Machine washing and drying a leather jacket.

[mw000]

i have a toploader, but i don't think you actually have to machine wash your leather. i just throw mine in a bathtub of hot (and i mean hot) water, then squeeze out as much water as possible, and then throw it into the dryer. works well for me and causes less anxiety.

also an update on my stooges: came out fantastic. was a size m, now it's definitely a size s, bordering on xs. perfect. wavy zips and all. only downside was that an old tear i had fixed opened back up - easy fix though, brought it back in and they're repairing it for no charge. can't wait to get it back in a few days.

I found that hot water under the tub faucet gave a better effect than a full wash cycle.

With a full wash cycle the leather came out too matte. Hand soaking inside out was gentler on the finishing.

[TheNotoriousT]

Has anybody ever washed an ma+ soft calf leather shirt to shrink it?
Experiences? As easy as all the leather jacket washing?
Any help is much appreciated!
Thanks!

[seenmy]

might just wear my fencing in the shower on full heat,I have fear about the machine wash, and the shower is how I always treated raw denim.

[TheNotoriousT]

We want a full documentation!!! :-)

[BBSCCP]

^^ tape under the shower

[Enaml]

Just washed my new rick owens mid collar in lamb to shrink it some... Seems to be turning out well thought it might need another day or so to dry. I was wondering if anyone has recommendations on a conditioner to use on it afterwards? Couldn't find much info on this in either this or the leather care thread. Thanks.

[Dane]

Just washed my new rick owens mid collar in lamb to shrink it some... Seems to be turning out well thought it might need another day or so to dry. I was wondering if anyone has recommendations on a conditioner to use on it afterwards? Couldn't find much info on this in either this or the leather care thread. Thanks.

http://www.pecard.com/mm5/merchant.m...y_Code=lotions

[MARK]

That's very nice after washed.

[MetroBulotDodo]

Hi all,

I am off to wash and dry two leather jackets: a Rick Leather from 2004 in kangaroo w/ a slight sheen and a Chloé butter soft goat leather from around the same time. I don't think I've seen either kangaroo or goat treated in this thread so I felt this would be a worthwhile experiment (also, they're old jackets.)

I am also planning to wash and dry a Rick blistered lamb leather dress from '09.

I'll return with before/after photos, details regarding the washing conditions and comments on how they turned out.

Cheers,

MBD

[Umami]

might just wear my fencing in the shower on full heat,I have fear about the machine wash, and the shower is how I always treated raw denim.

I did wash many CCP leathers as even the size 44 is too big for me.

the highest temperature you should use is 60 degree in the shower your

body can't even stand the temperature above 50 hence the result is not good.

throw your leather into the washing machine 60 degree

DON'T USE any washing detergent.

after that let it dry naturally and this will take 2 days.

in this way you may achieve the result one size smaller.

PS: horse leather will fade a lot, black will turn into dark grey. Kangaroo
will maintain its original colour. CALB the calf leather will shrink more but it could be stretch back.

[mike]

are wavy zippers unavoidable?

[mrbeuys]

^ apparently so. I just washed my first ever Rick leather from 07 which was just a bit too big on me and zippers are now wavy indeed.
BUT, the fit is perfect. Can't believe I waited so long to do this. Washed at 50º and then put in the dryer for an hour. Perfect. I was worried about the silk lining, but even that turned out fine. Highly recommended.

[Patroklus]

You can't shrink a zipper. The only thing to do would be to remove it, wash it, and replace it. You can get some of the effects of a washed leather without shrinkage by soaking and air drying it away from heat and sunlight. Hang it in the bathroom with the fan on or hang it anywhere and point a fan at it.

[the breaks]

^ apparently so. I just washed my first ever Rick leather from 07 which was just a bit too big on me and zippers are now wavy indeed.
BUT, the fit is perfect. Can't believe I waited so long to do this. Washed at 50º and then put in the dryer for an hour. Perfect. I was worried about the silk lining, but even that turned out fine. Highly recommended.

You can't do this on just any Rick leather though right, the treatment has to be a consideration surely?. Also the color ?

[comedyzen]

^^^

I have now washed a reversed lamb and the Intarsia calf. Both came out wonderfully. I think the "Oiled" hides would be the only ones I wouldn't wash.

[dji]

did you guys condition the leather after washing but before putting it in the dryer or only after the jacket was dry?

[eton97]

i can only comment about when i washed my ccp fencing, but i put on the conditioninbg oil at the end of the whole washing/drying process......

see here for step by step description:

http://www.stylezeitgeist.com/forums...ad.php?t=12109

[hamletpowpowpow]

Yeah, I'm considering washing my Rick lamb from 04 - it's a stretched out a bit and I'd love to shrink it down a size.

MBD - post yr results!

Edit: The conditioning oil - would you want to put this on a non-washed leather jacket? What about boots? I've got some Julius leather/boots that I'd like to keep in top shape...

i can only comment about when i washed my ccp fencing, but i put on the conditioninbg oil at the end of the whole washing/drying process......

see here for step by step description:

http://www.stylezeitgeist.com/forums...ad.php?t=12109

[comedyzen]

Ham, got your PM. Do it! Here are the steps you requested (which could've been found in this thread you lazy ass! : )

Make sure it is a front loader.

1. Throw in Gentle cycle on the HOTTEST setting. Add a a teaspoon of detergent if you want to wash it. Something like Woolite.
2. Throw in dryer for 30-60 minutes on HIGH, if that worries you, throw in dryer for 20 minutes, air dry the rest. I think the dryer is where the most shrinkage happens. (I dried different leathers using both methods. The dryer gave me more shrinky dinky).
3. Condition when dry.

I always zipped and flipped inside out. My reasoning was that I didn't want the leather to rub against the metal machine and I wanted the lining cleaned. I also zipped it because I figured the leather would be less thrashed and twisted.

Would love to see before and after Ham!!!

I have/had some Julius leathers, those I wouldn't dare bring to the water. Don't know what Tatsuro does to his hides, but it seems like delicate stuff.

[hamletpowpowpow]

Cheers.

I read the thread once through before - I forgot someone posted the instructions, so thanks for the repost, much obliged. Did you use pecard's?

I may wait a bit til the end of winter, as an oversized leather works for me right now...but yeah, it could stand to shrink a size, for sure.

Yeah, I'd never wash my Julius - I was just wondering if I should condition the leather at all. Especially the boots - I wear those every day, I figure I should protect them somehow...

Ham, got your PM. Do it! Here are the steps you requested (which could've been found in this thread you lazy ass! : )

Make sure it is a front loader.

1. Throw in Gentle cycle on the HOTTEST setting. Add a a teaspoon of detergent if you want to wash it. Something like Woolite.
2. Throw in dryer for 30-60 minutes on HIGH, if that worries you, throw in dryer for 20 minutes, air dry the rest. I think the dryer is where the most shrinkage happens. (I dried different leathers using both methods. The dryer gave me more shrinky dinky).
3. Condition when dry.

I always zipped and flipped inside out. My reasoning was that I didn't want the leather to rub against the metal machine and I wanted the lining cleaned. I also zipped it because I figured the leather would be less thrashed and twisted.

Would love to see before and after Ham!!!

I have/had some Julius leathers, those I wouldn't dare bring to the water. Don't know what Tatsuro does to his hides, but it seems like delicate stuff.