How to wash a faux leather skirt

The leather skirt has remained at the top of popularity since its invention. This product looks stylish and expensive.

However, many women are happy with their purchase only until the item becomes dirty or stains appear on it.

Read the article about whether and how to wash a leather skirt (suede, eco-leather, leatherette) at home.

Is it possible?

It is not recommended
to wash a leather skirt . There is a simple explanation for this. Before you start sewing, the leather must be treated. Craftsmen remove excess moisture from the material and impregnate it with special compounds.

They prevent skin deformation and make it soft. When washing, these substances are washed out, so the skirt can stretch out greatly and become stiff.

The prohibition on washing applies to skirts made of natural suede. This material is represented by soft, velvety leather, which was produced by fat or formaldehyde-fat tanning.

The surface of suede has a characteristic structure, since the skin is devoid of a facial layer . Therefore, contact with water and detergents can be the first and last time for an item.

Unlike its “sisters”, a skirt made of eco-leather (leatherette) can be washed. However, processing should be as gentle as possible. Preference is given to hand washing.

However, you need to take care of your leather skirt. Walking around in dirty, stained clothes is unacceptable.

Natural “helpers” in care

The preservation of the appearance of a leather skirt depends on the care of the fabric, the degree and type of contamination. Good helpers in caring for the product are:

Ammonia

It is a unique substance that helps remove stains from the surfaces of leather products. It has a delicate effect, does not disrupt the structure and does not change the appearance.

Soap solutions

They are the basis for cleaning things from dirt or dust. Soap solutions are prepared based on delicate substances (baby soap or shampoo). The main requirement in preparing a soap solution is the absence of chlorine-containing substances and surfactant phosphates.

The aggressive action of the chemical components of such compositions can harm the product and even completely ruin it. Therefore, it is very important to know not only how to wash a leather item, but also what can be used for this.

Ethyl alcohol, glycerin and lemon juice

An ideal way to dry wash, allowing you to rid your favorite skirt of grease and light wear. To get rid of this problem, you need to wipe the area with ethyl alcohol. This initial treatment performs two functions at once: it degreases the dirty area and rids its surface of contamination. The treated surface is smeared with lemon juice or simply wiped with a small piece of lemon.

After drying, the skin is lubricated with glycerin. For sewing skirts, medium-density fabrics are used, so glycerin is applied in a very thin layer.

Table vinegar

Provides an invaluable service for removing salt stains or stains that form on the surface after the product has dried. If during washing the soap solution was washed off poorly, then during the drying process whitish spots (stripes in the form of stains) appear. A cotton swab dipped in table vinegar will remove all stains. Treatment with table vinegar after washing pockets and stitch lines will return the product to its original appearance.

How to clean?

Cleaning a leather skirt is easy. You can get rid of simple stains using regular wet wipes . Complex stains are removed with more aggressive compounds, for example, vinegar, alcohol or soap solution.

Wet wipes

You can deal with simple stains on your skirt using regular wet wipes. This express method will quickly restore the appearance of the item.

Any wipes are suitable for cleaning:

antibacterial,
children's,
with and without alcohol content.

To completely remove the stain, you need to start removing it immediately. The longer a foreign substance remains on the material, the deeper it will penetrate into the skin structure.

This statement is especially true for greasy stains . Therefore, when putting on a leather skirt, you should always have a package of wet wipes on hand.

Ammonia

Ammonia helps to cope with complex, difficult-to-remove stains. It does not have a harmful effect on the skin, does not change its structure or color.

Procedure:

Apply alcohol to a cotton pad.
Treat the contaminated area. You need to move from the edges of the spot towards its center.
The procedure is repeated until the skirt is clean.
Wipe the product with a clean, damp cloth.

When working with ammonia, you need to wear gloves and in a well-ventilated area.

