Leather cleaning

[skiandclimb]

I have had great luck washing my leathers in the bath tub. I use cold water, and a small cap full of gentle detergant (like Downy) as well as a couple table spoons of baking soda. The detergant will clean the inner funk out of the liner, and the baking soda nuetralizes the wonderfully acidic sweat residue. BTW- if there is one thing that will kill any leather product, it is sweat. The salt that remains when sweat dries, will get into the leather and make them crack.

After letting them camp out in the tub (submerged using something heavy to keep them down) I drain the tub, and fill it with fresh water. Reach through each arm and leg and make sure the detergant and baking soda are gone, then drain the tub again. I then put them on a strudy hanger and do a final rinse under the shower.  After that, I take them to the garage and hang them up, placing a towel underneath. After about an hour, I return to the garage and gently wring out any remaining water from the sleaves and legs. I then apply a large amount (while still wet) of LEXOL spray leather conditioner.  I return in about an hour, wipe of the exterior and again apply a huge amount of lexol to the surface.  After about three more hours, I return to the garage and apply a third coating of lexol and let them dry overnight.

The next day, I apply a fourth coating of lexol and VERY gently, spray the zippers with a lubricant to keep them moving freely. I use PB blaster (magnetic spray lubricant found at Autozone, O'Reilly's etc) as it really kepps the zippers moving.

I had a pretty good get-off at GIR last year in T7 that left my leathers with some gunk on them. I then had the suit doused in champagne (Thanks Noid & Jason A.!) and FINALLY cleaned them. I followed the above process, and in all honesty, the suit is more supple than when I bought it new.

HTH,
Ski

[Super Dave]

Downy's fabric softener.  You using Woolite?

[skiandclimb]

Sorry- I meant Woolite! As you can tell...I don't do the detergant purchasing in my house!!!  Thanks for pointing that out, Dave!

[funsizeracing]

I ended up using hand-friendly dish soap and a good stiff brush.  I figured if it was good for my hands it couldn't be bad for leathers right?  Then washed the inner liner in the wash.  Now I smell fresh and clean!

[spyderchick]

  Now I smell fresh and clean!

I'm not touching that one, but you know you've left yourself open for some seriously ribbing, right?   

[funsizeracing]

I'm not touching that one, but you know you've left yourself open for some seriously ribbing, right?   

That's what I get for typing before thinking!