How to Get Wrinkles out of Leather: Start Gentle, Add Heat Last

You get wrinkles out of leather by relaxing the fibers and letting them set flat again: hang or lay the item out, smooth it by hand, and add warmth or steam only if that fails. Leather Collection's care advice is to let wrinkles hang out first, and to iron only through heavy brown paper on a cool to medium setting. Deep creases from wear, like the folds across a shoe, are different: they can be softened for a while but not removed.

This tutorial is part of our guide to shaping leather and removing wrinkles. It works up from the safest method to the riskiest, so stop at the first step that works.

First, check what you're dealing with

Not every fold in leather is a wrinkle you can fix at home.

How the leather was tanned also matters. Vegetable-tanned leather shrinks for good at about 158-185°F (70-85°C) when wet, while chrome-tanned leather, the kind suited to garments and handbags, holds out to over 212°F (100°C). That's why the steps add moisture and heat last.

Tools and materials

• A wide wooden, plastic or padded hanger for garments
• Clean, dry towels and a soft cloth for blotting
• Flat, heavy items with no sharp edges, such as thick books
• Acid-free tissue or rolled paper to pad out bags and rounded shapes
• An iron with the water emptied, plus heavy brown paper or a 100% cotton cloth
• Optional: a garment steamer (sources disagree on using one; see step 6)

How to get wrinkles out of leather, step by step

Step 1: Empty it and hang it or lay it out

Take everything out of the pockets, because heavy objects stretch leather. Hang garments on a wide or padded hanger, and use padded clips at the waistband for skirts and trousers. Pad bags out with tissue so they hold their shape, but don't overstuff them, since that can stretch the leather or loosen stitching.

Leave it for a couple of days. One jacket retailer suggests 48-72 hours of hanging before trying any heat.

Step 2: Pull small wrinkles gently

For small wrinkles on a hanging garment, pull gently in opposite directions for about five seconds, let it rest about five seconds, and repeat. The maker who suggests this says it won't shift creases or large wrinkles.

Step 3: Use body warmth and your hands

Wearing a jacket through a normal day may ease minor creases, according to one jacket retailer. For bags and flat pieces, smoothing by hand while the leather is slightly warm does the same job on a small scale.

Step 4: Flatten under weight

Lay flat pieces, or a jacket panel, on a smooth surface with no folds underneath. Put flat, heavy items such as thick books over the wrinkles and leave them for a day or two.

Step 5: Hang it in shower steam

Run a hot shower with the door closed until the room fogs, and hang the item near the steam but out of the spray. One maker suggests about 105°F (40.5°C), just a normal hot shower. Afterward, lay it flat, smooth it by hand and let it cool before you wear it. Blot any droplets right away without rubbing, because water can stain leather.

Step 6: Iron through a barrier, or steam, only if needed

If wrinkles are still there, an iron is the next step. Empty the water, set it low, cover the leather with heavy brown paper or a dry cotton cloth, and keep it moving with light pressure. Our page on whether you can iron leather has the full six steps.

Garment steamers divide the sources. One maker says never use a steamer on leather goods. Others use one on low at anywhere from about 4 in (10 cm) to 10 in (25 cm) away. Read can you steam leather to remove wrinkles? before you try it.

Step 7: Store it so the wrinkles don't come back

Hang leather on a wide or padded hanger under a breathable cotton cover, not plastic, away from hot attics and damp cellars. Pad sharp folds so they don't crack. For shoes, one shoe writer recommends wooden shoe trees to keep creases shallower.

Common mistakes

• Going straight to heat. Heat dries leather and can make it crack or burn. Overheating also makes leather shine.
• Ironing without a barrier. Never put the iron directly on leather.
• Using the clothes dryer. The store says never put leather in the dryer.
• Spraying alcohol. One maker mists wrinkles with water and rubbing alcohol. Others say alcohol strips the finish or dye. Test a hidden spot first, or skip it.
• Treating creases like wrinkles. Heat and water only flatten them for a while, and too much heat can damage the leather.

When to stop and get help

Stop if you see any change in color, shine or texture on your test spot. For stubborn or extensive wrinkles, or leather you'd hate to damage, makers suggest a leather restoration specialist. You can look for one through leathershopnearme.com. For old or collection pieces, the Canadian Conservation Institute says reshaping shouldn't be attempted without a conservator.

FAQ

Can I steam creases out of leather?

Steam can relax wrinkles, but sources split on steamers, and creases from wear come back. Shower steam is the gentler option.

What is the best homemade wrinkle remover?

No source we checked tested one. Time, a padded hanger and shower steam are the home methods most sources agree on. The water-and-alcohol spray some makers use is disputed.

Are wrinkles in leather permanent?

Storage wrinkles usually hang out. Creases where leather bends in use are permanent, because the fibers there are broken. One maker says shoe creases can be smoothed only a little, even by a professional.

Can wrinkled leather be ironed?

Yes, smooth leather can, on low through brown paper or cotton. Sources disagree on suede: one maker dry-irons it through a cloth, while a retailer says never iron suede or nubuck. For a coat, see how to remove wrinkles from a leather coat.