3 Steps to Clean Your Leather Motorcycle Jacket

Regularly cleaning a leather motorcycle jacket is an essential process to keep it looking its best. Leather suites, boots, trousers and jackets can cost literally thousands, so it is worth a little extra time and effort to help maintain the beautiful finish. A high-quality leather jacket can easily start to dry out and crack if the proper care isn't provided. The actual process of cleaning and conditioning the motorcycle gear is quite easy. Plus, the jackets that are well-maintained are more supple which means they are more comfortable to wear and easier to put on and take off. An ideal time-frame to clean the leather motorcycle jacket is every 3 or 4 months.

What is involved in the cleaning process?

Initial cleaning

Before starting the cleaning process, you want to find a convenient place to hang your leathers. Use a coat hanger and make sure there is enough space to work. Start the cleaning process with a bowl of hot soapy water. Stay away from harsh detergents or washing up liquid, and instead use a mild soap similar to a shower gel. Give the jacket a good wipe down using a microfiber cloth or similar to make sure it is completely clean.

Leave to dry

Once the jacket is fully clean and all signs of dirt have been removed, leave it in an open area to air dry. Don't use a tumble dryer, hair dryer or other heated appliance to speed things up. Heating leather based clothes can increase the risk of the material shrinking, splitting or cracking.

When the jacket is dry, you are ready to start on the conditioning step. It is always important to complete the initial cleaning to remove the dirt. If you go directly to conditioning, there is the risk of trapping the dirt which can lead to a quite atrocious look.

Apply conditioner

Apply a high quality leather conditioner that easily absorbs into the leather to make sure it does its job well and gives long-term protection. Massage the preferred conditioner all over the jacket using your hands or a dry cloth. Give the seams and stitching special attention because these areas are more at risk of cracking or rotting in the future. After a good coating is applied, leave the jacket overnight to dry. At first the leather material may feel a little greasy, but once the conditioner is fully absorbed, it should look wonderful.