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Faux leather jackets are trendy and vegan-friendly, but many people aren't totally sure how to clean them. While leather products have more complicated care instructions, faux leather is much easier to clean. With some simple steps, you can keep your faux leather jacket looking and smelling fresh. Check out this guide to restore your jacket and dress to impress every time you slip it on!

1

Clean dust and crust off your jacket with a cloth.

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  1. How.com.vn English: Use a microfiber cloth to handle minor issues like dust and crust.
    Check for dust or any spills that might’ve dried over, like those from food or drinks. Gently flake off the residue with your fingernail and wipe away all the particles with a damp microfiber cloth.[1]
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2

Spot-clean your jacket with soapy water.

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  1. How.com.vn English: Clean your jacket with warm water and a mild laundry detergent.
    Pour about 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of mild laundry detergent into a small bowl of water, then stir. Dip a clean cloth into the soapy water. Wring out the cloth so it's barely damp. Run the cloth over your jacket, paying attention to scuffs and stains. Dry off your jacket with a fresh cloth.[2]
3

Pre-treat heavy stains on your jacket before you wash it.

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  1. How.com.vn English: Use distilled white vinegar or rubbing alcohol to pre-treat the stains.
    To tackle oil-based stains, fill a spray bottle with 1/2 cup (118.29 mL) of lukewarm water and 1 cup (236.59 mL) of distilled white vinegar. Spritz it on the stains, then rub the solution in with a microfiber cloth.[3] For water-based stains like ink, dampen a microfiber cloth with rubbing alcohol. Apply the rubbing alcohol to an inconspicuous area on your jacket. If the rubbing alcohol doesn't discolor the jacket, massage the water-based stains with the damp microcloth.[4]
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4

Throw a machine-washable jacket in the washer.

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  1. How.com.vn English: The “delicates” cycle with a low spin setting gently washes your jacket.
    Before you put your jacket in the laundry machine, make sure that tag says that it’s machine-washable. If your jacket is, then turn it inside out and place it in a mesh garment bag.[5] Since you're washing a very small load that includes just one garment, use no more than 1/4 cup (59.14 mL) of a mild laundry detergent.[6]
    • Faux leather is a delicate material that's prone to cracking when it's washed, so a delicate cycle is best to make sure your jacket doesn't overheat or get knocked around too much.
    • When you use cold water, you'll avoid exposing your jacket to too much heat.
5

Allow your jacket to air dry.

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  1. How.com.vn English: Lay your jacket out or put it on a hanger.
    Faux leather is easily damaged by heat, so lay out your jacket to let it air dry. You can also try line drying your jacket as long as you gently drape it over a hanger so that it doesn’t stretch.[7]
    • If you hang your jacket, make sure that the hanger isn’t too big and doesn’t dig into or stretch out your jacket.
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6

Apply a conditioner to your jacket.

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  1. How.com.vn English: A conditioner will help you keep your jacket from getting too dry.
    Use a commercial faux leather conditioner. Apply a small amount of conditioner to an inconspicuous area of your jacket. Wait 1 hour. If the conditioner and it looks like a good match for your jacket, apply a dime-sized amount of conditioner to a fresh microcloth. Rub the conditioner into your jacket using small, circular motions. [8]
    • Though faux leather is a different material than regular leather, it’s still absorbent and more likely to crack due to dryness. Just like animal skin, faux leather also benefits from a good conditioner.
7

Iron out any wrinkles in your jacket.

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  1. How.com.vn English: Use an iron on its coolest setting to remove wrinkles.
    For extra protection, place a towel on top of your faux leather jacket. Make sure your iron is programmed on its lowest heat setting. Then, carefully run it over any wrinkles.[9]
    • Avoid letting the iron sit on the towel, and make sure that the iron’s metal never comes in contact with the jacket so your garment doesn’t overheat.
    • You can also steam your faux leather jacket to remove wrinkles.[10]
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8

Deodorize your jacket with baking soda.

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  1. How.com.vn English: Remove any lingering scents on your garment with baking soda.
    Drizzle enough baking soda to lightly coat the inner lining, including the sleeves, of your faux leather garment. Lay out your jacket flat so that the baking soda stays in place. Allow your jacket to sit overnight. Use a handheld vacuum to remove the baking soda from the jacket⁠—make sure to clean out baking soda from the sleeves, too.[11]
    • When you sprinkle some baking soda inside the sleeves of your jacket, you remove odors from sweat that can gather in these areas.
    • Pets and children can become sick if they ingest baking soda, so it’s extra important that they don’t pick up your faux leather jacket.
    • If you notice any unpleasant scents, repeat your process—sprinkle baking soda on the inner lining and in the sleeves of your jacket, leave the jacket out to dry overnight, and vacuum away the baking soda.

Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    The inner lining of my faux leather jacket sleeves is white, and now it's stained. How do I fix it?
    How.com.vn English: How.com.vn
    How.com.vn
    The most trusted how-to site on the internet.
    Our goal at How.com.vn is to deliver trustworthy articles that engage our readers and meet their informational and emotional needs. For 15 years, we've committed to our step-by-step teaching model, and we continue to refine our content to create the best how-to experience on the Internet. We’ve helped millions of people solve problems, learn new skills, and feel supported in the ordinary and complex moments of life.
    How.com.vn English: How.com.vn
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    Expert Answer
    In order to restore the inner lining of your faux leather jacket's sleeves so it's sparkling white again, mix 3 cups (709.77 mL) of warm water with 1 tablespoon (14.77 mL) of mild detergent in a bowl. Turn your jacket inside out. Dip a clean cloth in the bowl and wring out any excess water. Wipe down the inner lining of the sleeves, paying special attention to the stains. Allow your jacke to air dry overnight, then hang your jacket.
  • Question
    Can I wash a vegan leather coat?
    How.com.vn English: How.com.vn
    How.com.vn
    The most trusted how-to site on the internet.
    Our goal at How.com.vn is to deliver trustworthy articles that engage our readers and meet their informational and emotional needs. For 15 years, we've committed to our step-by-step teaching model, and we continue to refine our content to create the best how-to experience on the Internet. We’ve helped millions of people solve problems, learn new skills, and feel supported in the ordinary and complex moments of life.
    How.com.vn English: How.com.vn
    The most trusted how-to site on the internet.
    Expert Answer
    You absolutely can! You may need to hand wash a vegan leather coat by wiping it down with a fresh cloth and spot cleaning it with warm water and a mild detergent. However, if you have a more modern vegan leather coat, you can probably just put it in the washing machine on the delicates cycle. Just make sure you check the care instructions on the tag first!
  • Question
    How much laundry detergent do I put in the washing machine when I clean my faux leather jacket?
    How.com.vn English: How.com.vn
    How.com.vn
    The most trusted how-to site on the internet.
    Our goal at How.com.vn is to deliver trustworthy articles that engage our readers and meet their informational and emotional needs. For 15 years, we've committed to our step-by-step teaching model, and we continue to refine our content to create the best how-to experience on the Internet. We’ve helped millions of people solve problems, learn new skills, and feel supported in the ordinary and complex moments of life.
    How.com.vn English: How.com.vn
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    Expert Answer
    Since you're washing a very small load that includes just one garment, use no more than 1/4 cup (59.14 mL) of a mild laundry detergent.
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      About This Article

      How.com.vn English: Mallika Sharma
      Co-authored by:
      Certified Leather Care Technician
      This article was co-authored by Mallika Sharma and by How.com.vn staff writer, Madeleine Flamiano. Mallika Sharma is a Certified Leather Care Technician and the Founder of The Leather Laundry, a niche spa service for luxury leather gear in India. Mallika specializes in leather cleaning, coloring, repairing, and restoring for shoes, handbags, jackets, wallets, belts, and sofas. She holds a Master’s degree in Finance and Investment from the University of Edinburgh Business School. Mallika is a certified Professional Leather Care Technician and trained with the globally reputed leather care company, LTT in the United Kingdom. This article has been viewed 97,685 times.
      4 votes - 95%
      Co-authors: 5
      Updated: April 10, 2024
      Views: 97,685
      Categories: Cleaning Clothes
      Article SummaryX

      You can either wash your faux leather jacket by hand or in a washing machine. To wash it by hand, start by rubbing off any dirt or debris with a dry cloth. Then, dampen the cloth with water and laundry detergent, and squeeze out any excess moisture. Rub down any dirty areas of your jacket with the cloth, then remove any excess soap with a clean cloth. Finally, polish your jacket with a conditioner, like olive oil, to prevent it from drying out. If you’d rather wash your jacket in a machine, check the care tag for any special instructions to follow. Unless your tag recommends another cycle, wash your jacket on a delicate cycle at a low speed. You can give it extra protection by turning it inside out and placing it into a fabric laundry bag. After your jacket has been washed, allow it to air dry. For tips on how to remove odors from your faux leather jacket, read on!

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      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 97,685 times.

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