How to Get Wrinkles Out ofLeather Clothing

Confession: Back when I was a fashion intern, I tried to get wrinkles out of a pair of leather pants minutes before they were supposed to be featured in a runway show. Instead, I burned them. I thought I ruined the show and feared for the security of my job. Luckily, everything was fine—but I knew I needed to learn how to get wrinkles out of leather.

For the record, I'm not the only one who has struggled to figure out how to get wrinkles out of leather garments. The delicate material could be ruined if you use irons, steamers, or other go-to wrinkle releasers for less-sensitive fabric like cotton or polyester. You can't turn to old reliable, but that doesn’t mean there’s no hope.

Ahead, we round up the best methods for how to get wrinkles out of leather clothing—and advice on preventing them in the first place.

How to Get Wrinkles Out of Leather

Use the Steam From Your Shower

A regular clothes steamer can damage the leather, but you can use steam from a shower to gently release the wrinkles. Do this while you're getting dressed so you don't add time to your routine.

Hang your leather garment up in the bathroom, either on a hook or the door. Make sure it's not so close to the water that droplets get on your leather. While you're in the shower, let the steam work its magic. After a few minutes, it'll make the stiff fabric pliable. Let it sit for 10 minutes to release the wrinkles.

Mist It With Rubbing Alcohol and Water

Stretching a leather garment is also a great way to release wrinkles. To do this, make a solution by mixing one part water with one part alcohol in a spray bottle.

From a distance, lightly mist the leather garment with the spray bottle. If it's your first time using the alcohol method on a leather item, make sure to test it in a small area first to confirm that no color will rub off. If it doesn't, that's the green light to spray it all over. The alcohol will loosen up the stiff fabric, and you can use your hands to pull and smooth any creases.

If your garment is made of suede or unfinished leather, you shouldn't use rubbing alcohol or water on it since this can lead to damage.

This method also cleans the leather, so if your leather is dirty, you may need to wipe it down completely with the alcohol solution so it doesn't leave any spots. Since alcohol can be drying, finish the process with a moisturizing leather conditioner.

Iron It

To be honest, this method gives me flashbacks to my interning-days disaster. But if you feel you need to use an iron, turn the heat setting down to the coolest point. Then, after you arrange your leather item on the ironing board, grab a pillowcase or towel and spread it on top of the garment. That extra layer of fabric will create added protection from the iron's heat, making it safer to use.

If you have a steam iron, make sure you remove any water from it. Ensure that the iron doesn't touch the leather without a protective layer in place.

How to Prevent Wrinkles in Leather Clothing

Hang, Don't Fold

Just like skincare, preventing wrinkles on leather pants, dresses, and tops is often easier than correcting them. That's why I like to properly store all of my leather pieces, hanging them instead of folding them to minimize the risk of creases or indents.

While you may not like hearing this, cheap hangers can cause more wrinkles over time, especially along the shoulder area on leather jackets. That's why we recommend these high-quality yet affordable hangers on Amazon.

Shop In-Store, When Possible

That said, even when you're diligent about properly storing your garments, wrinkles can happen. Some of the toughest wrinkles to remove from leather might be the ones created long before the leather garment enters your house (an unexpected downside to online and vintage shopping).

Air-sealed packaging might be great for shipping logistics, but it tends to leave a stubborn crease in leather pieces. If you don't want to get a wrinkled leather garment, we highly suggest shopping in the store. This way, you can see for yourself the way that the leather is treated.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7qrrSrbClnV6YvK57x6iuZqyfYrSmwIywqaKmm6GytHnOrqtmp5Ziuaat06Gcq2VlaIR3fphw