Hi. I have a leather jacket. It’s about 6 or 7 years old, still in pretty good shape. I’ve been wondering if there’s something I should be doing to help care for it. There wasn’t much of anything in the way of instructions that came with it, just the note on the tag that says “Dry clean by leather method only.”
I’ve heard references to “oiling leathers” and such to care for them. I know as a kid I had to oil my baseball glove from time to time, but it wasn’t something that I payed much attention to.
The jacket is a leather shell, with polyester fill/lining. It has some minor scratches from various encounters of life, particularly a few from cats/kittens. (Ever had a cat on your shoulder?) It also has some spots showing wear, mostly on creases and pleats.
I just wonder if there’s something I should be doing.
Okay, so where do I get some “leather conditioner”?
Also, how can I be sure my coat is real leather? The label says “genuine leather”, but something about the way it feels (texture, weight) and the aforementioned wear marks doesn’t seem leathery. For instance, the coat is deep brown, but the wear scuffs are all very light and grayish.
Though I think it did have a leathery smell when I got it.
leather conditioners can be purchased at most shoe repair shops, or try your local horse/farm supply store, they will definately carry a range.
The most common brand is probably Lexol, it comes in several versions – Lexol PH, Lexol neatsfoot, etc. Avoid straight-up neatsfoot oil, because it tends to degrade stitching. Lexol Ph is a neatsfoot oil that has been “balanced” to prevent this. Lexol Conditioner is soemthing else, who knows what?
Some other brands, which you’ll probably be more likely to find at horsie stores are:
Hydrophane leather treatment
Passier’s Lederbalsam
Leather Therapy
numerous other local, national & international brands!
And don’t forget the old standby, Murphy’s oil soap. Cleans AND conditions, plus you can use the extra on your hardwood floors! (I am not joking, everyone in my barn, including people who paid $2k+ for their saddles, likes Murphy’s.)
I also have a leather jacket - a relatively new one - and have a care question of my own. I went bar-hopping with a couple friends last night and found that my jacket smelled faintly of cigarette smoke (yes, we found a bar in LA that allows smoking), and I was wondering if there were any ways to get rid of the smell or, as these things sometimes do, if it would go away of its own accord. TIA, guys.
