How to iron a leather jacket at home (crumpled, with folds, after purchase) quickly and efficiently; can you iron it with an iron?

A leather jacket is a practical wardrobe item that often comes in handy during the off-season.

Not used all year round, the item sometimes becomes wrinkled due to improper storage or careless use.

In this case, it becomes necessary to iron the leather jacket so as not to damage the natural leather.

Let's take a closer look at how to properly iron a leather jacket at home without ruining it.

Preparation for the procedure

Genuine leather is elastic and, when stored properly, rarely wrinkles. Creases may appear when storing items folded or tightly pressed in a closet.

If time allows, it is possible to put your jacket in order without even doing anything. An item hung on a hanger can straighten simply under its own weight.

In this case, the item should hang freely, without touching anything. But this method is suitable for things made of thin genuine leather.

In cases where the product is made of thick leather or you don’t have a few days left, simple ways to deal with the problem will help.

Before processing begins, the item is inspected, cleaned and foreign objects are removed from pockets.

The most gentle methods of influence

When working with products made of very delicate material, it is first recommended to try softer and safer options:

We simply hang the product on hangers of a suitable shape and wait patiently for several days until it returns to its previous appearance.
In some cases, Vaseline, castor or nut oil helps. Apply the product directly to the creases and remove with a damp cloth after the material has softened and smoothed out. This approach also restores elasticity to the tissue, so it can be used as a preventative against skin thickening.

We recommend: How to properly iron a wedding dress made of delicate fabrics

If you don’t want to waste time on all this trouble or there is a fear of damage to your favorite thing, then you should use the services of special service centers that work specifically with leather. But, as practice shows, the listed approaches are safe, while guaranteeing a positive result.

We recommend that you read the article on how to smooth leatherette

Can you iron it with an iron?

In order to use the iron, you need to prepare the fabric through which ironing will be carried out .

There should be no direct contact of the heated sole of the iron with the skin and accessories.

Fabric requirements:

dense structure;
lack of pronounced texture;
resistance to heat.

The material must withstand heat well, and at the same time not have a pronounced texture, since under the influence of temperature the texture of the fabric can be transferred to the skin. In this regard, for example, waffle kitchen towels are not suitable.

If there are only 1-2 creases on the jacket, it makes no sense to iron the entire product - it will be enough to treat only the affected areas.

The ironing process itself will differ from the usual - you won’t have to move the iron over the material.

Tips for ironing:

The iron is applied by applying it to the crease, sealing it without moving it along the surface. In this case, the steam function must be disabled.
The ironing mode on the iron is set to minimum – “silk”.
A heavily wrinkled item begins to be ironed from the collar, then moving to the sleeves, front, and back.
The collar is first ironed from the wrong side, then from the front. If it is upright, the fold should not be smoothed.
Ironing can only be done through fabric.
They move to a new place of processing only after the previous one has cooled down after heating from the sole of the iron.
The ironed item is immediately hung on hangers and allowed to cool.

For ironing hard-to-reach places and sleeves it is convenient to use:

armband included with ironing board;
homemade rollers from a tightly rolled towel.

Ironing is not suitable for textured, pressed, finely textured leather or complex draperies.

You can familiarize yourself with the rules for ironing jackets made from a variety of materials here.

Is it possible and how to iron a leather jacket with an iron? The video will tell you:

How to iron a jacket at home

Leather is a fairly elastic material that does not require regular ironing and can straighten itself over time. Therefore, if the bruise is small without deep creases, you can leave a leather jacket or other leather product on a trample separately from other things or the back of a chair for natural alignment. True, this method takes a long time. The process may take 7–10 days.

Do you know what the word “trempel” means? No, there is nothing mysterious or unusual about it. This is the well-known clothes hanger or coat hanger, as it is sometimes called. The term is widespread, for example, in the Belgorod region and in the territories that were separated from Ukraine. And he gained universal fame after the publication of the book of memoirs of Lyudmila Gurchenko.

Using an iron

This method contains a certain risk of spoiling the product, but if everything is done correctly, the skin will not suffer, but, on the contrary, will acquire a beautiful, well-groomed appearance. However, it is better not to iron items with laser processing, rolling, embossing or varnished, so as not to damage the decor.

