Knowing how to clean motorcycle leathers is an essential part of owning a bike, as exposure to wind, rain, and other extreme conditions can seriously wear your gear out over time. Whether your leathers are in need of a spruce or require a bit more attention after long winter excursions, giving them a good clean is never a waste of time.
From preserving quality to ensuring safety, reasons to clean your motorcycle leathers are many, and doing so without damaging them helps maintain their aesthetic and assure longevity. Knowing how to clean the inside of motorcycle leathers is also important, as is knowing how to dry and condition your gear once it’s clean.
If you’re about to clean your leathers and need a few tips, read on. This blog will guide you through the process.
Table of contents
- How to clean motorcycle leathers without damaging them
- How do I condition leather motorcycle gear to prevent drying and cracking?
- What is the best way to dry motorcycle leather gear after cleaning it?
How to clean motorcycle leathers without damaging them
Before you start cleaning your leathers, it is important to note that you should never put them in a washing machine or use harsh chemicals or abrasive materials to clean them. Such chemicals include bleach, ammonia and household detergents, whilst anything other than a microfiber cloth or a soft, cotton terrycloth rag will probably be too abrasive.
Step one: what do I need to clean motorcycle leathers?
To clean and condition your leathers, all you need is a microfiber cloth, a quality leather cleaner, and a leather conditioner or moisturiser.
When it comes to leather cleaner, staying away from silicones and waxes is generally advisable, as these tend to dry out the leather. In terms of conditioner, avoiding petroleum-based conditioners or those with animal-derived fats, such as mink oil, is a good place to start.
Step two: how to clean motorcycle leather gear with removable liners or armor
Removable liners make it easy to clean the inside of motorcycle leathers, as many of them can be machine-washed on a synthetic or delicate cycle. Always check the label to ensure your lining is machine-washable. If it is, remove the lining and put it in the machine on an appropriate cycle.
Sometimes, your jacket’s removable lining needs a bit more TLC. If this is the case, handwashing is generally recommended, as this helps you tend to the lining more carefully, avoiding any unnecessary damage.
Step three: how to clean the inside of motorcycle leathers
While your lining is in the machine, you can air your jacket out in a dry, well-ventilated area, such as a porch, garage or laundry room. Whilst this usually encourages odours from general wear to dissipate, a simple airing-out isn’t always enough to combat the dense, musty funk of a well-worn, well-travelled motorcycle jacket.
If this is the case, and you find the inside of your leathers need a little more care, using a good desalter will do the trick. After removing any internal armour, turn your leathers inside-out and spray them liberally with desalter. Make sure you leave them inside-out until the desalter has dried, hanging them up in the same well-ventilated area as before.
Step four: how to clean the outside of motorcycle leathers
Once the desalter has dried and you’ve turned your leathers out, it’s time to clean their exterior.
Apply a small amount of cleaner to the cloth and then apply the cloth to your leathers. Rub the leather gently in small circular motions, starting from the front and working your way around to the back, ensuring you clean below the arms and around the torso and sleeves.
Using a small amount of cleaner is important, as being over-zealous can cause your leathers to absorb too much of the liquid. Similarly, keep an eye on the build-up of gunk and dirt on the cloth - you want to be sure you aren’t rubbing it back into your gear as you progress. Be sure to do this to each part of your attire, including your gloves and pants, or to the whole exterior if you’re cleaning a racing suit.
The final step is the easiest - all you need to do is let your leathers dry. To make sure they are completely dry, leave them hanging in the same type of environment you did to air them out. Do so for at least 24 hours, as they need to be completely without moisture for the next step - conditioning them - to work.Â
How do I condition leather motorcycle gear to prevent drying and cracking?
Conditioning your leathers helps restore essential oils that have depleted over time. This can lead to cracking and other types of damage, compromising the integrity of your leathers as well as their aesthetic.
When you come to condition them, make sure you follow the instructions that come with your chosen conditioner to the letter, as each different type will come with its own unique style of application.
That said, putting a liberal amount of conditioner on a soft cloth or sponge and then rubbing it evenly over the exterior of your leathers is generally what you need to do, with the finer details changing slightly across conditioner types.
Finally, it is important to remember that over-conditioning your leathers or conditioning them too regularly can have an adverse effect on them. For most people, once a year is more than enough; twice a year at most for those lucky enough to get out on the road on a regular basis.
What is the best way to dry motorcycle leather gear after cleaning it?
Much like after cleaning, you need to let your leathers dry out after you’ve conditioned them, as this ensures your gear benefits fully from conditioning.
While this step is simple, it is of the utmost importance, as prematurely hitting the road with excess moisture on your leathers can lead to discolouration and other types of damage.
After hanging them up in a dry, well-ventilated area for a day or so, your leathers should be looking clean and shiny, ready for your next excursion.
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