How To Clean Your Leather Motorcycle Pants And Chaps

Wearing leather pants and chaps is what being a biker is all about. I mean you've got the tricked out Harley night rod special, the flat black half helmet with flaming skulls, the vintage leather vest, that shows off your I heart Mum tattoo, and to top it off, that sleek black leather pants, that cover your grungy boots. Wearing leather motorcycle gear just make you look and feel like a badass. The problem is, without proper care, your intimidating leathers can go from, awesome to lame very quickly. So how do you take clean your leather pants and chaps to make sure they always look amazing? Well you're about to find out!

Before we get started, I want to throw some warning in here. Leather is not cotton; you can't just throw it in the washer, with detergent and expect it to come out alright. It is so easy to destroy leather if you use the wrong cleaning solutions and or cleaning methods. So if you want your leather gear to last, then I suggest you use only leather approved cleaning solutions and methods. Also if your pants say to have them cleaned by a professional, then do yourself a favor and do that. Yes you may save a few bucks by trying to clean them yourself, but it could costs you hundreds to replace them after you ruined them. You've been forewarned.

Step 1:

First thing is first, you need to figure out what type of leather you have. There are many types of leather, cowhide, buckskin, suede, naked, etc... The most common is traditional cowhide, because it's the most durable, which is perfect for biker pants.

Step 2:

Invest in a good leather cleaning solution. There are numerous products out there on the market that come in different forms, but they basically all do the same thing. Whatever you buy, just make sure it has oils in it that help to preserve the leather and its finish. Also use warm soapy water (Not Detergent) to remove difficult or oily marks, stains or odors.

Step 3:

Make sure that you completely rinse out the cleaning solution, especially if it's soapy water. Some leather cleaners can stain or ruin the surface if left on to long.

Step 4:

Treat your leather before it completely dries. There are a lot of good preservation products that will bring your pants and chap back to life.

Step 5:

Time to dry those bad boys. (WARNING) Never, Ever, under any circumstances dry your leather in direct sunlight or with heat. This will damage the leather and cause it to stiffen. So unless you want to walk around all stiff legged in your pants, let them air dry at room temperature.