It is better to iron a jacket from the inside out, but only if the product has a thin lining without insulation. Otherwise, a thick layer of insulating material will make the smoothing process less effective.
Lay the product on the ironing board, straighten the material so that there are no folds, gathers, or waves. When ironing, they can cause new creases.
Cover the top of the product material with an ironing iron - a fabric through which ironing will be carried out. Calico, satin, teak, and linen are best suited for this. You can use another type of fabric, but it is important that it has a dense texture without a raised pattern. It is better to choose white or light color. Check that the fabric is not dyed. There is no need to wet the iron with water; it must be dry and clean.
It is recommended to set the iron temperature to 0, which corresponds to 110–150°C. The steam function must be switched off. Otherwise, the skin may “cook” and become rough and brittle.
Advice. If the product is made of thin leather or is ironed on the front side, set the lever to “1 point”. Then, if necessary, the temperature can be increased.
The ironing process itself is as follows: apply the iron to the fabric for a few seconds without moving it. Then pick it up and apply it to another place. Treat the entire surface of the product in this manner.
To iron sleeves, you must use a special long and narrow pad. It is inserted inside the sleeve and allows you to smooth it out from all sides. You can use an armrest - a device with the same function. If neither one nor the other is available, a rolled up towel will do.
If there is a strong crease on the product, you can use a press to remove it. For this purpose, any smooth object, for example, a book, is suitable, which must be applied with force to the skin heated with an iron for a few seconds.
Important. When the entire product is ironed, do not rush to put it on. Hang it on the trempel, let it cool and sag a little. The ironing result will be better preserved.

Regardless of the original condition of the jacket, iron it entirely so that the ironed parts in places where there were former creases do not stand out against the general background.

Video: how to iron a leather jacket with an iron

Steaming

The method is well suited for genuine leather products. Items made of leatherette and eco-leather are less amenable to steaming. The procedure is best carried out with a special device - a clothes steamer. But you can also use a steam iron or a steam brush.

Before you begin the procedure, carefully inspect the product and remove any dirt, since during steaming any dirt on the clothes is even more deeply ingrained into the structure of the material.
Suede and smooth leather can be steamed from the outside, but knurled or laser-coated leather should be steamed from the inside on the lining side. Otherwise, there is a risk of damage to the coating.
To steam, hang the product on a trempel of suitable size. This will avoid deformation and stretching of the shoulder line.
Turn on the device and notice the stream of steam. It should be uniform. Otherwise, hot drops of water falling on the skin will leave streaks and stains.
Start steaming from a distance of 20 cm from the product, gradually reducing it to 15 cm. It is not recommended to expose the skin to steam from a shorter distance, as this may cause a thermal burn to the material, which will be impossible to eliminate.
Do not hold the steam stream in one place under any circumstances. The resulting droplets of water can damage the skin. And contact with hot water is extremely undesirable for it.
The thinner the leather, the faster it will heat up under the influence of steam, and the less time it will take for the entire process.
Start steaming with small parts: collar, sleeves. For better smoothing, try pulling the material slightly with your hand. But do not overdo it, otherwise the product will stretch.
After steaming the entire product, do not remove it from the trample, let it hang and dry at room temperature. Moisturized skin should expand under its own weight.

Video: how to steam leather jackets and other leather goods

Using the press

On the Internet you can sometimes find advice on using a press to smooth out rough skin creases. It is suggested to place the product on a horizontal surface, smoothing out all the folds and irregularities with your hands. And then put some heavy object on top like a press and leave it in this state for a day or a little less. However, the method raises some doubts. Let's say we did everything as expected. On top, as a press, they placed a boiler with water or a thick stack of books. And they left it like that. After 24 hours, will a dented area appear on our leather product in the form of a circle from a boiler or a rectangle from books? It may happen that the problem will only get worse. And instead of one small crease, we get a larger area of unsightly appearance. Therefore, it is better to refrain from using this method and use other proven and safe methods.

Moisturizer for leather products

You can iron your jacket using professional products produced by many manufacturers specifically for the care of leather products. Typically, moisturizing impregnation for leather items is available in the form of a liquid or spray. It contains oil and glycerin. These components improve the elasticity of the material and help restore the original condition of the skin. You can purchase a humidifier as a related product in clothing and shoe stores or in the hardware departments of supermarkets, or on specialized websites.

