Hi guys,
Strange issue. For some reason I found a little packet of butter in the pocket of a nice leather jacket.
It's been in there for some time, and the butter has melted and soaked a stinky vomit smelling patch in and around the pocket.
This is a nice jacket, and so I'm keen to get it cleaned properly.
Does anyone have a recommendation for a good cleaner in the Melbourne CBD? I'm assuming a dry cleaner type place would be good here?
Thank you!
Leather tanning is often soaking it in dog poo in conditions that would fell a horse. All leather has experienced worse than rancid butter :)
From wikipedia:
"Once the hair was removed, the tanners would "bate" (soften) the material by pounding dung into the skin, or soaking the skin in a solution of animal brains. Bating was a fermentative process which relied on enzymes produced by bacteria found in the dung. Among the kinds of dung commonly used were those of dogs or pigeons. Sometimes, the dung was mixed with water in a large vat, and the prepared skins were kneaded in the dung water until they became supple from bacterial enzyme action, but not too soft. The ancient tanner might use his bare feet to knead the skins in the dung water, and the kneading could last two or three hours. This combination of urine, animal feces, and decaying flesh made ancient tanneries malodorous. Children employed as dung gatherers were a common sight in ancient cities"
Eyy
I would personally buy or order a sizeable bucket and some laundry powder or liquid and soak that jacket for a few weeks.
That or just put it in the wash a few times should still be good to go.
you just can't chuck a leather jacket in the wash mate… Doesn't work like that.
Rip my leather jacket then
Ok, I stand corrected.
https://editbydesign.com/2012/09/06/how-to-machine-wash-a-le…
after some other reserach, it's a risky game washing it. Could work but could also be disastrous.
I would try dry cleaning first, they'll tell you if it can be fixed or not. Failing that, wash it and see how it goes.
Actually, I sort of agree with AlienC. But, I would use wool wash (more gentle) and soak just the affected area in the bucket of warm water. Hopefully the wash will dissolve the butter. Just keep squeezing the leather in the wash after its soaked for a while. Do the same in some fresh water and let it dry. After drying, use some zanolin or even olive oil to re juvenate. Just a light wipe will soak in.
I know this is OzBargain, but putting butter in your pocket, for what I can only assume is to take home, is not worth it! haha
Is the pocket bit made of cloth or leather? If it's cloth (my leather jackets have cloth pockets), I'd just soak that bit in something like dishwashing liquid or detergent and warm-hot liquid (to help melt the oils) and rinse it out.
The other thing I might try is stuff the pocket with Handee towels and blow it with the hairdryer to see how much melted butter the towels can absorb.
OK yes I admit it I was stealing a packet of butter. Lurpak, to be precise. It's going to be a costly move.
Soak the jacket in melted butter. Then it will be all the same colour.
Isn't 'buttery leather' considered a good thing?
Buttered steak? Heat it up and eat it yum!
Maybe those smell absorbing packs will help get rid of the smell? Leave a few in the pocket after cleaning and let it sit outside (in the sun) for a few days?
I can't help you with finding a cleaner but you can try DIY first if you're keen. I've had success before with using corn flour on the oily patches on leather to soak up all the oil first. Then just wipe off and apply some leather cleaner to finish it off. With the smell, you can patch test with a bit of vinegar first to see if it damages the colour or not, then carefully dab on the affected area. Vodka is another option you can try. Both vinegar and vodka will evaporate and dry to no smell, so you don't have to worry about smelling like a drunk. Of course the success will depend on how long you've had the oily patch there for and the colour of the leather, if the grease is fairly new and the jacket is black, then you'll most likely be able to clean it to as new condition whereas if the jacket is light in colour, then the discolouration will most likely be visible still. Having said that though, discolouration on a leather jacket doesn't really affect the overall appeal, it just gives it character IMO. I work in Melbourne CBD so I can help you if you want, but I think the above should do the trick to get it to at least a pretty wearable and presentable state.
the smell is caused by bacteria.
destroy the bacteria and the smell will go.
heat the leather jacket up in DIY green house-
put the leather jacket in a black plastic bag and seal the bag.
then place the sealed black plastic bag in a much larger clear plastic bag and seal that.
place that in the sun light.
greenhouse + heat = dead bacteria and no smell.
Don't like your chances of getting that smell out even if dry cleaned.