Leather Care & Cleaning
How to Wash Leather Pants (Real Leather, Not Faux)
Real leather pants don't go in the washer. Spot clean with a damp cloth and mild soap, dry at room temperature, and know when to use a specialist.
To wash real leather pants, don't put them in the machine: wipe off dust with a soft dry cloth, clean marks with a damp cloth and a little mild soap, and dry the spot straight away. Let the pants dry at room temperature, never in a dryer. Send serious stains to a specialist leather cleaner rather than a normal dry cleaner.
Pleather or PU pants follow different rules: see how to wash faux leather pants. Everything else on leather care is in our leather care and cleaning guide.
Real or faux? Check before you wash
Faux leather is a plastic coating, usually polyurethane, on a fabric base. Real leather is an animal hide, and the Canadian Conservation Institute notes that most hides are damaged by direct contact with water. Read the care label first.
| Column 1 | Real leather pants | Faux leather pants |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Hide, e.g. cowhide | Plastic on fabric |
| Washing machine | Not in the store's care advice; spot clean | Often allowed by the tag |
| Dryer | Never | Never |
| Normal dry cleaner | Can crack, fade and shrink leather | Can damage the plastic |
What you need
- 2 soft cloths, ideally microfiber
- A bowl of water and a little mild soap
- A cleaner made for leather, if you prefer one
- Leather conditioner
- A wide or padded hanger
How to clean leather pants in 6 steps
- Spot test. Try your soap or cleaner on a hidden area, such as inside a hem, before using it anywhere else.
- Dust them off. Wipe the whole pair with a soft dry cloth.
- Blot spills first. For anything wet, blot with a clean cloth rather than rubbing.
- Clean the marks. Use a damp cloth with a little mild soap on the stain only.
- Dry the spot right away. Wipe it with a dry cloth, then let the pants finish drying at room temperature.
- Condition and hang. Condition a few times a year and hang the pants in a cool, dry place away from strong sun and heat.
Can you wash the whole pair? Sources disagree
Washing a whole leather garment is a specialist job with specialist products, not a home laundry cycle. If spot cleaning isn't enough, take the pants to a leather specialist. Ask whether matching pieces should be cleaned together, since even specialist cleaning can shift color or texture slightly. More in can you dry-clean a leather coat?
| Source | Position |
|---|---|
| Leather Collection pants FAQ, from a maker of cowhide pants | Spot clean with a damp cloth and mild soap; dry the spot right away |
| A leather-care product maker | Most leather garments can be washed completely with its products, which gives a more even result |
| Glove makers and home guides | Never wash or soak leather gloves |
What about the lining?
Check the care label first. Even on washable faux leather, some linings have their own rules. We have not found a reliable source on cleaning a fixed lining inside real leather pants, so if the label is missing, ask a leather specialist. For smells, see how to get odors out of leather.
Mistakes that ruin leather pants
- The washing machine or a soak. Water damages most leathers.
- The dryer or a heater.
- Saddle soap, mink oil, shoe cream or cleaning fluid.
- A normal dry-cleaning load.
- Plastic garment bags. Cover stored pants with breathable cotton instead.
- A hot iron. Let creases hang out; if you must iron, use heavy brown paper and a cool to medium setting.
Quick answers
Can you wash leather pants in a washing machine?
The store that makes cowhide pants only describes spot cleaning, and most leathers are damaged by direct contact with water. See can you machine-wash leather?
Can I wash leather with Dawn?
Leather Collection suggests "a little mild soap" for stains. A laundry service suggests a leather cleaner or mild Castile soap. We found no primary source testing Dawn on leather, so spot test any soap first.
Will leather be ruined if it gets wet?
Not always, but water can stain, stiffen or shrink some leathers. Let wet pants dry at room temperature. More in can water ruin leather?
Can you wear leather pants in the rain?
A water and stain repellent helps prevent water stains. If they get soaked, dry them slowly at room temperature.
The Leather Collection men's leather pants are cut from cowhide 0.9 to 1.3 mm (about 0.04-0.05 in) thick, depending on style.
hosob Editorial Team
hosob articles are researched from published sources, cited in the text, and reviewed before publication.