Application:

Place the jacket on a flat horizontal surface. We straighten it as much as possible so that there are no folds in the material.
If the product is in an aerosol package, the can must be shaken so that the components are mixed and homogeneous.
We apply the product from a distance of approximately 20 cm. Without stopping in one place, we treat the entire surface of the product.
If the product is liquid, apply it to the product using a cloth or cotton pad, spreading it evenly over the surface.
Wipe the skin with a clean, dry cloth. It is necessary to ensure that the product is completely absorbed into the material. Otherwise, when it dries naturally, unsightly stains and smudges may appear.
We hang the jacket on the trempel. Fasten all the buttons and zippers and leave for several hours. The moisturizer will nourish the skin from the inside and the bruising will disappear.

Traditional methods of replacing a humidifier

As a moisturizer you can use:

Peanut butter.
Glycerol.
Petrolatum.

Any of these products will not only smooth out wrinkles on a leather jacket, but also provide care and protect the material from scuffs and cracks. For fair and white skin, it is better to use Vaseline or glycerin. These products are colorless, and therefore will not change the color of the product itself, but will give it a beautiful gloss.

Application:

Use any of these means to treat the surface of a leather product. The steps are similar to using a liquid professional moisturizer.
Don't use too much product. Otherwise, it will not be completely absorbed into the skin, and greasy spots will remain. It is better to take a little at a time and distribute evenly. Collect excess with a napkin.
Polish the leather with a clean cloth and hang the item on a trempel to saturate the inner layers and level them.

Removing creases

Sometimes it happens that deep folds form on a leather product. It may take more time and effort to eliminate them. It is recommended to use a set of measures described above. For example:

First steam the jacket. Let it hang on the trempel for 2-3 hours.
Then iron it with an iron. And again leave for some time for natural alignment.
If the folds are still noticeable, use a professional moisturizer or traditional methods.
At each stage, the skin will gradually even out, and deep folds and creases will become less and less.

Important. If overall the jacket looks good and there is a crease in only one place, the entire product should be treated using the chosen method, but paying special attention to the problem area. In this case, the jacket will look beautiful after the procedure, and the problem area will not stand out against the general background.

If the jacket is made of fake leather

Today, the industry produces many products from different types of leatherette: leatherette, vinyl, stretch leather, tarpaulin and others. The peculiarity of these materials is that the traditional smoothing methods described above are not always effective. For example, professional moisturizers and homemade oils are not absorbed as well into the dense structure of leatherette as into natural leather. Therefore, the result of the procedure may not give the desired effect. However, you can try to iron a leatherette jacket. For example, using an iron.

Important points when ironing:

Set the iron to the minimum temperature (usually indicated by one dot on the scale).
Turn off the steam function.
Lay out the product so that its parts do not touch each other. Under the influence of temperature they can stick together.
Be sure to use an iron - a dense, uniform fabric, preferably cotton.
After ironing, put the product on a mannequin or your own body. This will give the material the desired volume.

Folk method - smoothing with water

Pour slightly warm water into a spray bottle.
Hang the product on the trempel and spray it with a spray bottle. It is important to moisten the material only a little, without allowing it to become completely wet.
Leave to dry at room temperature, away from heating devices. It will take several hours to dry completely.

Folk method - steam smoothing

This method is a popular analogue of a professional steamer.

Fill a basin with very hot water. You can take boiling water from the kettle.
Hang a trempel with a jacket over the basin at a distance of about half a meter from the water. It is important that hot water does not get on the product. The procedure requires only steam.
It is best to use this method in a bathroom with the door closed. So, the steam will be more saturated, and the rest of the apartment will not steam.
Leave for 1-2 hours and then dry the jacket at room temperature.

Steaming - fast and effective!

Steaming items at home can be done using:

steam generator;
iron with steam generation function;
steamer.

To do this, the jacket is hung on hangers. It is important that the item is in an upright position .

On the device that produces steam, it is necessary to set the mode. It should not be too intense - otherwise the jacket may get very wet and deformed.

Steam Process:

Begin steaming from the collar. Then they move on to the sleeves.
A stream of steam is directed along the item in stripes.
The optimal distance for exposure to steam is 0.2 m.
It is forbidden to apply steam to the same place for more than 1 or 2 seconds.
After processing, the jacket is hung on a trempel.
It is necessary to avoid contact with hot steam on the front of the leather item.

Steam treatment is only suitable for thick leather products.

How to steam leather jackets:

Prohibited methods

There are a number of methods that cannot be used due to damage to your favorite leather item.

