How to Clean Pleather Pants Without Washing Them

To clean pleather pants, wipe the outside with a soft cloth dampened in mild soap and water, go over it again with a cloth in clean water to lift the residue, and let them air dry. Then turn them inside out: body oils soil the inside most, and the lining has its own care rules. Keep them away from hot water and the dryer.

This page covers everyday cleaning between washes. It is part of our leather care and cleaning guide.

Check what you're cleaning

Pleather is another name for artificial leather, also sold as faux, vegan or PU leather. It is a plastic coating, usually polyurethane (PU) or PVC, on a fabric base.

If yours are real leather, use how to wash leather pants instead.

What you need

• 2 soft cloths, such as microfiber
• A bowl of water with a little mild soap
• A second bowl of clean water for rinsing
• A hanger or drying rack
• A clothes steamer for wrinkles (optional)

How to clean pleather pants in 6 steps

1. Test a hidden spot. Try your soapy cloth inside a hem first and check for any change once dry.
2. Wipe off dust. Go over the pants with a soft, dry cloth first, the same dust step the store gives for its leather pants.
3. Wipe with soapy water. Wring the cloth until it is just damp and wipe gently, leg by leg. Don't scrub: the surface of some artificial leathers can rub and wear off.
4. Rinse the residue. Wipe again with a cloth dipped in clean water and wrung out.
5. Clean the inside. Turn the pants inside out, since body oils soil them most on the inside. Spot clean the lining as its label allows.
6. Air dry. Hang them on a hanger or lay them on a rack; never use the dryer. Steam out wrinkles, or hover an iron on the steam setting without touching the faux leather.

If the label allows a full wash, follow how to wash faux leather pants.

Stains, lotion and odors

• Lotion, sunscreen and skin creams: wipe them off soon. Residues from skin and creams can damage the plasticizer in the coating, and the faux leather can turn brittle.
• Ink: act fast. One maker of PU upholstery says not all ink stains can be removed.
• Dye from other clothes: dye can transfer onto lighter colors and may not come out.
• Stubborn marks: that same upholstery maker allows rubbing alcohol on its own PU fabric, but on other synthetic leathers alcohol can dull the gloss or lift color. Read is rubbing alcohol safe to use on leather? before you try it.
• Odor: clean the inside and lining (step 5) and let the pants air out.

What not to do

• Hot water: it can shrink, warp or melt faux leather.
• The dryer: high heat can make faux leather come apart.
• Dry cleaning: it can damage the plastic in the material; check the tag first.
• Hard scrubbing: the coating can wear off.

To keep them clean longer, see how to protect faux leather. For bags, jackets and furniture, see how to clean faux leather.

Quick answers

Can I use Dawn dish soap on faux leather?

The sources we found call for mild soap and water on PU. None tests Dawn by name, so test it on a hidden spot first.

What happens to faux leather when it gets wet?

Faux leather is less sensitive to water than real leather. Over time, though, polyurethane breaks down by reacting with water, and humidity speeds that up. Dry it after cleaning.

Can pleather pants go in the washing machine?

Some can, if the care tag allows it. One faux leather leggings maker's tag says to turn them inside out, wash cold and lay flat to dry. Follow your own label.

Prefer real leather next time? Leather Collection men's leather pants are cut from cowhide and made to order.