Motorcyle Leather Jacket Cleaning Tips

Leather and motorcycles go together like rice and gravy (or red beans and rice for those from South Louisiana.)  The tough durability of leather goes along with the motorcycle image, but offers protection for the rider from the not only elements of weather, but the road.  In an accident, it is very important to have  padding and  protection of a motorcycle jacket in addition to the helmet, leather gloves, leather chaps, and leather boots.  Leather  protects against weather, but also protects the rider from road and vibrations.

We have composed some tips for helping extend the life span of the leather motorcycle jacket.  With proper care and routine maintenance, motorcycle jackets, gloves, and chaps can outlast other natural fibers and even synthetic fabrics, too.  Protect yourself with leather riding apparel. -            

Brian K. Monk, Imerial Suede and Restoration, LLC

Treating your leather jacket, gloves. and chaps with moisture protection can extend their life and aid in water resistance. 

Topical oils and water resistant applications can extend the life of all of your leather garments.  Most leather biker jackets come in black.  Cremes and dressings sometimes can stain lighter colors of leather fabrics.  Black leather won't have this problem.  Special care should be taken not repeat the oiling process and cause a wax accumulation on leather jackets.  Chaps, boots, saddlebags, etc... should be protected in a similar manner and can last for years with leather treatment.  Make sure to read all instructions and follow manufacturer's labels when using leather creme or dressing found "over-the-counter."

Clean up beverage stains and food spills as soon as they happen.

Treating them in  a timely fashion is essential in full removal.  Food spills are much easier to remove by using a mild dish soap like 'Ivory' and water solution when they just happen.  Smooth motorcycle leather has a naturally stain and weather resistant barrier against moisture.  Harsh detergents are not recommended.  Stains and spills are unavoidable in some cases.

Wipe  bugs and road grime periodically.

Smog and bugs appear in some environments and are difficult to remove when allowed to stay on the leather for an long period of time.

Salt and Perspiration

should be wiped off from time to time.  Climates that experience snow often use salt to improve and control road conditions.  There is salt in coastal climates.  Salt is present in sweat.  We see lots of leather vests and jackets with perspiration stains.  Topical applications can assist in neutralizing salt on leather garments, but are not a substitute for leather cleaning by leather pros. 

3 years is the recommended age for Professional Leather Cleaning.

Our leather cleaning process addresses proper maintenance of oil levels and correct pH levels.  Dirty  patches and rough edges around zippers and cuffs are also addressed in our cleaning process.  Our goal is to return to the customer a  jacket as close to new condition.  Most folks only get their jackets cleaned after they experience food spills, mildew, intense wear, extreme road grime, or salty buildups.  Neglect will do more harm to a motorcycle leathers than anything.

These solutions often have alcohol in their chemical composition and can cause drying. 

Allow the leather jacket, gloves, and chaps to dry out naturally.  Speeding up the process using a heat source can damage the skins, though a fan can be used to aid in air movement.  Do not use the hair dryer.   After the jacket is dried out completely, topical oiling may be necessary.  On a suede garment, a suede brush or the green side of a yellow sponge found in the kitchen may be necessary to brush out the fabric.  Care is needed not to chafe the material.  A properly conditioned garment can repel most damp exposure.

Lubricating Zippers will increase the life of the metal  snaps and zipper parts.  A zipper will hardly ever wear out.  Lubrication is needed as part of routine maintenance.  When a zipper starts to stick, a crayon or candle may be rubbed on the zipper teeth.  The zipper pull may become bent or worn and can be replaced more economically than a full zipper replacement.  Prevention adds to zipper life expectancy.  Rips and tears should be handled in a timely fashion so they won't get bigger.

Avoid Stickers.

The dreaded 'Hello my name is.....' is an example of a bad glue stain.  Damage occurs when the sticker is taken off.  Yanking the sticker off will result in some of the finish coming off, too.  It is best to use a mild de-greaser like a mineral spirits to help loosen the glue first.  Re-oiling will probably be necessary since the oil levels are disrupted.

Wear your leather jacket and leather chaps often.

Leather will benefit from moving around rather than just saving it for special occasions.  It will stay softer and last longer than one that sits idle in the closet.  Proper storage is important to caring for your leather apparel.  Always store outside of a plastic bag and in a cool dry area.  A cloth cover such as an all-cotton sheet or pillow case will allow the leather to breathe and will keep the dust off.  Cedar blocks can be helpful in a closet and will help control insects.