Useful tips

When washing, you should consider several important tips that will help maintain the normal appearance of the product and accurately clean the surface:

to wash a leather skirt so that it does not shrink, it is recommended to use water whose temperature does not exceed 30 ° C;
if washing is done in a washing machine, then you cannot wash several things in one drum, especially of different colors;
if the material has fabric elements or bright fittings, then it is worth adding a color fixer to the soap solution - otherwise the leather may fade;
when the soap solution contains auxiliary substances such as turpentine, gasoline or ammonia, it is recommended to moisten the surface of the material;
during the drying process, do not place things near hot heating appliances or air conditioning equipment;
After hand washing, it is better to remove any remaining moisture using a microfiber cloth - the material will absorb water and will definitely not damage the surface of the item.

If you follow simple recommendations in terms of washing and drying, the product will retain its attractive appearance and correct shape.

Features of washing the product

Made from eco-leather

The faux leather skirt can be washed by hand.

Procedure:

Dilute detergent in warm water. It is better to use a liquid composition in the form of a gel.
The temperature of the cleaning solution should not be higher than 30 degrees.
Place the skirt in the basin and immediately begin washing.
The surfaces of the skin are gently wiped with a sponge. Do not brush or pull the fabric.
Rinse the product in clean water several times.

You cannot wring out a faux leather skirt!

Sometimes the manufacturer allows eco-leather items to be washed in a machine. Before processing, the product is turned inside out, all zippers and buttons are fastened.

Processing must be gentle and meet the following parameters:

water temperature – up to 30 degrees;
spin is disabled;
washing at minimum speed;
The extra rinse function is turned on.

The faster the wash cycle completes, the better. You should not resort to machine washing too often to prevent the material from cracking. Preference is given to manual cleaning.

Suede

Suede is an even more capricious material compared to leather . Therefore, you need to take special care of such a skirt:

Hand and machine washing is not acceptable.
The item is processed hanging or on a flat surface.
A low concentration soap solution is used as a detergent. It is applied to the skirt with a sponge.
To combat greasy areas, they resort to ammonia.
After processing, the product is wiped with a damp cloth.
Dry the skirt while hanging.

To fluff up the suede after cleaning, use a stiff brush. It is sold in shoe stores, but is great for caring for clothes.

Washing in a washing machine

Considering that the skin is sensitive to prolonged exposure to moisture and mechanical stress, you should be careful when using washing machines.

If the label does not prohibit this procedure, then perform it in the following order:

Set the gentle mode to the “delicate fabrics” indicator.
Select the “no spin” program with a temperature of 30˚C. The number of revolutions should not exceed 300.
The product is inspected. If marks of dirt and dust are found, remove them with a soft rag soaked in liquid soap.
The jacket or skirt is turned inside out, removing the decorative parts that can be removed beforehand. Place the item in the drum. To ensure uniformity of the process, it is recommended to additionally put a single-color piece of fabric that matches the shade.
Pour liquid detergent without aggressive or bleaching components into the compartment.

If you need to wash a leather backpack, it must first be thoroughly cleaned from the inside. Shake out all the debris from the pockets, wipe the surfaces from dust. The rigid gasket at the bottom is removed. If possible, remove carabiners and belts. Oil marks are cleaned in advance using a stain remover suitable for the leather.

It is advisable to turn the backpack inside out and place it in a plain, light-colored cotton pillowcase. After that, they put it in the drum of the machine without adding other things.

How to get rid of divorces

It is necessary to eliminate stains if the leather sofa has been wet cleaned. Whitish marks remain on the products after washing.

It is necessary to soak a piece of soft rag with clean water and moisten the mark over the entire area, extending slightly beyond the perimeter. Detergent compositions are not used. Place a paper towel on top to absorb moisture. Leave until completely dry.

Salt stains are removed with a swab soaked in 6% table vinegar. Then be sure to wash off the remaining product with a damp sponge.

