Leather Care & Cleaning
Can You Wash Leather? It Depends on the Leather and the Label
Usually not like clothes: soaking and machine washing harm most leather, though some makers disagree. What to do for jackets, pants, gloves and faux.
Usually not the way you wash clothes. Most real leather is damaged by direct contact with water, and a laundry brand says leather almost never belongs in the washing machine and should never be soaked. One leather goods maker disagrees and says most leather can be washed like textiles when the care label allows it. For everyday dirt, wipe with a damp cloth; for a full clean, use a leather specialist.
More cleaning guides are in our leather care and cleaning guide.
What the sources say
The sources don't agree, so the care label on your item decides. Without one, treat water as the risk.
| Source | View on washing leather |
|---|---|
| Canadian Conservation Institute | Most leathers are damaged by direct water; vegetable-tanned leather may shrink or stiffen |
| CCI, same guide | Fully chrome-tanned leather won't shrink even in hot water |
| Comfort (laundry brand) | Almost never machine-washable; never soak |
| Picard (leather goods maker) | Most leather washable like textiles per the label; bags, suede and faux by hand |
| Leathercare.com (care-product seller) | A whole garment can be washed with its own products for a more even result |
| Leather Collection care page | Normal dry cleaning strips oils; use a leather specialist |
Can you wash it? Item by item
| Item | Short answer | Step-by-step guide |
|---|---|---|
| Real leather jacket or coat | Wipe and spot-clean; full cleaning by a specialist | How to clean a leather coat |
| Leather pants | Damp cloth and a little mild soap on the stain, then dry the spot | How to wash leather pants |
| Leather gloves | A glove maker says don't wash them, especially in a machine | Can you wash leather gloves? |
| Motorcycle leathers | Hand clean only, never machine wash | How to wash a motorcycle jacket safely |
| Faux (PU) leather clothes | Often washable if the label allows | How to wash faux leather pants |
| Suede or nubuck | Special brushes and cleaners, not standard leather cleaners | Suede care |
Why water is the risk
Water can pull tannins to the surface, causing stains and brittleness, and can move dye. As water evaporates it takes oils with it. Vegetable-tanned leather may also shrink or stiffen.
In this short video, the In The Wash channel explains why it advises against machine-washing leather and suggests a leather cleaner used by hand. It says "leather of any type"; note that some faux leather labels do allow machine washing.
If the label allows washing
- Spot test on a hidden area first.
- Wipe a hidden spot with a white cloth and distilled water; if color comes off with water alone, any cleaner will remove color too.
- Don't wring the item.
- Dry at room temperature, never in a dryer.
The full method is in how to wash leather safely, and the machine question in can you machine-wash leather?
Quick answers
Is leather ruined if it gets wet?
Not usually, if you let it dry at room temperature and keep it out of the dryer. See can water ruin leather?
Is it okay to wash leather with soap and water?
For a stain, the store advises a damp cloth with a little mild soap, then drying the spot right away.
Is Dawn dish soap ok for leather?
One motorcycle maker suggests a small amount of mild dish soap in lukewarm water for minor stains. We found no source that tests Dawn by name.
The Leather Collection leather care instructions cover spot cleaning, drying and when to see a specialist.
hosob Editorial Team
hosob articles are researched from published sources, cited in the text, and reviewed before publication.