# So. . . how should I wash this jacket? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 18, 2009, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-should-i-wash-this-jacket/503451 "2009-07-18T16:36:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2009, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-should-i-wash-this-jacket/503451/1 "2009-07-18T16:36:43Z")
Denim and some leatherish looking material. [photo](http://s294.photobucket.com/albums/mm119/badger60/jacket/?action=view¤t=IMG_4033.jpg). This jacket is quite a few years old, and I’d like to wash it before donating it. I’m a little unsure about this leatherish looking material. Maybe it’s leather, maybe not. Maybe it’s just leather-colored vinyl, sorta like the old woodgrain station wagons. What would you do? No, there is no tag indicating care. I’ve searched hi and lo. There is one tag with the name of the line, and place of manufacture (“HAVOC” and “Made in Uruguay”), and another tag with an “M” on it. That tag is the reason I will be donating it. ---
**Author:** ![lolagranola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ea5d25/32.png) [@lolagranola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lolagranola)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2009, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-should-i-wash-this-jacket/503451/2 "2009-07-18T16:51:57Z")
With the leather in it, I’d be tempted to take it to a professional. Which you may or may not want to do when it’s on the way out to donation-ville. If you do clean it yourself, I would follow the tips for cleaning leather at this site: [http://www.clothingdictionary.com/How\_to\_care\_for\_your\_leather\_clothing\_and\_leather\_lingerie.htm](http://www.clothingdictionary.com/How_to_care_for_your_leather_clothing_and_leather_lingerie.htm) ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-should-i-wash-this-jacket/503451/3 "2009-07-19T07:26:57Z")
Doesn’t Goodwill or whomever your giving it to take care of it? They don’t usually throw someone’s mildewed tshirts on the rack right away. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-should-i-wash-this-jacket/503451/4 "2009-07-19T18:43:03Z")
Looks like the Guess jackets of about 25 years ago, for whatever that’s worth. If you’re just going to donate it, try washing it in cold water and drying on low. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-should-i-wash-this-jacket/503451/5 "2009-07-19T23:00:55Z")
I would just throw it in the washer. But I am like that ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-should-i-wash-this-jacket/503451/6 "2009-07-20T03:01:17Z")
Wow. That’s retro. Acid washed denim and what appears to be distressed leather. I’m not sure if you should wash it or shoot it and put it out of its misery. ;D ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-should-i-wash-this-jacket/503451/7 "2009-07-20T05:35:12Z")
If you’re gonna donate it, let them handle it. They either have places that will do it in bulk, cheaply- or they’ll decide that it’s not worth crap clean or dirty. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-should-i-wash-this-jacket/503451/8 "2009-07-20T16:04:01Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > If you’re gonna donate it, let them handle it. They either have places that will do it in bulk, cheaply- or they’ll decide that it’s not worth crap clean or dirty. Huh, I didn’t know that. I’ve thought about giving a bunch of my old stuff away, but don’t look forward to three hours at the laundromat to run it all through. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-should-i-wash-this-jacket/503451/9 "2009-07-20T16:07:32Z")
> [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](#): > > Huh, I didn’t know that. I’ve thought about giving a bunch of my old stuff away, but don’t look forward to three hours at the laundromat to run it all through. Well, let me clarify that- they do want it “clean”- but stuff that needs Drycleaning need not be drycleaned, nothing needs to be pressed etc. It just needs to not be filthy. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-should-i-wash-this-jacket/503451/10 "2009-07-20T16:13:02Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Well, let me clarify that- they do want it “clean”- but stuff that needs Drycleaning need not be drycleaned, nothing needs to be pressed etc. It just needs to not be filthy. Well, it’s all “clean,” in that the last thing any of them did was come out of the washer. Most of it’s just been sitting dormant in my closet for three years, and has accumulated that closet funk. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-should-i-wash-this-jacket/503451/11 "2009-07-20T16:19:33Z")
I have a wool jacket with leatheroid collar. To my surprise, we were able to wash it in cold, but NOT dry it in the dryer. It had to be hung up. I think heat was more of a problem than wet. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-should-i-wash-this-jacket/503451/12 "2009-07-20T22:13:51Z")
> [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](#): > > Well, it’s all “clean,” in that the last thing any of them did was come out of the washer. Most of it’s just been sitting dormant in my closet for three years, and has accumulated that closet funk. Then you’re golden. Bag it up and drop it off.