Leather Reshaping & Wrinkles
How to Get Wrinkles Out of Faux Leather: Steam, Hang and Keep the Heat Low
Hang it, steam it, smooth it by hand and keep direct heat away. Six steps for faux leather jackets, skirts and bags, plus what to do with seats and creases.
To get wrinkles out of faux leather, hang it on a padded hanger, then relax the wrinkles with shower steam or a garment steamer kept moving, and smooth them by hand. Keep direct heat away. Faux leather is a plastic coating on fabric, and heat can make it bubble, warp, melt or wrinkle for good.
This tutorial is part of our guide to shaping leather and removing wrinkles. Real leather follows different rules, covered in how to get wrinkles out of leather.
First, check that it's faux leather
Faux leather (also sold as pleather, PU or vegan leather) is usually a fabric backing with a PU or PVC coating. Plastics like these soften as they warm up. That's why every method below uses gentle, moving heat or none at all.
Check the care label first. If it says genuine leather, use the real-leather tutorial linked above instead.
Tools and materials
- A wide, padded hanger
- A bathroom with a shower, or a garment steamer
- Tissue paper for folds and bags
- A thin towel or cotton cloth, only if you end up ironing
How to get wrinkles out of faux leather, step by step
Step 1: Hang it up and let it relax
Empty the pockets and hang the piece on a padded hanger. Light wrinkles from a bag or box often ease while it hangs. Give it a day before you add steam.
Step 2: Use shower steam
Close the bathroom door, run a hot shower and hang the item in the room for 15-20 minutes, out of the spray. Then smooth the wrinkles with your hands while the material is warm. The same retailer says this may not remove deep creases.
Step 3: Try a garment steamer for stubborn wrinkles
A cleaning company calls a steamer the best option for faux leather wrinkles. A clothing retailer holds it 2-3 in (5-8 cm) from the surface and keeps it moving. Test a hidden spot first, such as the inside of a hem, and stop if the surface looks shiny or puckered.
Step 4: Smooth it by hand and let it cool
Smooth the panel flat while it is still warm, then leave it to cool on the hanger. Don't fold it until it's cool.
Step 5: Iron only as a last resort
If a crease still won't move, iron it inside out, under a cotton cloth, on low or the synthetic setting with steam off, in brief presses. Never put an iron directly on faux leather. The full method is in how to iron faux leather.
Step 6: Store it so wrinkles don't come back
Hang garments on padded hangers, put tissue between folds when you must fold, and keep them away from heaters, dryers and hot cars.
Bags, seats and other faux leather items
For dents in seats and cushions, see how to remove dents from leather.
| Item | What to try | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Jacket, skirt, pants | Steps 1-4 above | Deep creases may stay |
| Bag or purse | Fill rounded shapes with tissue so the panels sit smooth, then use steam as in steps 2-3 | Don't overstuff and strain the stitching |
| Stool or chair seat | A warm room and massaging the area first | Faux leather can bubble or melt if heated too fast or too long |
| Car seat | Low heat only, if at all | Seat creases tend to come back |
Common mistakes
- Using a hair dryer or heat gun. A leather maker warns that heat can melt PU or faux leather. A repair company says a heat gun can quickly damage fake leather.
- Putting it in the dryer. Air-dry faux leather and never use a dryer.
- Holding the steamer still. Keep it moving.
- Ironing the surface directly.
When to stop
If the coating has bubbled, cracked or gone shiny, heat has already damaged it. More steam won't reverse that. For a professional opinion, see leathershopnearme.com.
FAQ
Can you put faux leather in the dryer?
No. The retailer we cite says to air-dry faux leather and never use a dryer, and lists dryers among the heat sources to avoid.
Can you steam creases out of faux leather?
Often, yes. Shower steam for 15-20 minutes or a steamer kept moving 2-3 in (5-8 cm) away are the usual methods. Deep creases may not come out fully.
How do you make faux leather smooth?
Steam it, smooth it by hand while it's warm and let it cool on a padded hanger. For one stubborn crease, iron it through a cotton cloth on low. For real leather pieces, see how to remove creases from leather.
If you also own genuine leather, Leather Collection's care advice says to let wrinkles hang out before trying an iron.
hosob Editorial Team
hosob articles are researched from published sources, cited in the text, and reviewed before publication.