Outerwear made of natural or artificial leather will always be fashionable and relevant. Styles, colors, and methods of decoration may change, but such wardrobe items will always remain basic. With regular wear, outerwear quickly loses its original appearance, the material loses its brightness, cracks and bald spots appear on it. There are several effective ways to update a leather jacket at home, which will help give it shine. After such procedures, it will become like new and will delight the owner for a long time.
How to remove and touch up scuffs on a black and brown leather jacket: step-by-step instructions
Over time, small abrasions appear on leather items, which spoil their appearance. However, these abrasions are not really a big problem. These problem areas can be removed quite simply; for this it is recommended to use cream, wax, paint, or “liquid skin.”
- If the abrasions are small, use baby cream. Apply it to problem areas and leave until completely dry.
- Restoring wax is used in the same way as cream.
- Among traditional methods, you can use orange peel. It rubs minor abrasions and scratches
- If the abrasions are quite noticeable, it is better to resort to paint. When choosing paint, be very careful, especially if the skin is not black, but brown. To get a good result, the paint must completely match the color of the product.
- If you cannot choose the right color yourself, ask the sellers for advice by showing them the jacket. Before starting the procedure, try the paint somewhere on the most inconspicuous place of the jacket.
Using tinting cream
- You can choose completely different paints. Today you can find cream paint, powder formulations and aerosols. If the amount of work is small, it is best to use cream. If you decide to paint the entire product, then give preference to water-soluble powders and sprays.
- Another good option for eliminating abrasions is “liquid leather”. It is important to know that this option is appropriate to use for deeper abrasions and cracks. We will talk in more detail about this method of eliminating problem areas on leather items a little later.
Preparation
Before using one of the products, you must properly prepare the surface.
- Cleaning the skin. If flaps of skin have formed around the damage, they should be removed using manicure tongs. Then go over the area around the scratch with fine-grained sandpaper. They do this very carefully: you only need to remove the top layer of skin.
- Surface cleaning. Using a soft cloth moistened with an alcohol solution, remove dust from the treated area.
How to update the collar on a leather jacket: step-by-step instructions
The collar is one of the most problematic areas of a leather jacket, and all because it is this place of the product that is in direct contact with our skin and hair and, therefore, sooner or later becomes dirty and greasy.
You can correct this situation and solve the problem using the following methods:
- This advice is where you need to start so that you don’t encounter such a problem in the first place. Use a fashionable wardrobe accessory - a scarf, shawl. By tying such a thing around your neck, you will avoid quickly soiling your jacket collar. Agree, it is much easier to wash a scarf than a leather item.
- If everything has already happened, however, the level of contamination is small, a soap solution will come to the rescue. Prepare a solution of water and soap, soak a cloth in it and gently wipe the collar. It is best to make a product from detergents that are available in liquid form.
- You can also refresh your collar using baking soda. Apply a little product to the sponge and wipe the piece of the product. Don't scrub too hard or too long, or you may damage the skin. After such manipulations, do not forget to wipe the skin with a damp cloth.
Collar update
- If the area is too greasy, use alcohol, glycerin and some citrus fruit. First, soak a clean cloth in alcohol and wipe the collar with it. Then rub the area with lemon juice or orange peel, and then with glycerin. Carefully place the collar in place, hang the jacket on a hanger and wait for it to dry.
- You can also update the collar of a leather jacket by using paint for such products. Select the tone of the product and apply it to the product, hang the jacket on hangers and wait until it dries completely. Remember that the wrong paint color will ruin the product. Also take into account the fact that it is recommended to update the color for the entire product at once.
How to update the color of a leather jacket: tips
Leather is not a material that wears out quickly and changes color, however, over time, such problems still arise.
In fact, updating the color of a leather jacket is quite simple; for this you need to purchase special products and use the following tips:
- First, we need to decide on exactly what product we will use to update the color of the product. There is a very wide choice here. You can do the procedure using aerosol paint, cream, as well as special powders, from which you need to make a solution before using them.
- When choosing a product, be sure to check whether it is suitable for leather items. It is best to buy such paints in specialized stores.
We'll show you how to update your color in the easiest way using spray paint.
- Before starting the procedure, inspect the jacket for dust and dirt. Take a damp, clean cloth and wipe the item with it, then let it dry.
- With the help of an aerosol we can paint a large item very quickly, however, you must take into account its size and buy the right amount of product.
- Hang your jacket on hangers so that you can access it from all sides.
- Now carefully, but quickly enough, begin to spray the paint, evenly moving the can over the product at a distance of 15-20 cm.
Changing jacket color
- Pay attention to those places where the paint may not get into - the inside of the sleeves, the sides of the jacket.
- After the manipulations, leave the jacket in the same position until completely dry.