Do not use a hair dryer. The hair dryer releases a stream of dry hot air, which will make the product rough and will not get rid of wrinkles.
Do not use hot water. Hot water deforms the material and washes out the color.
Stretching folds. When using physical force, the jacket will become deformed and will not get rid of the wrinkle problem.

Purchased funds

A quick and affordable way to update the appearance of something is to use household chemicals that are designed for this. The method of treatment with the spray preparation is approximately the same for all manufacturers.

Processing order:

The leather jacket must be placed vertically, with the front side facing out.
Spray the product generously over the surface of the product.
Take a dry soft cloth and rub the mixture into the skin until completely absorbed.
Allow the items to air out and dry completely.

This processing method will cost more than ironing or using one of the available means.

The use of a product specifically designed for leather is suitable for jackets made from genuine leather of any thickness and structure.

At the same time, the skin is delicately softened, restored and moisturized. One bottle is enough to treat a leather jacket.

Such drugs include:

Collonil Carbon Leather Care (about 1,000 rubles per bottle);
Poliboy (approximately 400 rubles per bottle);
Unicum (about 200 rubles) and others.

The straightening of folds occurs due to moisturizing and softening the material.

Ironing a wrinkled product after purchase

After purchase, a new item may become wrinkled if it was not stored correctly in the store. Before embarking on radical methods of restoring a leather jacket, you can try to get by with light measures - just let the things hang on a trample .

But this method is only suitable for jackets made of thin leather that is not too wrinkled. If simply hanging on a hanger doesn't help, you can try the other methods listed above.

Stores that specialize in selling items made of genuine leather have special steam generators that are designed to straighten wrinkled items. You can simply ask to put things in order.

Elimination of deep creases and folds

Severe creases formed on a thick leather jacket are not easy to remove. You can start by treating wrinkled areas with an iron through the fabric according to the method described above.

In this case, you cannot increase the temperature set on the iron, nor prolong the time the sole of the iron is exposed to the jacket. Both violations can lead to damage to the item.

If the leather jacket does not regain its shape the first time, the effect can be repeated after it has cooled down .

For severe creases that cannot be removed at home, going to a dry cleaner will help restore the jacket.

Tips and prohibitions

What not to do with a leather jacket:

stretch with your hands using force - there is a possibility of tearing the thing;
store the jacket folded;
hang a leather jacket on a hook;
do not expose the skin to hot water or a hairdryer;
It is forbidden to try to speed up the ironing process by increasing the heating temperature of the iron, as this increases the likelihood of irreversibly damaging the item.

There is no point in wearing out a wrinkled leather jacket - the result will not be impressive, and the discomfort from the unpresentable appearance will ruin your mood and create discomfort.

Proper care of your leather jacket will allow it to last a long time and look attractive at the same time.

The following recommendations will help with this:

periodic treatment with oils and moisturizers will promote better skin elasticity and reduce the likelihood of creases;
It is best to keep a genuine leather jacket in a closet under a breathable cover.
The best way to store the product is on a trample, without pressing it against other things.

If the jacket is treated for the first time with a new method (oil, purchased product, etc.), it is recommended to test the effect on an inconspicuous area.

Items that are difficult to smooth out

Lapels, collars, cuffs, pocket trims, and cuffs are difficult to smooth out. In this case, potato starch comes to the rescue. It is mixed with water in a 1:1 ratio.

Collar

Apply jelly to the crumpled collar with a soft brush or cotton pad. They stand for some time. Fold smooth white fabric in 2-3 layers. Place it on the collar and iron the fold with a slightly warm iron. Remaining starch is removed with a damp sponge. Wipe the skin with a dry cloth.

With defects

The edges of scratches, microcracks, and holes may curl, melt, or crawl after heat treatment. It is unknown how stains of glue and paint will behave under the influence of a jet of hot steam. Clothes with obvious defects are taken to dry cleaning or restored at home using delicate methods:

apply castor oil to the folds;
hang it in the bathroom over hot water at night.

Bag

The surface of the bag is smoothed without the help of an iron. They resort to one of 2 methods tested by many people:

stuff it with crumpled paper, old rags, wrap it in a damp sheet or large terry towel, and leave it until completely dry;
fill it with crumpled paper, old rags, apply cream, oil or a special moisturizer to the crease area, when the product is absorbed, wipe the skin with a damp cloth.