Faux leather is often difficult to distinguish from genuine leather. At the same time, they have similar properties, and the price of artificial material is much lower. However, such things require special care, and therefore it is worth knowing whether leatherette can be washed in a washing machine and how to do it correctly.
General recommendations
First of all, it is recommended that you read the operating instructions for the product, which are included on the tag. You should not start cleaning without obtaining this information, as this can damage leatherette items. It's worth looking for hand and machine wash icons. If they are crossed out, then only dry cleaning is possible. It's also worth looking at temperature regime and the ability to iron the product.
But if this item is in use for a long period of time, the icons may have been erased, and therefore it is worth conducting a test. It is done on an inconspicuous area of the material, usually the area on the wrong side of the product. You need to gently wet the area, leave it for a third of an hour, and then check the result. If the product is not warped or stretched, then you can carry out wet cleaning. As an alternative, you can contact a dry cleaner or laundromat and ask for expert advice.
Do not use aggressive detergents to wash leatherette products. Often regular washing powder may damage the structure of the material. It is recommended to use for these purposes liquid detergents. Do not use bleaches or products containing chlorine.
After washing leatherette items in hot water, they become deformed, become hard, or stretch. It is recommended to choose a temperature no higher than 30 degrees Celsius. In most cases, it is not necessary to completely wash the leatherette, since it is mainly the lining material that is contaminated, which can be cleaned separately, and small stains directly on the leatherette can be eliminated locally.
Dry cleaning
To remove local contamination, do not completely expose the product to water. For example, a leatherette jacket should be cleaned in most cases only in the area of the cuffs and collar, since these areas most often interact with human skin, and therefore grease appears on them faster. You can remove sweat stains with alcohol. They need to moisten a cotton pad and gently wipe away the dirt.
To remove shine, wipe the area with a damp cloth and then treat it with baking soda. Contaminants can be removed using an alcohol solution (alcohol should be mixed with water in equal proportions). Lemon juice can be used to clean whitish stains and greasy stains.To remove wine stains, make a solution of acetic acid and warm water. You can also remove them using a soap solution.
It is also recommended to clean a leatherette bag dry, since after machine washable it may become deformed, and straightening out the creases will be quite difficult. You can clean the lining separately from the main material. To do this, try to remove it from the bag and wash the dirt with a soap solution. You can use special foaming products like Vanish. You need to leave it in this state for a while, and then use a sponge soaked in clean water to remove any remaining product.
Wash
Before washing, it is recommended to check the pockets on leatherette clothes, bags and backpacks. It is recommended to sew up any holes on the product before washing. It is recommended to dry dry clean areas that are shiny before washing. Do not twist the item while spinning, as this may deform it.
Manually
It is recommended to do it in a basin or bathtub warm soapy solution. Before the main wash, you need to soak the product. However, if we are talking about leatherette sneakers, you should not leave them in water for a long time, as this may cause the glue to lose its properties.
Particular attention should be paid to rinsing.It must be carried out in cold water, and it is recommended to carry out the procedure several times to be sure that all the detergent has been washed out of the structure of the material. It is also not recommended to wring out the product, as this may cause it to become deformed. Softer material will even tear under strong pressure. The water should be allowed to drain on its own. Excess can be removed with a terry towel.
In the washing machine
The owner can answer the question whether it is possible to wash items made of artificial leather in a washing machine if there is no information from the manufacturer. You need to look at the density of the material. If the product is made of thin, delicate leatherette, then this washing option is not recommended. It's worth taking the item to the dry cleaner.
Required to use delicate And manual washing mode products, while turning off spinning and drying. It is recommended to choose a temperature range of up to 30 degrees Celsius. It is necessary to choose the softest detergent, since others can dry out the product or damage its structure. It is also worth using a special laundry bag. If the mode is set incorrectly, the product may stretch and become rough.
Drying rules
The washing process is not as complicated and time-consuming as the owners of such products imagine. It’s just worth remembering some rules that will help maintain the appearance of things and their functionality. Do not forget that proper drying will also prevent damage to the product.
Items made of artificial leather must be dried either hanging or on a horizontal plane.In this case, it is recommended to first turn things inside out (unless we are talking about a backpack or leatherette sneakers). Do not dry on or near heat sources. It is also not recommended to leave leatherette products in direct sunlight, since in this case the item may wrinkle or stretch.
Compliance with the rules of care and preventive measures will allow you to maintain the presentable appearance of the product for a long time. You should not forget about proper drying of the product to avoid deformation of things.
