Leather jackets, raincoats, and suits are always at the peak of fashion. Currently, leather skirts, gloves and shorts have also become popular. This material is famous for its wear-resistant qualities, but leather requires very careful and special care. In order for leather items to retain their presentable appearance for a long time, it is necessary to take care of them in a timely manner. There are some simple recommendations on how to wash a leather skirt so that it does not change its color or decrease in size.
Is it possible to wash a leather skirt?
To keep the item clean and attractive, it is advisable to carry out periodic cleaning. It is recommended to remove dirt at the slightest need using a dry cloth or soft sponge. If you cannot cope with the pollution in this way, you need to resort to more radical methods.
Attention! When washing by hand or by machine, you need to limit the effect of water on the leather surface of the skirt as much as possible.
If absolutely necessary, you can wash your leather skirt at home using available products. But this type of care is highly undesirable. The procedure can be done manually or in a washing machine. Each case is completely unique and requires an individual approach.
My accessories
Sometimes the stain has to be scrubbed off from a leather bag and other accessories. Then the following methods are used:
- You can use dishwashing detergent. With its help, it is easy to scrub a backpack, cap, lanyard and other items, but only those that have a dark shade.
- You can get rid of tea or wine stains with laundry soap. But first you need to blot the dirt with a cloth so that the residue from a particular drink is absorbed there.
- If there are traces of the handle on the bag, an alcohol solution applied to a cotton pad will wipe them off. After completing the procedure, apply a rich cream to the leather product.
- But for light-colored bags, alcohol is not suitable, but makeup remover milk or soap solution will do. It is also possible to remove dirt from a light-colored leather product using an eraser.
- To make bags, belts and other accessories shine after cleaning dirt, you can apply Vaseline or regular sunflower oil to them.
- Toothpaste with a whitening effect is good at removing stains. The area of contamination is rubbed with it, then after some time the remaining paste is removed with a damp cloth.
- If a scratch or crack appears on your favorite bag or backpack, you should purchase a special cream in the store that matches the color and cover the defects with it. Such dyes are also sold in the form of a spray, which is distributed evenly over the product, after which it must dry.
How to wash a leather skirt
There are 2 washing methods - manual and in a washing machine. Each option involves following a precise algorithm, which includes basic recommendations for caring for such things.
How to wash a leather skirt in a washing machine
Washing a leather skirt in a washing machine is strictly prohibited. The only case when this option can be used is when there is severe contamination that cannot be removed manually.
When washing in a washing machine, the following rules should be observed:
- limit the time the skirt spends in the washing machine, so it is recommended to use only the “Quick Wash” program;
- do not use powders, bleaches, conditioners and gels - simply place the skirt in the drum without adding cleaning agents;
- the maximum water temperature should be 30°C;
- It is advisable to use a special bag for things.
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After the procedure, the item should be immediately removed from the washing machine. You can't wring out your skirt. Drying is done naturally.
How to wash a leather skirt by hand
Hand washing is the best option for cleaning items.
When performing hand washing, you need to take into account the basic care rules:
- First, you should clean the surface of the item. You need to prepare a weak soap solution and a soft washcloth. After saturating the sponge with soapy water and squeezing it well, wipe the surface with light movements.
- Prepare a new sponge and clean water, the temperature of which should not exceed 20°C. It is recommended to soak the sponge in warm liquid and remove all soap residues, traces and stains from the cleaning solution.
- The next step is to wash the lining. The fabric should be isolated as much as possible from the leather part. You can wash textiles in warm water with added powder. The lining should be rinsed and wrung out well.
- If possible, the fabric is dried separately from the top layer. The drying principle depends on the shape of the skirt and the way the lining is attached.
Important ! It is recommended to wash the product no more than once a month. Primary cleaning is done after each wear.
At this stage, hand washing is completed. It is important that the natural material comes into contact with water as little as possible.
Humidifier
Special moisturizers are produced for leather skirts, jackets and dresses. Usually, when purchasing such an item, they are offered at a clothing store.
Humidifiers are sold in the form of sprays; they are very simple and convenient to use.
Method of use:
- First you need to smooth out all the creases.
- The selected humidifier is sprayed onto the skirt at a distance of 25 cm.
- Rub the spray with a soft cloth over the entire surface until it is completely absorbed into the material.
- You can hang the skirt on hangers and put it in the closet.
Such humidifiers should not be left on things until they dry completely, as unpleasant marks may remain..
These products also contain substances that protect leather clothing from aggressive environmental influences.
What tools can be used
When preparing for washing, you need to take into account the color of the base material, the degree and type of contamination. To remove some types of dirt, washing may not be enough or, conversely, a radical cleaning option.
To clean individual stains, you can use available products that will not damage the material and will definitely remove the problem:
- Ammonia. Dilute 5-6 drops of ammonia in water. Soak a cotton pad in the solution and wipe off the dirt. In order not to enlarge the stain, it is recommended to move from the edges of the stain to the center.
- Lemon, ethyl alcohol and glycerin will help remove scuffs and oily shine. The problem area should be treated with cotton wool soaked in ethyl alcohol. After drying, treat the stain with a slice of lemon. Then lubricate the surface with glycerin.
- Thanks to vinegar, you can remove stains that usually remain in the area of pockets and stitching. You need to soak cotton wool in 9% vinegar and lubricate problem areas.
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The most effective remedy is still considered to be a soap solution. In order to enhance the effect of the cleaning agent, turpentine, ammonia, and gasoline are sometimes added. But it is important not to overdo it with such additives, since their impact can also negatively affect the condition of the base material.
Pay attention to color
It is important to wash light and colored leather clothing separately, both by hand and in the machine. To wash white items, it is better to give preference to the manual mode; it is not even necessary to use powder; you can (and even should) limit yourself to baby soap or shampoo.
To do this, pour warm water into a basin, add a little soap or shampoo, as well as ammonia (a couple of drops). Afterwards, a sponge or piece of cloth is moistened in this solution and the contaminated areas are carefully wiped.
It is important not to overdo it with wet processing of the material, otherwise there is a risk of soaking the leather and the product will become deformed, which can no longer be corrected.
How to dry a leather skirt correctly
An important step after washing is proper drying. There are 2 ways to dry a product. The first is horizontal drying. It is recommended to lay out a white cloth on a flat surface. The item is laid out on top of the textile. The thing needs to be straightened out well.
The vertical drying method is simpler. You need to hang the item on a clothes hanger (tempel). It is recommended to straighten the product well and give it a normal shape in accordance with the cut. Hang the hanger so that the product on it does not touch any foreign surfaces.
Comment! If the lining was washed separately, then the textile part should be dried separately from the upper base.
For drying, it is recommended to choose rooms that are well ventilated, but without drafts. The product should not be exposed to direct sunlight. The air temperature in the room is not higher than 25°C, and the humidity is within 70%.
Let's sum it up
Proper care is the key to the long life of your favorite item, so you definitely need to know how to remove stains from leather quickly and efficiently. There are plenty of tools for this; you just need to determine the type of leather your item is made from, as well as the best way to clean it. This is what determines what result you will ultimately get, so be extremely careful.
Important! Leather is a delicate and fastidious material that will not tolerate neglect, so minimal cleaning should be done after each wear.
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