Stinky Leather Jacket!

I got all sweaty test riding some bikes on a really hot day, then made the mistake of leaving my jacket in the trunk of my car. Smells pretty strong now. What do you use to clean stink out? I'm tempted to toss it in the washer with some very mild detergent, as I've done with an old leather jacket. It came out much better and I still have it.

But, I'm open to ideas.

 

A. Can you tolerate some shrinkage?
B. Lots of ideas on Google, looks like you can, maybe Woolite, and a little Fabreeze? or Arm & Hammer.

 

I wouldn't throw it in the washer unless it was that "washable" leather.
Whatever that is.
I would clean it by hand. What would a cleaner charge? Probably a lot.

 

I have washed a leather jacket before with Woolite. Took a while to dry and I used a lot of leather conditioner, but it came out great.

 

I'd think this is a must if you wash it. They can survive rain, so what the hey. It's your jacket.

 

Don't forget the cow spent it's life outside and probably in a lot of rain!

 

It smells manly!
or like ass
Baaaaraaaaap


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The very occasional wash in a laundry mart sized machine will be fine. I have done this with both my leather suits and they are fine. Wash with mild detergent and let hang dry. I did not use any leather conditioner afterwards but that is a good idea. Of course, remove the armour first. I am in need of a new perforated suit now but hell, that suit was bought in 2006 and is worn the most over my 207.000 km of riding. It owes me nothing.

 

Woolite is good for washing leather stuff. Use cold water. The trick is drying. Cool dry and out of the sunlight. Drying can be days.. stuff the jacket full of newspaper preferably roll ends from a local rag. The paper will absorb some of the water. It also pushes out creases and folds and tends to make the garment hold its shape. A shitload of newspapers now use water soluble inks that will not make you happy the first time you wear your odorless jacket. Moi.. I'd do a test first on an area of the jacket. Tanning differs from place to place as do dyes.
For real specifics try The Tandy Corp..

If the smell doesn't come out you can sell the jacket to a harleydood. They go for stuff like that..Sweaty dudes included..

That's all I know. I suppose your trunk still stinks but maybe somebody else can chimp in on that one.

 

I can't possibly recommend this company more highly: http://www.ramleathercare.com/

When I shipped my bike back from NY to WA, I got caught in a totally bizarre rain shower in August in New Jersey on the way to the shipping facility. I was utterly exhausted, stressed, not thinking at all, and I put my jacket in my touring trunk to be shipped with the bike (along with my helmet). A week later, on the other side of the country, my jacket was covered in mould. I sent it to these guys, and it came back immaculately clean, but still a little stinky. I contacted them about it, and they said it's impossible to get all the mildew smell out of leather, but that they'd clean it again for free. I sent it back, they cleaned it again, it was slightly less stinky. Fast forward a few years of ocassional use and keeping it dry, and it is odor free and clean as a whistle. These guys saved my $500 jacket, period. Great to deal with as well, very polite, helpful, and professional.

 

Lint, if you're not going to do it yourself, check out Anthony's Leather Works in Corona Del Mar. They are the guys who fixed my Leathers after my low side and do the repairs for the D-Store in OC. They also offer a cleaning service.

 

We have places in Oz called Dry Cleaners I would give them a go

 

If I am not mistaken, dry cleaners just surface clean the leather with leather cleaner. They do not give the garment a thorough cleaning that would remove the sweat residue. So I was told by my dry cleaner.

 

Now that I think of it, the D-Store has a special cleaning machine that disinfects gear, even helmets. Worth giving them a call too.

 

I've actually sprayed the inside down with a weakened rubbing alcohol solution. That's helped. I'm going to give it another day, then do so again.

 

I'll check it out, thanks!

 

And I can do that myself for cost of cleaner and conditioner in less than an hour, easy.

 

A friend of mine told me to steam it, the steam kills the bacteria that makes the stink. It worked! Years ago I bought a big garment steamer from Costco and I used that. I didn't even have to get it that wet and it's good to go. I may do it once more just cuz, but I really have to have the leather practically sitting on my nose to smell anything. I rode around today and I didn't smell like a neglected armpit. Quite Happy about that!

 

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