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Leather Coat: Leather Coat Maintenance

Though genuine leather coats are a popular outwear option, they are often a garment that causes a great deal of confusion for their owner. Leather coats are functional, stylish, and always a classic choice, but they aren't the easiest item in your wardrobe to care for or clean.

Can you use cleaners on real leather coats? Can you take a leather coat to your neighborhood drycleaner? Can stains on leather coats be removed? These questions often plague the leather coat owner who happens to wear their coat in bad weather, for many seasons, or to a party with a clumsy guest who spills red wine on your coat.

There are ways to clean leather, but knowing a few basics about your leather coat assists make sure you don't do more harm than good when you try to clean a spot or stain on your coat.

Otherwise, in a dry environment like the western states, regularly condition your leather coat to prevent drying and cracking. Apply a little leather conditioner when the leather is nearly dry to restore flexibility to your leather coat. Follow this first treatment with a full conditioning treatment after the leather has completely air dried.

To spot clean leather with soap and water, place a small amount of gentile, moisturizing soap such as Dove soap on a damp cloth and bring it to a light lather. Rub the damp cloth on the leather without putting too much water or pressure on your leather coat. Wipe away any lather with a fresh damp cloth, but don't rinse the leather in water. Next, polish the leather with a dry towel, and treat the newly clean leather with a leather coat conditioner after it has air dried totally. One tip to remember when cleaning your leather coat with this method is to always test the cleaning method on a small, hidden patch of leather before proceeding to the whole item, as leather cleaning can sometimes transform the color or appearance of your coat. Caution in cleaning is ever the key to keeping your leather coat in good condition!

In addition, it is best to avoid products like mink oil, shoe polish, and waxes when cleaning leather coats, as they can leave both a residue on the coat and an odor that you will not be able to get rid of after you have used the product.

As to cleaning your leather coat, usually you can clean your coat once per season, with either a polish or a protecting spray. With all things in life, moderation is to be remembered, as over cleaning can lead to a build up of product on your leather coat.

Some high end dry cleaners also offer custom leather cleaning. It is significant to consult with your dry cleaner about what you expect from a leather cleaning, and whether or not the cleaner will guarantee his work. Because leather is often hard to clean, many professioal cleaners will not guarantee that all spots or stains will be removed from your leather coat, so it is best to discuss expectations before you give your garment to a professional.

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Author: Jessica Anning runs an information web site about Leather Coat. Articles,News,Resources and Video about Leather Coat Maintenance This article is available as a unique content article with free reprint rights.

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