Leather jackets are a definite investment of your money, and you go into purchasing one thinking it will last a lifetime. They definitely will if you take care of your jacket properly, especially in the winter when you have to deal with snow, sleet, and sludge. While you think that taking care of your leather jacket is complicated, it really doesn’t have to be. Follow the best practices below and learn how to make your leather jacket work throughout the winter!

Caring For Your Leather Jacket In The Wintertime

What is the first thing you think about when you hear the word “winter”? Well, some of you might think “cold” but others are probably thinking about “snow”. And what is snow? Wet. So, when it comes to your leather jacket, we need to protect it from the snow. Make your leather jacket water resistant. There are products out there that say they are a leather protector, or are great for leather waterproofing, but make sure you read the label on your jacket before you purchase or worse, use, a product like this. Silicone polymer sprays or acrylic copolymer sprays will preserve the shine and appearance of your jacket. There are grease- and wax-based products that deem more protective, but do not use them on your leather jacket because they can have an effect on the shine, smell, longevity, and color of your jacket.

How often should you apply product to keep your jacket water resistant? At least once every several weeks or months, especially dependent on the amount of rain or snow that your jacket has been exposed to. Check your product to be absolutely sure, and follow instructions appropriately.

To restore the leather and to prevent dryness and cracking throughout the frigid, cold months, apply a leather conditioner. Only apply this though when your leather jacket starts to feel dry or stiff, as these products have a lot of oil which can clog the pores and affect the color of the leather.

If you notice that your jacket has lost it’s shine, you can polish a smooth leather jacket on very rare, special occasions. There is leather polish out there that you can buy that will bring a shine to your jacket, but it can also discolor, dry out, or clog the leather surface. Test it out on a small area before you proceed with the entire jacket.

Finally, when it snows in Denver and the temperature is below freezing, we can get a lot of ice. Which means that roads and walkways become salted, and in turn, we can potentially get that icy sludge on our leather jackets, which isn’t good. You’ll notice these white salt deposits on your jacket but don’t worry! You can wipe the salt off with a damp cloth right away, which will in turn avoid the possibility of your leather cracking or getting dry spots.

You can find other tips for Denver leather repair, here.

When it comes to caring for your leather jacket in the winter, Jonval Leathers and Furs can help. Learn more about our alterations, repairs, and cleaning. When you’re ready to get started, we can help! Contact us today!