- If you want to use cream, you need to use a clean sponge to apply it. You need to saturate it with cream well enough. Please note that this method of updating a product is very time-consuming and quite complicated.
- You can also try to restore your skin to its former appearance using powder products. To use them, read the instructions carefully.
- As a rule, the product is diluted in a certain amount of hot water. Next, you need to cool the liquid to 45 degrees and place the jacket in it. At the same time, make sure that the item lies flat and without wrinkles in the water.
- After the specified time has passed, the item must be rinsed in running, not hot water and hung to dry on a hanger.
- Never hang leather items in the sun, otherwise you will damage the material. Also, never put the leather in boiling water, this will also ruin it.
Reasons for rigidity
Before moving on to softening methods, it is necessary to understand why this happens with such material.
There are several possible reasons:
- The very first thing is the quality of the leather jacket. Always check with the seller what the leather is made of, what animal skin was used, whether it is really natural or not.
- The jacket becomes stiff if the item is not stored correctly. Most people put their outerwear in a common closet without considering the conditions in it. Leather should not be stored in a very damp place. Just like you shouldn’t place a jacket in a closet with low air humidity. Dry air literally sucks moisture out of your skin, making it hard. Optimal humidity is 40–50%.
Therefore, it is so important to adhere to the rules for storing and drying leather products after washing.
How to treat a leather jacket against scuffs?
Scuffs on leather are common, however, people who are dealing with leather items for the first time often take these minor damages as a signal that it is time to throw away the jacket.
There is no need to rush, before throwing your favorite item into the trash bin, try the following options for removing scuffs:
- If the abrasions are very minor, then use regular shoe wax or, as an option, paraffin. To do this, apply the product to problem areas.
- If there are quite noticeable abrasions on the jacket, then it is better to give preference to rubber glue. To eliminate problem areas, take the product and apply it to them, then press the skin in this area with a clean and dry cloth. When the areas that we treated with glue dry, we will need to carry out another treatment. This time we take a leather cream that will suit our color and apply it to the previously sealed area of the product.
Treat your jacket for abrasions
- If your leather jacket has deep scuffs, the previous methods may not help. In such a situation, you need to purchase a special product, the so-called “liquid skin”. This product is used by professionals who restore leather products. So, the most important point is the moment of choosing the color of the product. Once you have decided on the color and purchased liquid skin, you can begin the procedure. Apply the composition in a thin layer to the abrasions and press down this area with your hands. We always work in plastic gloves. After this, we wait until our renewed item dries and enjoy the result.
- There is also a so-called folk remedy for scuffs on this type of fabric - orange, or rather orange peels. To do this, peel the orange and rub the outer part of the peel onto the problem areas. Essential oils contained in the fruit will saturate the material and eliminate defects.
Tools Overview
Professional products are mainly used to care for leather products. However, in some cases, more affordable products such as paraffin or glycerin can help restore the condition of the jacket. When processing artificial leather, it is recommended to use oilier products.
Professional products
Professional skin care products are considered more preferable, as they contain substances necessary to preserve the material in its original form.
Products for water resistance
Water-repellent sprays will be required if the leather product is stored in a damp area or worn in damp weather. These products include products that include:
- natural fat;
- wax;
- acrylic;
- silicone
Air conditioners
Conditioners are used to restore fat balance, thereby reducing the likelihood of cracks and increasing the wear resistance of the jacket. Such products are recommended for use in cases where the leather product has lost its former elasticity. During private processing, the structure of the material changes.
Polishing
Polishes are used to restore the former shine. But, as with other products described, this product should not be applied continuously. When used privately, polish accelerates leather wear.
Stain removers
Creams, gels or sprays are used to remove stains. These products can be used constantly. Among the stain removers, products from the Salamander, Ecco and Salton brands stand out, which provide a pronounced and long-lasting effect.
Natural oils
To soften the skin, use sea buckthorn, castor, sunflower, burdock or olive oil. It is recommended to treat the jacket with these products as needed. To achieve this effect, you will need to apply no more than 2-3 drops (sunflower - 1 drop) of oil to the problem area, squeeze for 2-3 hours and remove the excess.
Glycerol
Glycerin is used to prevent damage and restore leather products. The jacket needs to be treated with this substance. Then you need to wait 1-2 hours, after which the product is suitable for wearing. After application, glycerin does not leave greasy stains.
Body cream
Nourishing or moisturizing creams are used to treat leather jackets. This product is applied to the product with a soft sponge. Then the jacket must be left for at least 12 hours. Body creams are used to remove traces of paint or coffee, as well as to improve the appearance of the product.
Beeswax ointment
This product restores and nourishes the skin. The ointment must first be melted in a water bath and mixed with a small amount of turpentine. Next, you need to treat problem areas on the jacket with the resulting composition. Thanks to this mixture, the skin becomes softer and stains after precipitation disappear.
