How to Wash a Leather Bomber Jacket: Shell, Rib Knit, Shearling and Lining

You don't wash a leather bomber jacket the way you wash a nylon one. Never soak it or put it in the washing machine; instead, wipe the leather shell with a barely damp, lightly soapy cloth, clean the lining and rib knit separately, and let the jacket dry at room temperature. Shearling collars and linings need brushing and blotting, never soaking.

This tutorial is part of our leather care and cleaning guide. If your bomber is nylon, like the MA-1, follow its care label and see how to wash a bomber jacket.

First, check what your bomber is made of

Read the inside care label first; a riding-gear brand says that when the label and a general guide differ, the label wins. Suede bombers need a different method: see how to brush leather safely and our suede guides.

What you need

• 2 or 3 soft microfiber cloths and a soft brush for seams
• A bowl of lukewarm water and a very small amount of mild soap
• White tissue or an absorbent towel for the knit trim
• A wide, padded hanger
• Leather conditioner or lotion for afterward

How to clean a leather bomber jacket in 7 steps

1. Empty the pockets and dust it. Wipe the whole jacket with a dry microfiber cloth and use a soft brush in creases and seams.
2. Spot test. Try your cleaner on a hidden area such as the inside hem or under an arm.
3. Wipe the leather shell in sections. Use a barely damp cloth with a small amount of mild soap, blot rather than scrub, and don't oversaturate any panel, because excess moisture can warp or discolor leather. Then wipe off soap residue with a clean damp cloth.
4. Blot the rib knit cuffs and hem. Use small amounts of cleaner, blot well, and work from the edge of a mark to its center; pre-test for color loss or dye bleeding. Keep the cloth off the leather next to the knit.
5. Clean the lining. Turn the jacket inside out and wipe the lining with lukewarm water and a few drops of mild detergent.
6. Brush and blot shearling. Brush the wool in the direction of the fibers and blot small marks with a clean damp cloth; never submerge it.
7. Dry it slowly. Hang it on a wide hanger at room temperature, out of direct sun, with no lamp or hair dryer.

Should you condition it afterward?

The store suggests conditioning a leather bomber every 6 to 12 months with a leather cream. Whether conditioning makes leather last longer is disputed: the US National Park Service says dressings have no preservative effect. If you do, wait until the jacket is fully dry and follow how to apply leather conditioner.

Washing machine or dry cleaner?

• Washing machine: a laundry brand says leather is almost always unsuitable for machine washing and should never be soaked; a leather goods maker says most leather can be washed if the label allows. See can you machine-wash leather?
• Dry cleaner: the store says normal dry cleaning strips leather's oils; use a leather specialist, and clean matching pieces together. More in can you dry-clean a leather coat?

Mistakes that ruin a leather bomber

• Soaking it, or using bleach, ammonia or alcohol-based cleaners
• Scrubbing with abrasive tools
• Drying it with a lamp, hair dryer or heater
• Hanging it on a wire hanger, which can distort its shape
• Storing it in plastic, which dries leather out

For a full-length coat or a riding jacket with armor, see how to clean a leather coat and how to wash a motorcycle jacket safely.

Quick answers

Can you wash a leather bomber jacket in the washing machine?

Not a good idea. Leather is almost always unsuitable for machine washing, and a motorcycle brand says never to machine-wash leather jackets.

Is it okay to use Dawn dish soap on leather?

Sources differ. A motorcycle brand suggests a small amount of mild dish soap; a glove maker says soap flakes, not liquid soap. None tests Dawn by name.

How do I clean the polyester lining of a leather jacket?

Wipe it inside out with lukewarm water and a few drops of mild detergent on a damp cloth.

Can a leather bomber jacket be worn in the rain?

The store's jacket care says to wipe off rain with a soft dry cloth and, if it gets wet, let it dry slowly at room temperature. If it soaks through, follow how to dry wet leather safely.

The Leather Collection men's leather bomber jackets range runs from rib knit classics to B-3 shearling and A-2 flight styles, with care notes in its FAQ.