Wearing products made from genuine leather adds elegance, prosperity and style to its owner. Leather is a material that is relevant in any weather conditions and at any time.
By purchasing a high-quality leather item, you can wear it for many years, but not everyone will be able to wear it immediately after purchase. After all, the new material is hard and can cause discomfort. However, you can soften the new item using one of the methods described below.
Affordable ways to soften a leather jacket at home
If you do not want to feel discomfort when putting on a new leather jacket, it is better not to wear it immediately after purchase, but to use one of the methods that will help soften the new material. The jacket will need time for the leather to break in and fit on you.
This is especially true for men's rough jackets, whose cuffs and collars are much harder at first.
In order not to waste time and not torment yourself with an uncomfortable thing, without altering your leather jacket, treat it at home, making the leather softer and more pliable. If you don’t know how to properly make leather softer, contact the Mobile Tailor studio.
Method one - mechanical processing
Despite its sensitivity to the environment and elasticity, leather is considered a fairly durable material. To speed up the breaking-in process, place the jacket on a clean floor, cover it with a sheet and stomp on it.
The minimum time for the result to be noticeable is 5 minutes. The rougher the skin, the more time you need to trample on the thing.
Note! If the jacket is decorated with patterns, rhinestones, spikes and other decorations, it is better not to use this method.
Method two - heat treatment
Leather shoes can be easily stretched under the influence of heat, after which they will fit well on the foot. The same method can be applied to a jacket.
First of all, you need to steam the product. To do this, use a regular battery or a heater turned on at full power. It will take 10 minutes to warm up.
While the jacket is warming up, prepare a leather lubricant. This can be regular Vaseline, castor oil or special mink oil for leather.
Then, while the leather is still warm, take a small rag, cotton pad or piece of bandage, soak it in the prepared lubricant and apply evenly over the entire surface of the jacket.
After this, hang the jacket on hangers and leave it overnight. During this time, the skin will absorb the lubricant, become softer and not wrinkle.
Such actions can make a leather jacket soft and pliable for a long time.
Why does skin become rough?
Due to their quality characteristics, leather items are used as outerwear and shoes. That is, things that are constantly exposed to sunlight, moisture and low temperatures.
Improper storage after getting wet or being in direct sunlight for a long time provokes roughening of the skin.
It acquires rigidity and hardness. It’s uncomfortable to wear, but it’s also a shame to throw it away. You can restore the characteristics of the leather by having the item dry cleaned or repaired, but first try to revive it yourself. Liquid and thick care products are available for sale. Apply patience, a little free time, and your efforts will be rewarded with a positive result.
Castor oil for leather products
At any nearest pharmacy, you can buy an inexpensive product that will help you care for your leather jacket. The oily structure will effectively nourish the skin, while softening the new material, or one that has become rough over time.
Remember! Castor oil should not be used on white or light-colored items.
Apply the oil using a thick cloth to avoid getting your hands dirty. The item needs to be covered generously throughout. It is better to repeat the procedure at least three times, but between each of them you must wait until the oil is absorbed.
After treatment, hang the jacket by the shoulders and leave for 10-12 hours.
What products should not be used
There are many tips that you should not use: using vegetable oil only creates a softening effect. After some time, the skin will become even rougher and look shiny. Glycerin should not be used for softening: it will soften the skin, but it will lose its strength.
To prevent a genuine leather jacket from becoming rough under the influence of pollution from the external environment, it is recommended to clean it from time to time using an oil-soaked cloth.
Source
Quick help - Vaseline
This product is found in almost every home. Vaseline will soften and rejuvenate leather products. This product is ideal for light and elegant jackets, as it does not leave stains and has no foreign odor.
To restore a leather jacket, rub Vaseline all over it, squeezing it straight out of the tube until it is medium damp. After this, leave the item for 15-20 hours until completely absorbed.
Lifesaver - egg white
If you don’t have any of the above remedies at home, and you need to restore the jacket as quickly as possible, you can use egg white. To do this, carefully separate the yolk from the white so as not to spoil the item with the composition and not to take your leather jacket for repair. Beat the egg whites until they form a stable foam; it is most convenient to do this with a mixer.
Soak a rag in the resulting mixture and apply it to the jacket.
Note! When choosing a place for this procedure, keep in mind that protein may drip onto the floor during and after rubbing.
After the entire surface of the jacket has been treated, leave it for 4 hours. After the time has passed, wipe off any unabsorbed protein and leave the jacket to dry.