Goose fat
This option is rarely used, but after treatment with goose fat the effect is significantly better. This product is used to eliminate abrasions, including on old leather items. Along the way, goose fat softens the material. After treating the jacket with this product, you need to leave the product overnight and wipe it with a cotton rag in the morning.
Stationery chalk and potato starch
Chalk or starch must be diluted in water to achieve a paste-like consistency. Then the resulting composition should be evenly distributed over the surface, left for half an hour and rinsed with water. At the end, the skin should be wiped dry and treated with glycerin.
To remove grease stains and dirt, restore the original color and soften the material, it is recommended to use a mixture of heated milk and a small amount of turpentine.
How and with what to remove stains from a leather jacket?
You can “plant” a stain on absolutely any material, and leather is no exception. However, in the case of ordinary fabric, we immediately rush to wash away the stain, but such manipulations are not suitable for the skin.
- Regular dirt stains and dust can be easily removed with a damp cloth. Be careful, the rag should be wrung out as much as possible; a large amount of water or moisture will simply ruin your item. After you wipe the skin with a damp cloth, be sure to wipe it again with a dry one and rub the area of the procedure with regular hand cream.
- If there is a greasy stain on your leather jacket, then glycerin oil will come to the rescue. You need to make a solution from this product, and treat the problem area with the solution. Then be sure to wipe the wet area with a dry cloth.
- If you don’t know what stain is on your jacket, try removing it with a soap solution to which you add a little ammonia. Treat the stain with the resulting product, and then rub it with cream.
Remove stains from a jacket
- Rust stains can be removed using gasoline. You need to work with this product extremely carefully, since getting it on the skin is not entirely desirable, and the smell can cause dizziness and nausea. So, soak a sponge or cloth in the liquid and “remove” the stain from the skin with smooth movements. You need to wear disposable gloves when working with fuel.
- If your leather jacket has salt stains on it, use regular vinegar. Dampen a napkin or sponge in the product and use it to remove stains.
- If stains have formed on light leather items, a mixture of talc and gasoline will help. After making a paste of the product, apply it to the problem area and leave for a couple of minutes. After the product has dried, remove it with a shoe brush.
In addition to all the above options, do not forget that you can carry out specialized cleaning of the jacket. Moreover, such cleaning is recommended to be carried out annually in order to maintain the presentation of the item. And for home care, in addition to improvised means, you can use various special formulations. For example, protective creams, stain removers, conditioners.
Regular cleaning
All fabric items are washed when dirty. This happens quite often. Leather ones get dirty less. They have a protective layer against moisture, dust, and dirt. However, over time, without cleaning, the shiny areas become more and more noticeable.
- To prevent this from happening, the skin can be washed with a soft cloth, soaking it in water and liquid soap.
- The cloth needs to be wrung out so that the water does not spill too much onto the jacket.
- Quickly cleans with a mixture of equal parts water, liquid soap and ammonia.
- The following solution is also effective: 500 ml of water, 1 tbsp. ammonia and 3 teaspoons of baking soda.
It is good to use a ready-made foam cleaner “Twist”. Do not use aggressive substances such as thinner, acetone, or gasoline. Only in extreme cases, if the item is stained with paint or colored varnish. First check the reaction to the product by applying it with a cotton swab to an area of skin from the wrong side of the product.
How to remove ink from a leather jacket?
Few people will like ink on a leather jacket. There is an opinion that it is almost impossible to remove such stains and an item damaged in this way must be disposed of. Indeed, removing ink is not very easy, but it is possible. To save your leather jacket, try one of the options presented:
- A fresh stain will help remove the liquid that contains alcohol. Take a sponge, moisten it with the product and use it to remove the ink. This method is harmless and suitable for any skin. The only requirement for this method is to act quickly before the stain dries and the ink is embedded deep into the fabric.
- For this method we will need a little detergent, literally a drop (don't use too much as the solution will be very soapy), water and salt. So, mix the indicated products in such proportions that you end up with a porridge-like mixture. Spread this mixture onto the stain and let it dry. After this, use a brush to remove any remaining product and wipe the area with a damp cloth.
Removing ink from a jacket
- You can try to get rid of ink using tape. To do this, estimate the size of the stain and cut a piece of tape corresponding to its size. Carefully stick it onto the ink and run your hand over it a couple of times. After this, slowly remove the tape, and remove its remnants with an eraser.
- Nail polish remover that does not contain acetone also helps fight ink. Take the product, moisten a sponge with it, and then wipe the problem area with this sponge. You will see ink streaks on your skin, take a clean, non-hard cloth and remove these streaks.
- An alcohol solution with a 10% concentration will also help get rid of such stains. Soak a cloth or cotton wool in the product and remove stains with it. We carefully wipe the place where the ink was with a damp cloth, and then dry it.
