Cleaning a leather jacket

I bought a leather jacket at Goodwill for $15. I was wondering what is the best way to care for it is. I don't usually like to buy leather so I am unfamiliar. It has a bit of an odor and feels a little dry. Any suggestions how to make it look like new before I play with it would be appreciated.

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Permalink Reply by Patches on January 14, 2012 at 6:18pm

Use saddle soap to clean it, and mink oil to soften and condition the leather. It will take a little elbow grease but you'll have yourself some nice looking leather in no time. You may want to waterproof It but that is up to you. You can get most of your supplies at your local walmart kmart target or anything else along those lines. You may also stop into a local motorcycle shop as many riders wear leather jackets themselves. Hope this helps :)

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Permalink Reply by Alexis on January 14, 2012 at 6:48pm

Huh, thanks! This is great information.

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Permalink Reply by Brody Scumdog on January 15, 2012 at 2:03am

Actually Mink Oil will do a splendid job water proofing it. That's what you use on Docs to make em waterproof.

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Permalink Reply by Patches on January 15, 2012 at 5:54pm

Yeah but idk I tend to waterproof my leather anyway lol

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Permalink Reply by Steve on February 13, 2012 at 6:57pm

To clean the inside:

Turn it inside-out and fill an empty windex bottle with washing machine soap and water. (alternatively you can get a sponge and soak it in washing machine soap)
Spritz it heavily, make sure to get around the neck, wrists, and armpits, then use a rag or something and rub it down as though its coated in mud.
Get another empty windex bottle and fill it with water, spritz it with that and get another rag and mop up the water.
Repeat until your confident its clean. I do this every time I wear my jacket into a show and get all sweaty.

They sell products designed to clean leather (as Patches said, like saddle soap), Autozone has some Armor All leather cleaning wipes I've used in the past and was happy with, not too much more experience in field outside of that.

I wouldnt use anything that'll put a "protective coat" of stuff on it until after you paint on it (assuming that your going to paint it all) as this will keep the paint from sticking. In fact, prior to painting it go over the area your going to paint with cotton balls soaked with rubbing alcohol to make sure theres nothing on it already.

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Permalink Reply by Alexis on February 16, 2012 at 1:33am

Sweet! This is great advice. Half the reason I haven't been wearing it (other than living in Florida) is that the inside still smells like a thrift store.