How To Fix A Leather Jacket That Got Wet

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wolf

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New Jacket Caught in the Rain

Posted 11/12/07 in General

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I have a brand new 585 motorcycle jacket. A few days ago I took a ride on the bike and got caught in the rain. I'm wondering.....Did I mess up the jacket? Is there a treatment that I should have put on the jacket before exposing to the elements? Any and all advice is greatly welcome.

The jacket appears to have handled the soaking quite well. I dried it indoors slowly and it appears to be okay. There was a white line bordering where the water evaporated but a wet cloth cleaned that up.

Thanks

tim on 11/12/07 at 10:24 AM

Hey wolf,

Most likely no harm done...just let the jacket dry naturally (don't put near a heat source to speed things up). Mine has been wet several times and it has suffered no damage. In fact, the last time one of my 118s got wet, I ended up having to wear it anyway while it was wet and it dried while I was riding...it seems to fit me better now than it used to...I've heard of people soaking boots in water and then wearing them while they dried to make them fit better. I've never done that but maybe there is something to that. I wouldn't recommend doing that with a $500 jacket... If the jacket that got wet feels a bit dry, maybe a quick wipedown with some Lexol NF will replenish the oils lost but only do it if the jacket feels like it's dry. Schott doesn't recommend using anything on their leather jackets but I recently bought a 118 that had hung in one place for almost 15 years and it was drying out. I used Lexol NF (neatsfoot) oil on it and now it's as soft as the newer one I have. YMMV

Good luck

Gail on 11/12/07 at 01:10 PM

Hi Wolf,

Tim is correct we do not recommend putting products on leather as some products can discolor or cause spotting. On your jacket it is a tanned cowhide for a vinatge appearance, which is different then a naked cowhide. Most leather will dry well, only when a leather becomes soaked through can the leather become very stiff after it has dried. Leather can dry out from repeatingly becoming wet, if this should occur always test and use sparelingly any product you would apply. We reommend mink oil as a good option. Gail

wolf on 11/12/07 at 04:14 PM

Thanks for the update all. Good to hear I didn't mess up my new jacket. I dried it slowly and it is still soft. All I did was expedite that weathered look. Great jackets!

bilbok on 11/13/07 at 11:43 AM

Put some good cream (not polish) you would use for shoes to feed the leather and provide it from getting stiff once it is 100% dry.

SAPHIR is a very good French brand of cream for leather, I bet you can find it in the US.

I think rain could be bad for an old jacket but for a new one made for ridding, it shouldn't be a problem.

When the jacket is wet, you can use some tissus to absorb the water

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