How to remove scratches and restore a leather jacket: tips
Scratches and deep abrasions are the most common problems with all leather products. Many owners of leather jackets with such problems turn to the studio, however, there are also those who want to fix the “accident” at home.
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.
Features of care
Due to the fact that leather jackets do not tolerate contact with water and elevated temperatures, it is recommended to clean such products with a soap solution, which is applied to the item using a foam sponge.
General prevention
To extend the life of such products, it is recommended to treat such items with nutritional compounds every month. If the jacket is made of artificial leather, the procedure should be carried out once every 2-3 weeks.
Minor scratches
To remove minor scratches, use natural oils, glycerin or professional products. But the best choice is beeswax, which glues the skin together.
Deep folds
Goose fat helps to cope with the problem of deep folds. If this remedy is not available, olive or sunflower oil can be used to eliminate such a defect. In addition, high-fat body cream helps get rid of wrinkles.
Scuffs
It is impossible to completely eliminate such a defect. Therefore, in the fight against abrasions, the described products are used that improve the condition of the skin.
Worn and faded appearance
Glycerin, burdock and castor oil help get rid of this defect. It is recommended to treat the jacket with these products 2-3 times, after which you need to take a week break. If necessary, the procedure should be repeated.
What can't you do?
Leather jackets should not be dried on radiators or in close proximity to heat sources. In this case, the material quickly cracks. Also, the product should not be kept in direct sunlight for a long time, stored in plastic bags and machine washed.
How to update an old leather raincoat step by step?
Leather items have become fashionable again, but do you just have an old leather coat lying around in your closet? Great. In this case, you will need to spend very little of your time and effort and you will be able to wear your old-new thing with pleasure.
There are several ways to update an old leather raincoat:
- Paint the product the same or a different color
- Change it
- Decorate and decorate an item
Altering a leather raincoat yourself is very risky, especially for those people who are not involved in tailoring professionally. Therefore, if you want to make a fashionable jacket out of a long raincoat or want to slightly change the style, then we recommend that you contact the studio.
- As for painting things, you can do it yourself. It’s clear that if you have a black raincoat, you can update it by painting it black. In this case, the product will regain its former color and brightness.
- If a leather raincoat is made of light material or white, then the choice of colors in which the item can be painted is much greater. You can experiment and paint the raincoat in some fashionable color for this season.
- You can decorate a raincoat in various ways, however, today the most popular, simple and affordable option is the decoupage technique.
Since we talked a lot about painting leather items today, now we invite you to learn how to make decor using the decoupage technique.
Updating an old raincoat
We will need:
- Any printed napkins you like
- Scissors
- Glue, paints for decoupage on fabric
- Tassels
- Hairdryer
- Sponge
- Spray varnish
Then it works like this:
- The raincoat must first be cleaned of dirt and dust. We do this with wet wipes, and then wipe with a dry cloth or napkin.
- Now take a napkin and cut out the elements you like.
- We choose the place that we will decorate and glue the bases of the prepared elements onto it using glue. The base is a white layer of napkin. Napkins are usually two-layer. After you have cut out the pattern from the napkin, carefully remove 1 layer (white) - this is what you need to glue.
- We take white paint and prime the glued parts with it, then dry it with a hairdryer and apply colored elements. We secure them with glue.
- We look, if we don’t like something somewhere, we take paints and tint the patterns.
- Dry everything and coat it with varnish. Let the varnish dry completely.
- Our cloak is ready. With bright prints, your item will look completely new.
How to properly care for a leather jacket or raincoat?
In order not to encounter a number of problems listed today, it is enough to initially properly care for your leather item.
- Use a water-repellent spray. Such products will keep the leather shiny and your item will look like new. However, when choosing products, pay attention to their instructions. See if the product is suitable for leather products.
- Use leather conditioner. If you see that the skin becomes dry and small cracks appear, it means that it lacks fat. Such products restore the fat balance and the skin becomes soft. Buy only high-quality products, because savings in this matter can play a cruel joke on you.
- Don't polish leather jackets and raincoats too often. Of course, thanks to this procedure, things immediately acquire a marketable appearance, however, they may lose color.
Jacket care
- Do not leave items unattended after they have become wet in the rain. In such weather, salt stains form on the skin. They must be removed with a damp cloth, and after the item has dried, you need to apply conditioner to it.
- Always dry wet leather items. Take everything out of your pockets so that the leather does not stretch, and hang it on a hanger. In this case, the product should not be exposed to direct sunlight.
- Store items exclusively on hangers and hangers.
- Never wash leather items in a washing machine.
Leather items always remain fashionable. Products made from such fabric quite favorably emphasize the image of any person, giving him a certain chic. Take care of your leather products from the day you purchase them, and then you won’t have to worry about their appearance and practicality.