usual movements, because they can stretch the skin.
The operation is performed slowly, with a sequential transition from one area to another.
In a heated area, you can slightly stretch the skin with your fingers. As it cools down, it will straighten out.
You need to make sure that the areas of the heated material do not touch, and iron the sleeves on a separate stand or insert rollers from a folded towel into them.
Rotate or move leather clothing only after it has completely cooled down.
Iron small parts separately on a small stand.
Imprints from seams and pocket flaps are ironed through a damp cloth. To do this, you need to switch the iron to the next position.

Advice. Foam from beaten egg yolk will help restore gloss to the skin after smoothing with an iron. It is applied to the surface with a cotton swab or cloth.

When all the folds are straightened, leave the skin to cool. After this, shake the product and place it on a hanger. If it is necessary to iron from the inside out, then the lining is trimmed and then sewn with hidden stitches.

How to prevent creasing

It must be emphasized that if you eliminate the source of the formation of wrinkles, then in the future you will not ask the question “How to smooth out wrinkles on a leather jacket?”

Check out some tips to help you:

Store the jacket only on the trempel. Avoid a folded look on a shelf.
The jacket should hang freely and not be pressed down by other things - this contributes to the formation of folds.
Upon entering the room, if you need to take off your jacket, pay attention to the chairs, since the jacket only needs to be hung there, or on a hanger (if one is present). In such situations, some people store their jackets on hooks or put them on a chair, which is absolutely wrong.

When is it needed?

If the jacket is wrinkled, then you need to remove the folds.

Situations when smoothing is necessary:

folded storage after washing;
folded tightly during transportation;
the item was purchased from another person who did not care for it properly;
restoration of clothing after prolonged wear and improper care.

Iron the folds on the jacket, similar to processing a leather jacket. The process is the same.

Secrets of ironing skin

Carefully study your skin type and only then proceed to choosing a method for smoothing out wrinkles.
Start with the sleeves and collar.
Be sure to use an auxiliary cloth called a “taper” that can prevent curling and deformation of the surface.
Do not press on the iron; movements should be smooth and careful.
Use a special pad to iron the sleeves. This will reduce the appearance of new wrinkles.
Remember that lined fabric should only be ironed at low temperatures, just like the leather itself.

Before starting the operation to “rescue” the leather jacket, sensibly assess your strength. If you clearly understand that you have an old iron that does not hold temperature. If you are not sure that you can iron your jacket carefully without pressing, contact a specialist.

Dry cleaning professionals know all the pros, cons and workarounds. This is the most win-win option.

Recommendations

If the means and methods described above helped you return your jacket to its proper form, then you most likely will not want to bring your clothes to this state again.

To ensure your item always remains attractive, use simple but effective care tips:

Do not store leather clothing that may become wrinkled folded. Especially in cases where the item is used during a certain season. A jacket made of leather material should be stored on hangers. You can only hang clothes on a hook for a short period of time. At home and at work, you should have hangers on which to place your outerwear.
Clothing made from leatherette does not tolerate excessive moisture. Because of this, they become very soft and wrinkle extremely quickly. Under such conditions, the item will quickly lose its original shape, even if you hang it on hangers.
Dry air can also harm leather products. Clothes in overdried conditions will not become wrinkled or wrinkled, but they will become rough and tough, making it impossible for you to wear them any longer.
Take care of your jacket using special products. The price may be high, but this way you will extend the life of the clothing significantly. Care will maintain the ideal shape of things and will not allow various abrasions and folds to form.
Remember, leather items cannot be washed either by hand or in a washing machine. This material has a heterogeneous internal structure, so defects may appear on it in the most unexpected areas. If there is heavy dirt on your jacket that you cannot remove on your own, only go to a dry cleaner, where specialists are guaranteed to clean the clothes without damaging them.
If you decide to iron your jacket, do it extremely carefully, otherwise you will completely ruin the item and you will have to buy a new product, since it will be impossible to return the old one to its original appearance.

By following these recommendations, you can extend its service life significantly. Your clothes will always look attractive and there will be no creases or wrinkles on them.