Machine wash cheap leather products, but be aware that machine washing leather can damage the surface. If you have highly wear-resistant leather products such as boots and jackets, you can use machine washing instead of hand washing. Brightly colored leather is not suitable for machine washing, as it will cause the color to fade. Leather products with small decorative items on the surface should also not be machine washed, as this will not only damage your leather clothing but may even damage the washing machine. Expensive leather products are not recommended for machine washing. It is recommended that they be professionally cleaned. Before washing any leather product, check the product label to see if it is machine washable.
Understanding Your Faux Leather: Why Material Type Matters
Fake leather is divided into PU leather, PVC leather, microfiber leather, silicone leather, water-based PU leather, and solvent-free PU leather. Not all artificial leather materials can be machine washed. The prerequisite for machine washing is that the leather must be specially treated with high wear resistance and wrinkle resistance. Most artificial leathers are more water-resistant than real leather, so you must know your leather material before washing.
The Golden Rule: How to Read and Interpret Care Labels
Before purchasing leather goods, check for a care label or hangtag. This provides common care and washing instructions.
- Care and washing instructions must be arranged in the order of washing, bleaching, drying, ironing, and dry cleaning.
- A care label must include at least four symbols: washing, bleaching, drying, and ironing. A dry cleaning label must include only one dry cleaning symbol, but if not all dry cleaning agents are acceptable, the dry cleaning solvent must be specified.
- When necessary, the symbol is marked with a prohibition symbol (“X”).
- Additional text or warnings should be placed below the symbol in the usual washing order.
- Care labels may not be provided in the following situations: Bagless, reversible garments may not have a permanent care label, but the corresponding care instructions must be displayed on the hangtag; any harsh washing, bleaching, drying, ironing, and dry cleaning methods will not cause significant, irreversible damage to the garment; clothing purchased for personal use by companies, governments, and other public institutions; and custom-made garments using customer-supplied fabrics.
The Risks: What Can Go Wrong When Machine Washing Faux Leather?
Most artificial leather products are not suitable for machine washing. Improper human handling will cause a lot of damage to leather products. Machine washing may cause the leather surface to fade, peel, tear, corrode, deform, accelerate aging, and even cause damage to the washing machine. Please strictly control whether your leather products can be machine washed.
Pre-Wash Prep: Gathering Supplies and Treating Stains
Choose inexpensive leather items that aren’t seriously damaged. Before washing, prepare them according to the following guidelines:
- Pour about 60ml of soap into the detergent dispenser; castile soap works just like regular laundry detergent. Add soap according to the instructions for your washing machine, then wash in cold water.
- Restore the leather item to its original shape. Lay it flat or hang it up. Smooth out any creases or wrinkles that may have formed during washing. Sometimes, you can pull on it while it’s still damp to stretch it slightly. Be careful when stretching the leather; excessive force can cause it to crack. Repairing the leather at this point can be difficult and expensive.
- Allow the leather to air dry. Avoid direct sunlight, as this will evaporate the oils that keep the leather soft. Hang it up in a lighted room to air dry. Open a window to promote air circulation, which will help it dry faster. Avoid using a hairdryer or other direct heat source to dry the leather. If you use a dryer, set it to low or no heat.
- Apply leather conditioner. Leather conditioner helps protect the leather and restore its original texture. It’s usually applied to the leather with a paper towel or soft, lint-free cloth. Once the conditioner is applied, the leather item is immediately ready for use. If you don’t have commercial leather conditioner, you can also apply a thin layer of olive oil. Use the same method as with conditioner: Apply a small amount of olive oil to a rag and gently rub it onto the leather.
Essential Supplies for a Safe Wash
Cleaning leather products requires specialized cleaning products. Using harsh soaps can easily damage the leather. Maintaining the integrity of the leather during washing is crucial. The following essential cleaning products are essential:
- Purchase or make your own castile soap: Castile soap is relatively mild and not very irritating to leather. This includes any type of castile soap. Pour 60 ml into the wash.
- Leather conditioner: The pH value should be between 5 and 7.5. A pH above 7.5 or below 5 can damage the leather’s internal structure. Applying some conditioner to the surface of the leather will help protect the leather and extend its life.
How to Spot-Treat Common Stains Before Washing
We call this behavior pretreatment. ① Grease stains can be soaked up with paper towels or clean cloth to remove excess grease. ② Coffee and tea stains can be rinsed with cold water. Turn the leather garment inside out and rinse with cold water from the back of the stain to flush the stain out of the fibers. ③ Wine stains can be soaked up with paper towels. ④ Blood stains can be treated with cold water. Hot water will coagulate the protein in the blood. ⑤ Sweat stains can be treated with a paste of baking soda and water and applied to the stain. Let it sit for 30 minutes to an hour.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Machine Washing Faux Leather
Step 1: Preparing Your Garment for the Machine
Choose cheap leather clothes or leather pants, because machine washing leather itself will damage the leather. Expensive leather clothes will have a chance to damage the leather. Remove the objects or decorations inside the clothes before washing (small decorations embedded in the leather clothes are not recommended for washing)
Step 2: Choosing the Right Detergent
Buy or make your own castile soap; abrasive soaps can damage leather, while castile soap is milder and less irritating. Any type of castile soap will work. If you can’t buy one, you can also make your own.
Step 3: Selecting the Correct Cycle and Temperature Settings
Place the leather item in the washing machine and run a gentle cycle. To prevent the leather item from being excessively bumped and agitated while washing, you can put a few black garments in to absorb the impact. Run the washing machine on the gentlest cycle and, if possible, turn the leather item inside out first, close all zippers, and fasten all fasteners. This will help “rinse” the stain out and prevent damage to the visible parts of the leather.
