Ideas on cleaning leather sleeves?

[DragonDawn]

OK I have got a high school varsity jacket that has leather sleeves and they've gotten kinda dingy. does anyone have any ideas on how to clean then with out taking it to a dry cleaners or would that be the best choice anyways?

I graduated in 2000 and I just found some of my patches that were going to be on there and i don't want to take it in to get them sewn on with the sleeves being dingy.

Thanks.

[flar7]

dry cleaners best choice. not too expensive.

otherwise go to store and shop for some stuff to do it. They make
dry cleaning agents for leather you can buy.

I used some once on my bomber jacket(cant remember name) and
it did an ok job, but not as good as the dry cleaner I took it to next
time.:D

[materra]

Go to Wilson's or any good leather store, get the stuff they recommend...it works great...or....saddlesoap it clean, and then condition it with leather conditioner. When they dry clean leather it is stripped of its color and is dyed as close a match as they can. IMO it just isn't the same unless it is black leather. Even then It weakens the skins.

[Theres]

i've used mineral oil before, with good results

[Wyrdsister]

Originally posted by materra
When they dry clean leather it is stripped of its color and is dyed as close a match as they can. EEEK! I had no idea that that's what they did!! Yech! I can see why people wouldn't want to take their leathers to the dry cleaners!

Thanks for the tip!

Wyrdsister

[flar7]

Originally posted by materra
Go to Wilson's or any good leather store, get the stuff they recommend...it works great...or....saddlesoap it clean, and then condition it with leather conditioner. When they dry clean leather it is stripped of its color and is dyed as close a match as they can. IMO it just isn't the same unless it is black leather. Even then It weakens the skins.

they dont do that to my bomber jacket......:huh:
where ya goin?:p

I have had some stuff that if you were to strip the color there
is no way to recolor. Is hand done design work. anyway, never
happened with the two I use off and on.....

[materra]

Had to shipped them...I lived in the boonies. Wilson's are the ones that told me they only clean certain leathers as the complete cleaning strips the color out. From my experience with the color changes I would beleive it. I would bet...from what they said...that they are hand cleaning the leathers you are discribing. I have had various leathers, mostly suedes and deer skins cleaned. It has cost the earth...about 70.00 per jacket or skirt. But then again...I have a track record of being..... gulp... a patsy...

[Witchy Cowgirl]

I'd say the saddlesoap is the best idea.
My mama-in-law has told me to use a large earser. That works well but is VERY time consuming.