Leather Care & Cleaning
How to Clean a Leather Coat at Home
Clean a leather coat at home: dust it, blot stains with a little mild soap, wipe, clean the lining, air dry and condition. Stain table and what to avoid.
To clean a leather coat, dust it with a dry microfiber cloth, blot stains with a barely damp cloth and a little mild soap in lukewarm water, wipe off the residue, and let it air dry on a padded hanger before you condition it. Never soak it or put it in a washing machine. Leave big or stubborn stains to a leather specialist.
The same method works for most smooth leather clothes, and it is part of our leather care and cleaning guide.
First, check what your coat is made of
Read the care label before anything touches the coat. The cleaning method depends on the leather.
Not sure? Wet a white cloth with plain water and wipe a hidden spot. If color comes off with water alone, any cleaner will remove color too.
| Coat surface | How to tell | How to clean it | Facts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finished smooth leather | Coated surface; the most common and most stain-resistant | This tutorial | – |
| Suede or nubuck | Soft, napped surface | Brushes and suede cleaners only, no liquid leather cleaners | – |
| Unfinished or aniline | Very absorbent, darkens and stains easily | Minimal moisture; a specialist for anything beyond dusting | – |
| Faux leather | Label says PU, PVC or similar | See how to clean faux leather | – |
What you need
- Two or three soft microfiber cloths
- A soft brush for seams and creases
- A small amount of mild soap and lukewarm water, or a pH-balanced leather cleaner
- Leather conditioner or lotion
- A wide, padded hanger
How to clean a leather coat in 8 steps
- Empty the pockets and test. Try your soap or cleaner on a hidden spot, such as the inside hem or under an arm, first.
- Dust it. Go over the whole coat with a dry microfiber cloth, and use the soft brush in creases and seams.
- Spot-clean stains. Mix a little mild soap into lukewarm water. Dampen a cloth (don't soak it) and blot the stain. Don't scrub.
- Wipe the whole coat. Work in sections with a lightly damp cloth. Too much water can warp or discolor leather.
- Remove the soap. Wipe again with a clean, damp cloth so no residue stays on the leather.
- Clean the lining. Use lukewarm water with a few drops of mild detergent or baby shampoo on a cloth. Check the label, because some linings have their own care rules.
- Air dry. Hang the coat on a padded hanger at room temperature. Keep it away from heaters, lamps and hair dryers, and never use a dryer.
- Condition it. Once it's dry, apply conditioner evenly with a soft cloth, let it soak in and wipe off the extra.
How to handle common stains
Some guides suggest alcohol for ink, but Harley-Davidson's guide says to test it on a hidden spot first, and a furniture maker says to avoid alcohol on finished leather. Read is rubbing alcohol safe to use on leather? before you try it.
| Stain | What to do | Facts |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh spill | Blot gently with a clean cloth | – |
| Water marks | Wipe gently with a damp cloth and let the coat air dry | – |
| Winter salt | Wipe with a clean, damp cloth and let it dry naturally | – |
| Grease | Cover with cornstarch or talcum powder for several hours or overnight, then brush it off; don't rub | – |
| Ink | Dab lightly, don't rub, then wipe with a damp cloth as it lifts | – |
| Large or stubborn stains | Take the coat to a professional leather cleaner | – |
What can ruin a leather coat
- Soaking or machine washing. Leather jackets should not be soaked, and water can stain leather and move dye.
- A normal dry cleaner. Standard dry cleaning strips oils and can crack, fade and shrink leather. See can you dry-clean a leather coat?
- Harsh household products. Bleach, ammonia and alcohol-based solutions strip leather's oils.
- The wrong leather products. Cleaning fluid, shoe cream, saddle soap and mink oil can damage leather.
- Abrasive tools.
- Heat and sun for long periods.
- Wire hangers and plastic covers. Wire distorts the shoulders; plastic dries the leather out.
Cleaning other leather clothes
The steps above suit most smooth leather clothes. Some pieces need their own method:
- Pants: how to wash leather pants
- Gloves: how to clean leather gloves
- Riding jackets with armor: how to wash a motorcycle jacket safely
For an older coat that has cracked or faded, cleaning won't fix it. Our partner site covers leather coat restoration.
Quick answers
Is it okay to use Dawn dish soap on leather?
Harley-Davidson's guide suggests a small amount of mild dish soap in lukewarm water for minor stains on a jacket, and the store's pants care also uses a little mild soap. We found no source that tests Dawn by name, so use very little and spot-test first.
What is a good cleaner for leather jackets?
A cleaner made for leather with a balanced pH. Many leather cleaners contain solvents that can attack the finish or dry the leather out. Our guide to water-based leather cleaners compares the options.
What is the best homemade leather cleaner?
Mild Castile soap or diluted gentle baby shampoo are named as alternatives to a leather cleaner. Recipes and their limits are in how to make homemade leather cleaner.
How often should you clean a leather coat?
No source we read sets a cleaning interval, so clean when it's dirty and blot spills right away. Harley-Davidson suggests re-conditioning a jacket every few months; the store says "now and then".
Coats in the Leather Collection men's leather coats range come in cowhide, sheepskin or goatskin, so check which leather yours is before you start.
hosob Editorial Team
hosob articles are researched from published sources, cited in the text, and reviewed before publication.