Leather Care & Cleaning
How to Clean Leather Mittens Without Soaking the Lining
Wipe leather mittens with a wrung-out cloth while wearing them, never soak them, and dry them upright away from heat. Steps for linings, shearling and salt.
To clean leather mittens, take out any removable liner, brush off dry dirt, then wipe the outside with a well-wrung warm cloth while you wear them. Use only a very small drop of mild soap for greasy marks, and never soak them or put them in the washing machine. Let them dry at room temperature, away from heaters.
Mittens follow the same rules as gloves, but their thick linings and winter use change a few steps. The general glove method is in how to clean leather gloves, part of our leather care and cleaning guide.
First, check the leather and the lining
Lined winter gloves commonly use Thinsulate, cashmere, wool, silk, fur or shearling. Read the label on the liner too, since it may have its own care rules.
| What you have | What it means for cleaning |
|---|---|
| Smooth leather shell | Damp-cloth wipe, then a little conditioner once dry |
| Suede shell | Brush it; no conditioner |
| Shearling (wool inside) | Brush the wool and blot stains; never submerge |
| Wool, cashmere, silk or fur lining | Don't soak the lining; a glove maker sends lined pairs to a specialist cleaner |
| Removable liner | Take it out first; the mitten dries faster |
What you need
- A soft brush
- 2 clean cloths, one for wiping and one for blotting
- Lukewarm water and a mild detergent or soap flakes
- A clean towel and an empty bottle or can to dry them upright
- Leather conditioner, a small dab (not for suede)
How to clean leather mittens in 7 steps
- Take out the liner. If the liner comes out, remove it so both parts dry faster.
- Brush off dry dirt and snow. Let wet mud dry first, then brush it off with a soft brush. On a shearling cuff or lining, brush the wool in the direction of the fibers.
- Spot test. Wipe a hidden spot, such as inside the cuff, with a damp cloth and check for color on the cloth.
- Wipe while wearing. Put the mitten on and wipe it with a warm cloth wrung out until it is barely damp. Your hand fills it out, so you can reach the seams.
- Add soap only for greasy marks. Mix a very small drop of mild detergent or soap flakes into lukewarm water, test again, then wipe. Makers differ on liquid soap: glove maker Dents says no liquid soap, while a mitten maker allows a small drop of body wash.
- Treat road salt. Wipe white winter salt marks with a clean, damp cloth and let the leather dry naturally.
- Blot, then dry upright at room temperature. Dab off the water with a dry cloth and don't wring. Stand the mittens over an empty bottle or can, away from heaters, dryers and direct sun. Put them on a few times as they dry to keep the shape.
Cleaning the inside and the lining
Cleaning the inside is where mittens are most likely to get ruined. A glove maker warns that lined leather gloves should not be submerged, so it advises against cleaning the lining at home and suggests a specialist dry cleaner instead. For shearling, blot a stain with a damp cloth without rubbing.
One retailer blog suggests a light spray of water and white vinegar inside the turned-out glove, or baking soda left inside for a few hours and then brushed out. We found no independent test of either, so try it on an old pair first. Before using vinegar, read is vinegar safe to use on leather?
Dry, then condition
Once the mittens are fully dry, work in a small dab of leather conditioner to keep the leather soft. Skip it on suede, which needs a brush instead. If a pair still feels stiff, see how to soften leather gloves.
In this short video, the mitten maker CG Habitats / CandyGrind shows its own care routine: air drying at room temperature, never near a heater, and wiping dirt off with a wrung-out cloth or baby wipe. It uses coconut oil instead of a leather conditioner; that is the maker's own choice, and we found no independent test of coconut oil on leather.
Mistakes that ruin leather mittens
- Machine washing or soaking. Glove and mitten makers say never. More in can you machine-wash leather gloves?
- Drying on a radiator or car vent. Heat can cause hardening, cracks and shrinkage. See can you put leather in the dryer?
- Wringing them out.
- Storing them in a plastic bag. Keep them flat in a cool, dry drawer instead.
Quick answers
Can you wash leather mittens in the washing machine?
No. Glove and mitten makers both say never machine wash or fully submerge leather mittens.
Is Dawn dish soap safe on leather mittens?
A glove maker advises against liquid soap and suggests soap flakes or a mild detergent. We found no source that tests Dawn on leather.
What kind of oil is good for leather mittens?
Sources disagree. The store suggests a leather conditioner, a mitten maker uses coconut oil, and neatsfoot oil darkens light leather. The Canadian Conservation Institute, writing about museum objects, warns that oils can oxidize and leave sticky surfaces.
What happens if leather mittens get wet?
Blot them and let them dry at room temperature, reshaping them on your hands as they dry. For keeping water out next time, see how to waterproof leather gloves.
No mittens in the range, but for lined winter pairs see the Leather Collection women's leather gloves, with cashmere, wool, silk, fur and shearling linings.
hosob Editorial Team
hosob articles are researched from published sources, cited in the text, and reviewed before publication.