Wet Leather...
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Road Master
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 827
Likes: 1
From: Covington, Ga.
Wet Leather...
I spent all day in torrential rain on Saturday.
Got home, hung everything up in the shop with what I thought was plenty of ventilation, same as I have always done after riding in the rain.
Never had this problem tho...
My vest is still damp and is now it's starting to smell pretty foul.
Mrs. Cujo's gloves are positively growing with mold.
My question..How do I ...
a) get rid of the mold without ruining the leather
b) clean it so it won't stink.
Anyone ??
Got home, hung everything up in the shop with what I thought was plenty of ventilation, same as I have always done after riding in the rain.
Never had this problem tho...
My vest is still damp and is now it's starting to smell pretty foul.
Mrs. Cujo's gloves are positively growing with mold.
My question..How do I ...
a) get rid of the mold without ruining the leather
b) clean it so it won't stink.
Anyone ??
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 6,913
Likes: 87
From:
If the vest and gloves are unlined you can just wash them with soap and water (saddle soap if you are picky) put them in a better ventilated area, outside would be good if it is not raining, and let them dry or almost dry. Then rub them down with a leather dressing.
I read on here a couple of days ago that Extra Virgin Olive Oil is very good but I have never tried that. I currently use either Langlitz Leather Dressing or Obenauf's Heavy Duty LP (Leather Preservative). You can call Langlitz and they will mail it to you and it is about as cheap as any leather dressing I have found.
Probably any leather dressing will work well enough. The main step is to wash all of the mold away. Do not be afraid of ruining them by washing with warm water and soap. Wash the inside of the gloves also.
If the vest or gloves are lined you can do the same thing but it will take longer to dry. The lining may say dry clean only so do what you think best.
Some think leather has to be dry cleaned but this is incorrect. Every piece of leather that I own has been soaked at some time or another.
I read on here a couple of days ago that Extra Virgin Olive Oil is very good but I have never tried that. I currently use either Langlitz Leather Dressing or Obenauf's Heavy Duty LP (Leather Preservative). You can call Langlitz and they will mail it to you and it is about as cheap as any leather dressing I have found.
Probably any leather dressing will work well enough. The main step is to wash all of the mold away. Do not be afraid of ruining them by washing with warm water and soap. Wash the inside of the gloves also.
If the vest or gloves are lined you can do the same thing but it will take longer to dry. The lining may say dry clean only so do what you think best.
Some think leather has to be dry cleaned but this is incorrect. Every piece of leather that I own has been soaked at some time or another.
Last edited by txfxstrider; Sep 23, 2009 at 12:44 AM.
Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
maybe U use some brand of stuff make to use on leather, (leather cleaner and conditioner). I use it on my saddle bags, auto stores carry it...
Have U tried a search on leather cleaners..might find something on the web...
Have U tried a search on leather cleaners..might find something on the web...
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 969
Likes: 2
From: Canmore, AB
We don't have 'rain gear', we wear our heavy leathers ALWAYS. Figure cows are happy standing in a rainstorm, its good enough for us! Hubby pulls the sheep skin up over "the boys" to cover what the chaps miss. Yes, after a week of riding in serious rain, those leathers were very heavy and wet but still kept the wet and wind off us. Unfortunately, it sounds like yours never did dry properly, hence the mold. You need to clean them big time, with soap and then treat the leather. Our leathers held up very well, it was our zippers that jammed due to excessive wet. We started to rub them with a candle mid tour because we didn't have the bees wax with us!
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 180
Likes: 0
From: Guam
We don't have 'rain gear', we wear our heavy leathers ALWAYS. Figure cows are happy standing in a rainstorm, its good enough for us! Hubby pulls the sheep skin up over "the boys" to cover what the chaps miss. Yes, after a week of riding in serious rain, those leathers were very heavy and wet but still kept the wet and wind off us. Unfortunately, it sounds like yours never did dry properly, hence the mold. You need to clean them big time, with soap and then treat the leather. Our leathers held up very well, it was our zippers that jammed due to excessive wet. We started to rub them with a candle mid tour because we didn't have the bees wax with us!
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,899
Likes: 3,412
From: OH
I have put my stuff in the drier on fluff... no heat and dried it out. if it's already to the point of smelling the saddle soap will do the trick.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,882
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From: NC
A few weeks ago I left my Jacket rolled up on the handlebars after a rain. Did'nt think anything of it and rode around a few days like that. When I did unroll it, it was still wet and stanky and a little mildewed in places. I wiped it down with soapy water and hung it in the sun to dry for a day. Good as new.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,140
Likes: 17
From: Wisconsin
As most said, clean it good with saddle soap to remove the mildew and all the other crud from the road. Then use a good conditioner. I use Feibing's "all in one" cleaner and coinditioner, Feibing's makes excellent leather products and is available at most local "farm" stores (TSC, Fleet Farm, Farm & Fleet, etc.).