Wet Leather...
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 523
Likes: 4
From: New York
When I would clean my saddles or chaps I used Glycerin. It is essentially what is in saddle soap but sold in bars and is cheaper. I bought it at a local tack shop. Just moisten a rag, rub it on the glycerin bar and have at your leathers. It will lather up just like soap. You can finish up with a clean damp rag and then some leather dressing. I think your local walmart sells a spray on leather dressing in the automotive department for detailing car seats and such.
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,892
Likes: 2
From: DUNDALK,MARYLAND
I have rewash my leather jackets in washing machine on light. Air dry jacket with fan. After dry spray tent spray for waterproofing tents. The label has safe for leather. The next time you ride in the rain the rain will run right off. It's the same type of spray they use on the FXRG jackets for waterproofing them.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,136
Likes: 20
From: Trophy Club, TX
Cujo, great recommendations from the folks here. The two things that I'd make sure that I did are:
1. Make sure that you clean the leather really well, take some extra time to get to the nooks and cranies so that you get all the mildew and mold.
2. Hang your jacket in a really well ventilated area and check it periodically to make sure that it's drying well. One of the tricks that I use on my wet leather (jacket, gloves, or boots) is a small to medium size fan. If you don't have one, you can get them pretty cheap at Walmart or Target. That does two things, it ensures that you've got good ventilation and the air moving over the leather dries it out more quickly.
Good luck.
1. Make sure that you clean the leather really well, take some extra time to get to the nooks and cranies so that you get all the mildew and mold.
2. Hang your jacket in a really well ventilated area and check it periodically to make sure that it's drying well. One of the tricks that I use on my wet leather (jacket, gloves, or boots) is a small to medium size fan. If you don't have one, you can get them pretty cheap at Walmart or Target. That does two things, it ensures that you've got good ventilation and the air moving over the leather dries it out more quickly.
Good luck.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 786
Likes: 1
From: Sheridan, AR
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.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,393
Likes: 38
From: The real N.CA (not S.F. Bay Area)
Go to this site and see the before and after photos. This stuff really works.
http://www.leathertherapy.com/?gclid...FR4Hagodn3lIbQ
http://www.leathertherapy.com/?gclid...FR4Hagodn3lIbQ
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 967
Likes: 3
From: Eastern Massachusetts
After a good soaking, I get the surface water off with a towel and then hang my leathers up to dry next to the dehumidifier in my basement. Generally they're good to go the next day. Every thrid time (yes, I ride in rain a lot) I give everything a good going over with leather dressing.
When I'm on the road, I do my best with hanging the leather out over the motel a/c unit. In those cases, I'm usually riding damp the next day...
When I'm on the road, I do my best with hanging the leather out over the motel a/c unit. In those cases, I'm usually riding damp the next day...
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,653
Likes: 18
From: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
Leather is porous, thus it will soak up water.
Be extremely careful if you take it to a professional cleaner. Make sure they really know what their doing. I took a jacket in one time and when I got it back from this "leather cleaner", it was so dried out that it was actually brittle. It didn't last very long after that.
Do not use heat on it. That will also dry out the leather. Saddle soap should work to clean and remove excess moisture and mold. If the mold is bad, just throw it away and chalk it up to experience.
If you get them clean and scent free, then use a good leather dressing on them, or use Sno-Seal to waterproof them. Sno-Seal also seals in the natural oils of the leather.
Be extremely careful if you take it to a professional cleaner. Make sure they really know what their doing. I took a jacket in one time and when I got it back from this "leather cleaner", it was so dried out that it was actually brittle. It didn't last very long after that.
Do not use heat on it. That will also dry out the leather. Saddle soap should work to clean and remove excess moisture and mold. If the mold is bad, just throw it away and chalk it up to experience.
If you get them clean and scent free, then use a good leather dressing on them, or use Sno-Seal to waterproof them. Sno-Seal also seals in the natural oils of the leather.
Treating leather to keep mold from growing is relatively easy, killing it off once it starts is another matter. Mold grows 'into' the leather not just on top of it.
I would seriously consider calling around to various leather cleaning places and ask if they can remove mold - and ask how. Some may say it, but not really do it. If you don't really kill it, you'll smell mold everytime it gets wet.
...gene
I would seriously consider calling around to various leather cleaning places and ask if they can remove mold - and ask how. Some may say it, but not really do it. If you don't really kill it, you'll smell mold everytime it gets wet.
...gene