How To’s

A leather motorcycle jacket is one of the most iconic parts of any closet. They’re heavily associated with this image of a motorcyclist riding a Harley Davidson through the deserts. What’s unique about them is that they’re highly customizable, and you’ll find that people are highly attached to them based on the adventures they share together. However, the worst part is always when your favorite motorcycle jacket suddenly has an odor to do it, and not a very pleasant one. That’s when you know your quick fixes and spot cleaning won’t work anymore and you have to wash it. Throughout this article, we'll tell you how to wash a motorcycle jacket so you can stretch its lifespan for many more adventures. But always make sure to read the label not once but twice to know precisely what you can and can't do with this specific jacket. Some manufacturers allow for specific heat settings; others allow for the use of dryers, while others don't allow for either. You need to know your manufacturer's specific recommendations, as that will be your main guideline. 1. Preparation The literal translation of the word leather in the Arabic language is skin; this portrays how sensitive the leather textile is. It's easily affected by all elements, and one must take attentive care of it to keep it healthy and strong. So, before washing, there's some preparation that you have to do. Firstly, remove all armor and liners from the jacket, so it's just leather. You don't know how the metal parts will react to the water. Next, try to dust off the jacket as much as you can to remove anything that could already be removed without water use. That will make the job a lot easier later on. Also, empty out your pockets and make sure that there are no valuables inside. You can then take one of many routes to prep your jacket a little bit more for water exposure. The most common is to let the jacket soak in a bath of room temperature water so that all of the dust and grime will be softened and moved out of its resting place inside the textile a lot easier. 2. Surface Cleaning Surface cleaning should be done regularly because it liberates all of the dust, insects, sweat, and overall grime that accumulate over the course of a specific time. The easiest way to do that is to bring a bowl of water with a little bit of non-abrasive detergent and a bristled brush. After you lay the jacket flat on the table, wipe it in soft circular motions until you feel that the jacket is lighter and more breathable than it was. You might not have felt the effect before, but after this procedure, you’ll know its grave importance. Next, use a damp cloth to wipe off any detergent excess and either hang the jacket to dry or lay it flat on a dry towel. The latter option is definitely the better one as you remove the effect of gravity, which falls on the jacket, stretching it as it’s soaked with water. 3. Washing Now, onto the heavy-duty washing. You might choose to either go with putting it in the washing machine on a low heat setting and a gentle cycle that will not ruin your jacket, or go with the safer option of handwashing it. If your jacket is multicolored, you’ll need to pay special attention to parts with lighter colors. Those parts show dirt a lot easier and may require spot cleaning. Always go with frequent gentle cleaning and rinsing in favor of a one-time harsh cleanse, as that will certainly shorten the lifespan of your jacket. As we’ve mentioned, laying a jacket flat on a dry towel to dry is the preferable option, but you can also hang it to dry if it’s not that heavy. Additionally, don’t place your leather jacket in direct contact with the sun. Always have it in a semi-shaded, well-ventilated place to keep the leather moist and shiny. This complete wash cycle isn’t something you do every day or week; it’s done every while when you feel that the jacket’s breathability has been reduced immensely. On the other hand, the surface washing discussed is something that can be done every week to refresh your gear. 4. Reassemble Don’t forget to reinstall all of your armor and metal pieces the right way on your leather jacket to give it back its shine. If possible, take a photo before you disassemble it so that you know exactly where everything goes and how it’s installed. 5. Dry Care One thing you can do to enhance the tolerance of your leather jacket further is to waterproof it. The manufacturers naturally waterproof leather motorcycle jackets; however, these products are worn down by time. Luckily, similar products are available for purchase. Water-repellents are mostly wax-based products that are rubbed onto the leather thoroughly to protect it from water damage at all times. 6. Maintenance To maintain your leather jacket and prevent it from showing signs of cracks or chipping is to apply a softener to the material every now and then. Leather softeners are also available for purchase, and just like the water repellents, they’re rubbed thoroughly and softly into the material whenever needed. Final Thoughts This is all that we have to say on how to wash your motorcycle jacket. We hope you now have the full picture of what you should and shouldn't do in front of you. The crucial part of this article is to know when every step should be done and how often. Some things are to be done less frequently than others, and with you wearing your leather jacket for so long, you'll have a feel for it, and that should be your leading guide.