HELP!! How to clean leather chaps?

AintNoSaint · 08-06-2008, 01:11 PM

I just unpacked my clothes from a show last weekend, and they have been in my garment bag, where I sometimes leave them for a while and nothing has ever happened like this. They are COVERED in mold! It was a hot day at the show and I guess they were kind of wet when I put them in there. GROSS!!! I am washing my show pants even tho theyre dry clean only, and I'm handwashing my pleasure shirt...but I hae a pair of slick out chaps that are just GREEN! How do I clean them???

WashingtonBay · 08-06-2008, 01:20 PM

"Leather New" type saddle soap maybe? I mean, really moldy leather I've washed in hot soapy water, or something like Pine Sol, which dries it out badly, but then I come back with some conditioner, and that works, but I'd hate to shrink your chaps!

I'd get show pants that aren't dry clean only... that just doesn't seem practical. Especially if they're covered by chaps anyway.

AintNoSaint · 08-06-2008, 01:38 PM

I usually see dry clean only as more of a guideline anyway...lol. i wash most of my dry clean only stuff and it comes out just fine. my shirt cleaned up really nice. i think that im going to have to like handwash the chaps...but is it really bad to get them wet (again)? Id dry them and then go to town with the leather care products, but i'm afraid!! gah I wish I wasn't lazy and had unpacked sooner

WashingtonBay · 08-06-2008, 01:44 PM

Well, the least risky option would be to take it to a cleaner that does leather.

I wouldn't be so much worried about the leather (it can survive being washed, cowboys can get wet!) as the dye and finish coming off on something like chaps. Who knows how 'washable' the finish is.

I guess I'd try Leather New first and see if that does it. If it doesn't, then go to plan B.

AllAroundRdr · 08-06-2008, 02:39 PM

I don't mess with attempting to wash my show chaps unless they're Ultrasuede...

Have them professionally done. It's better than ruining them entirely.

FincaPerlitas · 08-06-2008, 02:53 PM

First, hang them in a well-ventilated area, out of direct sun, until they are completely dry. Then spray them with Lysol to kill the mold. Let them dry again then brush with a soft shoe brush to remove the dead mold. You probably won't remove all of it, but that's okay. (Optional: If there's still a lot of mold residue, you can try rubbing them down with a soft cloth, such as a baby diaper.) Then apply a good quality leather conditioner such as Lexol. It will take care of the residual mold as well as condition and preserve the leather. Don't ever use saddle soap on quality leather.

08-06-2008, 01:11 PM	#1
AintNoSaint Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Missouri Posts: 293 Images: 68	HELP!! How to clean leather chaps? I just unpacked my clothes from a show last weekend, and they have been in my garment bag, where I sometimes leave them for a while and nothing has ever happened like this. They are COVERED in mold! It was a hot day at the show and I guess they were kind of wet when I put them in there. GROSS!!! I am washing my show pants even tho theyre dry clean only, and I'm handwashing my pleasure shirt...but I hae a pair of slick out chaps that are just GREEN! How do I clean them??? __________________ Katie Jo The road goes on forever and the party never ends...

08-06-2008, 01:38 PM	#3
AintNoSaint Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Missouri Posts: 293 Images: 68	I usually see dry clean only as more of a guideline anyway...lol. i wash most of my dry clean only stuff and it comes out just fine. my shirt cleaned up really nice. i think that im going to have to like handwash the chaps...but is it really bad to get them wet (again)? Id dry them and then go to town with the leather care products, but i'm afraid!! gah I wish I wasn't lazy and had unpacked sooner __________________ Katie Jo The road goes on forever and the party never ends...

08-06-2008, 02:39 PM	#5
AllAroundRdr Senior Member+ Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Southern CA - The Land of Fires & Shakey Ground Posts: 3,150 Images: 9	I don't mess with attempting to wash my show chaps unless they're Ultrasuede... Have them professionally done. It's better than ruining them entirely. __________________ People say riding isn't a sport...Well you see, the 'ball' I play with has a mind of its own. I've been Goosed..and I LIKED it!

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Black leather Chaps	hezadlux	Equine Classifieds	2	08-04-2008 12:43 PM
Leather Half Chaps For Sale	Jennie'sPassion	Equine Classifieds	8	01-31-2008 03:14 AM
Best Way 2 Clean English Leather Saddle?	Jump4Joy	Tack & Equipment	15	02-15-2007 12:33 PM
Zipper repair for leather chaps	daveb	Tack & Equipment	5	02-02-2007 11:26 AM
For Sale: New Leather Half Chaps	HIGHRIDER~25	Equine Classifieds	1	01-31-2007 02:00 PM

08-06-2008, 01:20 PM	#2
WashingtonBay Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Tumwater, WA Posts: 965 Images: 89 Blog Entries: 2	"Leather New" type saddle soap maybe? I mean, really moldy leather I've washed in hot soapy water, or something like Pine Sol, which dries it out badly, but then I come back with some conditioner, and that works, but I'd hate to shrink your chaps! I'd get show pants that aren't dry clean only... that just doesn't seem practical. Especially if they're covered by chaps anyway.

08-06-2008, 01:44 PM	#4
WashingtonBay Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Tumwater, WA Posts: 965 Images: 89 Blog Entries: 2	Well, the least risky option would be to take it to a cleaner that does leather. I wouldn't be so much worried about the leather (it can survive being washed, cowboys can get wet!) as the dye and finish coming off on something like chaps. Who knows how 'washable' the finish is. I guess I'd try Leather New first and see if that does it. If it doesn't, then go to plan B.

08-06-2008, 02:53 PM	#6
FincaPerlitas Full Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: San Jose, Costa Rica, Central America Posts: 136 Images: 8	First, hang them in a well-ventilated area, out of direct sun, until they are completely dry. Then spray them with Lysol to kill the mold. Let them dry again then brush with a soft shoe brush to remove the dead mold. You probably won't remove all of it, but that's okay. (Optional: If there's still a lot of mold residue, you can try rubbing them down with a soft cloth, such as a baby diaper.) Then apply a good quality leather conditioner such as Lexol. It will take care of the residual mold as well as condition and preserve the leather. Don't ever use saddle soap on quality leather.