According to Buzzle.com (see Resources), a leather jacket that's treated correctly can be worn for up to 50 years. The durable material can last 20 times longer than denim, making it a smart investment for the wardrobe-conscious. Buying a finely crafted coat is the first step in keeping it in top condition for decades, so inspect your purchase for tight stitching, strongly mounted studs and buttons, and well-cut lining. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Preserving Your Leather Jacket
1. Handle your jacket with care. This is the best way to prolong the garment's use. Always hang the coat on a sturdy wooden hanger. Don't drape it on the back of a chair; a seat with a wide frame can stretch the shape of the jacket. Avoid laying it on a bed and piling other coats on top of it, to prevent scratches or rumpling the fabric.
2. Treat your jacket with a leather conditioner as soon as you buy it. This will waterproof the item and preserve its buttery texture. It's best to use the protectant the store recommends. Products like Leather CPR and Leather Therapy Restorer & Conditioner are good choices. Reapply conditioner to the coat at least twice per year.
3. Clean the jacket regularly. If you wear it often, wipe it down with mild detergent on a damp cloth about once per month. (Refrain from rinsing it, since you don't want to expose it to too much water.) If you spill something on the jacket, wipe off the excess and follow it with the mild soap wash.
4. Repair flaws in the jacket quickly. Don't let a tear in the lining widen, don't yank on a stuck zipper and don't let a crack remain for a few weeks without sealing or polishing it. Refrain from wearing your jacket until you have it repaired, to prevent the flaw from getting worse.
5. Refrain from stuffing the jacket's pockets with keys, change and the like. Their weight can warp the item's shape.
6. Polish scruffs with a good brand of polish that's intended for leather jackets, not shoes.
7. Take off your coat if you smoke. Leather holds the scent of cigarettes, and the more you expose the jacket to smoke, the worse the smell will be. (Better yet, quit smoking altogether.)
8. Entrust the coat to a professional for major repairs. Ink stains, bad tears, baked-in grime and frayed stitching are jobs best left to experienced tailors and cleaners.
Tags: Refrain from, your jacket, jacket with, Leather Jacket, with mild