Adviсe
Proper storage and care of the jacket will never lead to stiffness of the material. But not everyone knows what can and cannot be done.
After purchasing a new product, immediately read the care information, write it down on a piece of paper or take a photo on your phone.
Recommendations:
- Don't settle for low-quality leather clothing. The jacket may be a little expensive, but you won't have any problems with stiffness later.
- Do not leave your skin in the sun for long periods of time. Prolonged exposure to UV rays can cause fading, drying out and even cracking.
- Never put clothes in the dryer.
- Treat with conditioner every couple of months or so to maintain adequate moisture levels while protecting against harshness.
- Choose products made from full-grain leather.
Be sure to read the label before washing. It indicates how to properly care for the product so as not to end up with a hard jacket.
They can also make the skin softer in a studio if you are afraid to use any products yourself.
Don't let your skin get to this point. From time to time, soak it with special conditioners and impregnations that help retain moisture.
To remove scratches and restore a leather jacket, you need to use a product called “liquid leather.” It is with the help of this tool that you can restore the appearance of the product and continue to use it.
So, we need the following:
- "Liquid leather" the same color as the jacket
- A homemade spatula made from a regular sponge or a piece of sponge
- Hairdryer
- Polyethylene gloves
- Fine sandpaper
- Piece of paper
Restore a jacket
When all the necessary things are already at hand, you can begin the procedure for restoring the item.
- Be sure to wear gloves before starting work. The gloves should be made of polyethylene, since any other material will stick to the product, and we will need to press the problem areas with our hands.
- We take a little product and apply it to paper, it will be much easier for us to draw it from here than from a tube.
- We wet the sponge a little with the product and apply it evenly to the scratch, as if putting putty on it.
- After applying the “liquid skin” to the problem area, press it firmly with your hand. You need to press as hard as possible.
- Next, dry the product with a hairdryer literally for a couple of seconds and press again with your hands.
- We carry out the procedure as many times as necessary so that the scratches themselves cease to be noticeable. As you do this, you will begin to notice uneven surfaces forming. Don't worry, they are all easy to clean.
- We take the finest sandpaper and carefully use it to begin removing all the bumps and protrusions. You need to work with this paper only on problem areas; under no circumstances touch the “healthy” product, as you will ruin the texture of the skin.
- We sand until all irregularities are eliminated.
- After this, we treat the area with the product again. Apply the “liquid skin” in a thin layer to prevent drips from forming, dry it with a hairdryer and press with your fingers.
Carrying out such a procedure is quite simple. The most important thing in this matter is to find “liquid leather” that will perfectly match the color of the product. If you're not sure the color is right, try it on an inconspicuous area of the jacket. If you see even the slightest difference in shade, do not carry out restoration, because the difference in color will be very noticeable on the product.
Pleasant softness and citrus aroma
Citrus fruits will be a good helper in caring for leather jackets. You need to buy a few oranges or lemons, cut them into convenient slices and wipe the jacket completely, not sparing the juice.
Important! It is better to carry out such processing in a horizontal position, since citrus juice does not have an oil base and will simply drain from the product.
This procedure can be repeated several times, then you need to leave the jacket for several hours until the juice is completely absorbed. After that, you need to wipe the product from sticky traces.
The advantage of this treatment is a light citrus scent that will linger on the jacket for the next few days.
If you don’t want to soften the leather product yourself, you can entrust this work to the professionals from Mobile Tailor.
How to avoid hardening of the jacket?
Remember that the best way to avoid repairs to outerwear is proper and timely care. Follow the following rules, and you will not have to alter your jacket or contact specialized workshops:
- Avoid drying out your skin. Store your jacket in a closed, dark closet rather than on an open hanger.
- When storing your jacket in the closet for a long time, use a fabric cover instead of a plastic one. They can be purchased at any hardware store.
- The best storage option is constant wear. The leather may become rough and cracked while you are not wearing the item. If you leave the product hanging in the closet for a long time, be prepared to spend money on repairing it with liquid leather.
Cleaning
Before using softening agents, it is necessary to clean the jacket from dirt.
The skin does not like excess moisture, so machine washing is not recommended. All procedures are performed manually using home or professional cleaning products.
If there are no stains, still go over the jacket with a damp cloth soaked in a soapy solution. Small particles of dust can scratch the product when you begin to rub in emollients.
Fat is removed using cornstarch or talc.
Remove lipstick stains with warm water and a sponge.
Under no circumstances should you use chemical solvents such as acetone, sulfuric acid, etc. Such products will not only harm the skin, but eventually you will have to throw away the jacket.
