Leather & Denim Jacket

[Shorty]

Had an "interesting", to say the least, jacket to be cleaned today.

How many others here also clean leather apparel??

If not, why not??

This one was leather & denim, in a very sad state.

Very dry & hard, and smelled worse than Marty's sox.

Leather is now soft & pliable.

Denim is................. okay, but worn & faded.

 

[Jim Pemberton]

Garments are better handled by a "dry cleaner" (an unfortunate term, as many don't use dry cleaning solvent any longer, and would likely not on that piece)

What is (are) the goal(s) of the owner?

Appearance restoration?

Odor removal?

Both?

Let me know and I'll walk you through a few things that you can do.

I was once a "dry cleaner" and garment restorer in my distant past.

 

[Shorty]

Thanks Jim, I would appreciate that.

Owner wanted it clean and smell clean so he could once again wear it.

I'm only in a small city here with two large dry cleaners, both of them referred him to me to clean it.

Only one will clean leather, and they will only clean finished leather at that.

Won't touch Suede, Aniline, any leather with mold, nor any garments with fabric & leather.

 

[Jim Pemberton]

I would clean it first, as some/most of the odor may come out in cleaning. The denim will clean like any natural fiber, just warn him there could be color loss. The suede will clean most safely with an absorbent powder cleaner, but if necessary you can use a Nubuck cleaner and finish it with a Nubuck cloth. There don't appear to be any stains on the suede, but if there are, you can use a fine sandpaper to remove them by abrasion. You should locate some dye for Nubuck or suede should you decide to remove stains in this fashion.

If odor remains, ozone or hydroxyl will likely work to remove it.

 

[Desk Jockey]

I'd let that thing die a quick death. Its obviously had a long painful life.

 

[Shorty]

Thanks Jim, I should have taken before pics of this one.

Here's what I have done prior to posting the pics.:

Inside lining where most of the odor was, sprayed with Sprocidin, then steamed.

Denim, lightly sprayed with an encap; spotted, brushed, then steamed.

I did use a Nubuck/Suede cleaner, followed up when dry with a nourisher that also contains a UV inhibitor & water resistant compound.

Sprayed interior with a leather scent.

There is now (two days later), no foul body odor.

Suede is looking good, although ever slightly darker, which I explained to the owner prior to accepting it.

Denim also is looking good, apart from the elasticized waist band where there is a lot of wear & color loss.

Waiting for the owner to come & pick it up.

Thanks again,

Shorty.

 

[Shorty]

OZONE - Hot dang, completely slipped my mind.

I do have a very small ozone generator that I used to use for cigarette odors in garments.

Mental note to self, place on shelf in front of leather cleaning gear.

 

[Desk Jockey]

Careful it will remove the leather odor too. Most people buy leather for the feel & smell.

 

[Shorty]

Careful it will remove the leather odor too. Most people buy leather for the feel & smell.

True Richard, I have a "Leather Scent" that I spray each lining with prior to client picking them up.

It's imported from your joint.

NO !! NOT this joint.




From here:

http://www.chemguys.com.au/LEATHER_SMELL_p/air_102_16.htm

 

[Mikey P]

So those are after photos, correct?

Very superheroish...I like it

 

[Desk Jockey]

Shorty you disappointed bawb. He was thinking the other kind.

 

[Jim Pemberton]

Thanks Jim, I should have taken before pics of this one.

Here's what I have done prior to posting the pics.:

Inside lining where most of the odor was, sprayed with Sprocidin, then steamed.

Denim, lightly sprayed with an encap; spotted, brushed, then steamed.

I did use a Nubuck/Suede cleaner, followed up when dry with a nourisher that also contains a UV inhibitor & water resistant compound.

Sprayed interior with a leather scent.

There is now (two days later), no foul body odor.

Suede is looking good, although ever slightly darker, which I explained to the owner prior to accepting it.

Denim also is looking good, apart from the elasticized waist band where there is a lot of wear & color loss.

Waiting for the owner to come & pick it up.

Thanks again,

Shorty.

Well heck...you didn't need any help at all...nicely done.

 

[Jim Pemberton]

So those are after photos, correct?

Very superheroish...I like it

That kind of stuff is fun to do. It was my favorite part of disaster restoration, and I still like taking care of antiques, museum items, etc whenever I can.

 

[Shorty]

Thanks Jim, I take that as a compliment.

I have a passion for what I do, strange I guess, but I get true enjoyment out of bringing something back to life again.

I ALWAYS learn from many posters on Mikey's Board, which I also am grateful for.

& yes, thank you for all of the emails from: "Pembertons Learning Center" which go back to -
Pembertons CLEAN TIP Vol 11 - Issue #31 - 2011

Here's some of this weeks work in between my normal routine.

Among them are unfinished with a tear.
Finished with fabric elasticized arms & front fabric panel.
Finished.
Suede with flounces.
Suede & Denim.
Finished with strange rubberized/elasticized panels & arms pieces.
Oil finish, or oil pull-up if you prefer.
Handbag. (NOT mine).

​

 

[Joe Appleby]

That is the most confused article of clothing I've ever seen. Is that a Frankenstien design?

 

[Shorty]

That is the most confused article of clothing I've ever seen. Is that a Frankenstien design?

Yer not wrong there Joe, it was going to be "different" from the word go.

Sometimes, I don't know why I take these jobs on.

The dry cleaners won't touch them & send them to me.