How to Repair a Leather Jacket's Heat Exposure

Leather is a very durable material; a heavy leather jacket often is considered to be essential safety equipment for motorcyclists, preventing or reducing the severity of injury in an accident. Regardless of how or why you wear a leather jacket, though, leather is not invulnerable; it will wear down over time, and this process is sped up by stresses such as heat and dryness. Cracked and damaged leather usually can be repaired, but it must be regularly cleaned, conditioned, polished and weatherproofed from that point on to prevent the damage from returning.

Instructions

1  Place several layers of newspaper on the ground in a well-ventilated area and put on rubber gloves. Put the leather jacket on the newspaper and work on it over the newspaper to avoid spilling chemicals on the floor.

2  Use a leather cleaner, such as saddle soap, and rub it over all leather surfaces on the jacket with a soft cloth, making an effort to remove any dirt or debris from cracks in the leather. Allow the jacket to air dry for several minutes, then wipe it with a clean soft cloth to remove any lingering chemical or debris.

3  Apply a leather conditioner to the entire surface of the jacket and rub it into the leather. Allow the jacket to sit for several minutes, then wipe off any unabsorbed conditioner with a clean, soft cloth.

4  Choose a shoe polish cream that matches the color of your jacket. Rub the cream into the leather with a soft cloth, allowing the cream to enter cracks in the leather. Allow the jacket to dry completely, then check for any additional or incompletely filled cracks. Apply additional polish to remaining cracks. Polish the leather with a soft leather buffing cloth after you've finished your repairs.

5  Apply a weatherproofing leather compound to the jacket. Application instructions will vary depending on the product; check the container for instructions before applying. Choose a compound that meets your specific needs; damage caused from heat exposure is most often caused by direct sunlight, so you should use a compound that protects leather from the sun in addition to water (such as beeswax-based compounds). Avoid products that use grease or animal fats, as these can damage leather over time.

6  Dispose of all newspaper, cloths and gloves used during the repair process. Store leather-treating chemicals securely and out of reach of children or animals. Check your local guidelines for the disposal of hazardous household waste and dispose of empty or unwanted leather-treating chemicals accordingly.

7  Continually maintain the jacket to slow additional wear. Remove any dust and dirt on the jacket after every use. Use soft and absorbent cloths or towels to dry the jacket when wet; never use heat to dry leather. Clean the jacket with leather cleaner every few months (more often if the jacket is worn more frequently), and condition, polish and weatherproof as needed.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to check any chemicals being used for your particular type of leather; some products are ineffective or even harmful to certain leathers (such as suede).
• Conditioning and weatherproofing leather from the start will increase a leather piece's lifetime.
• Use caution when using chemicals to clean and treat leather products, as many of them (particularly polishes) are highly toxic.