Step 4: Placing the Item in the Washer and Starting the Cycle
Run the wash cycle. Keep a close eye on your leather item while it’s in the washing machine. Remove it from the washing machine as soon as possible after washing, and don’t let it dry out. If the leather is allowed to dry out while wrinkled or deformed, it will be permanently deformed.
The Absolute "Don'ts" of Washing Faux Leather
- Excessive cleaning: Frequent cleaning will only cause the leather surface to wear and discolor quickly, shortening its lifespan.
- Cleaning products: Avoid using alcohol wipes, bleach, strong acid or alkaline cleaners, stain removers, turpentine, nail polish remover, furniture polish, or wax. These products are highly corrosive and will damage and corrode the leather surface coating, rendering it irreparable.
- Cleaning tools: Avoid using scouring pads, steel wool, hard-bristled brushes, tech sponges, and rough cloths, as they will scratch the leather surface and dull its luster.
- High-temperature environments: Avoid direct sunlight and hot air from hair dryers; these are the natural enemies of artificial leather and can cause it to soften, deform, and accelerate aging and cracking.
- Maintenance products: Avoid using leather maintenance oils, mink oils, or shoe polish, as these can deteriorate and damage the leather.
The Art of Drying: Post-Wash Care for Faux Leather
Why You Must Avoid the Tumble Dryer
The tumble dryer uses a high-temperature drying method. The leather surface is coated. High temperature will cause the plastic coating on the coating surface to melt, bubble, shrink, deform, etc., and will also cause the coating to peel off. High temperature will peel off the adhesive between the bottom layer and the fabric; even if the temperature is not high, long-term drying will cause the plasticizer in the material to be lost, making the originally soft leather stiff and brittle.
How to Properly Air-Dry Your Garment
We recommend using natural air drying and placing the shaped leather products in a cool, well-ventilated place to dry naturally.
Restoring Softness and Shine After Washing
Use a special protective agent or polish sprayed on a clean soft cloth, avoid spraying directly on the leather surface; wipe the surface of the leather product evenly with a soft cloth, it will form a thin protective layer, wait for 5-10 minutes, use another piece of cloth to gently wipe off the excess liquid, and perform a light polish to give the leather product a natural, non-greasy luster
Alternative Cleaning Methods for Delicate Items
When and How to Hand Wash Faux Leather
Hand washing leather products is safer than machine washing. It can effectively deal with local scratches and dirt and achieve a deep cleaning effect. The safest way is to have a professional clean the leather. The following are the ways to hand wash leather products:
- Make a liquid (castile soap): Pour a small amount of castile soap into a bowl of distilled water. [2] Stir the solution by hand or with a blender to distribute and lather the soap. ① To better protect the leather, use a soap specifically formulated for leather cleaning. Many general merchandise stores, hardware stores, and craft stores sell this type of soap. ② If you don’t have castile soap or a leather cleaner, you can substitute a mild soap, such as dish soap. ③ Test the cleaning solution on an inconspicuous area of the leather to ensure it does not damage the leather before moving on to more visible areas.
- Dip a soft, lint-free cloth into the cleaning solution. Microfiber is best, but a regular rag will do if you have no other options. Avoid using harsh, abrasive tools, such as scouring pads. These can scratch the leather and cause the finish to become dull and cloudy. Generally, avoid using harsh cleaning products when cleaning leather. They can cause a negative reaction and cause the leather surface to deform.
- Wipe the leather with the cloth to remove any dirt, following the grain of the leather. For set-on dirt or stubborn stains, rub with gentle, circular motions. Try not to completely soak the leather while cleaning, as this can damage it. If the leather becomes too wet during cleaning, wait for it to dry slightly before continuing.
- Use another clean cloth to wipe away any soap residue and any remaining dirt. After cleaning the leather, be very careful to remove all soap residue, as this can dry out the leather and cause it to crack. Dampen a clean, lint-free cloth with clean water and wipe the now-dirt-free surface of the leather.
- Allow the leather item to air dry. Hang it on a hanger or place it on a suitable surface, such as a chair or clothes drying rack, to ensure it remains in shape. Allow it to air dry completely. Avoid direct sunlight, as this can cause the leather to dry out and crack.
- Apply leather conditioner. This final step protects the leather and restores its smooth finish. Follow the conditioner’s instructions for best results. The general practice is to use a clean, dry, lint-free cloth to apply conditioner and then polish the leather. ① Over time, the oils that help keep leather soft and flexible will gradually disappear from the leather surface. Especially after cleaning, if leather conditioner is not applied to replenish these oils, the leather product will become very fragile and easily damaged. ② Never use products such as mink oil and leather wax to clean finished leather. They will damage the appearance of such leather products and the polish used in the finishing.
Dealing with Tough Odors
Leather product odors primarily come from the plastics, solvents, adhesives, and surface coatings used during the production process. Odors from these products should be treated in the following ways:
- Natural ventilation: Place the leather product in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated area, such as a shaded balcony or near a window. Leave it open to ensure air circulation to all surfaces. This can take anywhere from a few days to two weeks.
- Baking soda adsorption: To remove odors from leather products like bags and shoes, place baking soda in a breathable cloth bag and place it inside the bag or shoe. Then, seal the bag or shoe in a larger bag and leave it there for at least one day. Finally, remove the baking soda with a soft-bristled vacuum cleaner or a clean cloth.
- Activated charcoal or coffee grounds: Place activated charcoal or coffee grounds in a sealed container with the artificial leather product. Because activated charcoal and coffee grounds have a porous structure and a strong adsorption capacity, they attract odor molecules like a magnet.
Final Verdict: Is Machine Washing Worth the Risk?
It is not recommended to take risks. If your leather products are expensive or have decorations, it is recommended that you go to a professional leather cleaning shop to clean them to ensure the safety and life of your products.