How to remove sweat odor

Natural and artificial leather easily absorb foreign odors. It is often impractical to wash such products, so other methods are used to get rid of the common sweat odor:

Squeeze the juice from half a lemon. Dilute it in a 3:1 ratio with water. Spray with a spray bottle onto the reverse side of the product and dry it unfolded.
Pour hot water into a small enamel basin - 5 liters. Add vinegar essence with a concentration of 70% - 50 ml, carefully while stirring. The leather jacket should be hung so that the steam penetrates the problem area, saturating the fabric. After the water has cooled, the product is left to dry. You can wipe the gasket with a sponge, which is soaked first in a soap solution and then with clean water. You need to be careful not to wet your skin.

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What to treat after washing

To restore the decorative appearance of leather products after washing and restore their shine, their surfaces are treated using available substances:

wipe with a cotton pad soaked in lemon juice;
use a colorless cream intended for shoes for white or leather items dyed in various shades;
remove the peel from the orange and treat all tarnished areas with its inner side;
Use castor oil to apply to leather items.

The skin is wiped with a sponge soaked in lemon juice.
A good option is the grounds of natural coffee. It is placed in a double gauze napkin and the surface is wiped thoroughly.

It is possible to disguise areas with peeling skin using special paint. Before applying it, the surfaces are degreased. If necessary, apply several layers, allowing the previous one to dry for an hour.

Drying

To ensure that a leather skirt does not lose its attractive appearance after contact with water, it must be dried properly.

Basic recommendations to follow:

Do not wring or twist the product so that the water drains from it faster.
Dry the item on a flat surface or in a hanging position. The skirt is attached to special ribbons that are sewn inside, in the waistband area. Clothespins are not used.
Leather products should not be dried in the sun.
It is prohibited to place items on a heating radiator or near heat sources.
During drying, there should be no creases or dents on the skirt.

To keep the skin soft after cleaning, it is lubricated with glycerin.

Ironing

You cannot iron a leather skirt. Therefore, you need to take care in advance to ensure that creases do not appear on it. To do this, after wet cleaning, shake it thoroughly and dry it on a flat surface.

If crumpled areas do form, you can use plain water . The skirt is hung on hangers and sprayed with a spray bottle. After drying it should straighten out. This way they smooth out natural leather and suede.

Leatherette products can be treated with a steam generator. Keep the device at a distance of 15 cm from the material.

When might dry cleaning services be required?

Dry cleaning services are used when complex stains appear on the skirt that cannot be removed on your own. Since it is prohibited to use aggressive household chemicals for washing, you should entrust the product to professionals.

The cost of work depends on its complexity. Approximate prices:

suede long skirt - about 900 rubles;
suede short skirt - about 700 rubles;
long leather skirt – about 800 rubles;
leather short skirt – about 650 rubles.

The service is paid only upon its completion. Before you take your item to the dry cleaner, you need to clarify what results they can guarantee and in what time frame the work will be completed.

Important Tips

Information that will be useful to all owners of leather skirts:

Before you start cleaning, you need to study the information on the product label. The manufacturer's recommendations should not be violated.
Read also: Simple rules and recipes for effectively washing clothes with vinegar
Scratches that appear on the skirt due to improper washing or active use can be treated with special paint (Saphir, Silver, Liquid leather, etc.).
Do not immediately apply detergent to a large surface of the product. To begin with, the new composition is tested on an inconspicuous area of the skin and its reaction is monitored.
When working with caustic substances, you need to protect your hands with gloves.
Do not use washing powder or stain removers to clean leather.
Eco-leather products of different colors cannot be washed together.
Rub dirt only with a cotton pad or soft sponge. A brush is not used for processing natural materials.

Is it possible to wash a leather skirt?

To keep the item clean and attractive, it is advisable to carry out periodic cleaning. It is recommended to remove dirt at the slightest need using a dry cloth or soft sponge. If you cannot cope with the pollution in this way, you need to resort to more radical methods.

Attention! When washing by hand or by machine, you need to limit the effect of water on the leather surface of the skirt as much as possible.

If absolutely necessary, you can wash your leather skirt at home using available products. But this type of care is highly undesirable. The procedure can be done manually or in a washing machine. Each case is completely unique and requires an individual approach.