How to Remove Wrinkles on Leather

Leather is a durable and trendy material that can be used for clothing, shoes, and furniture. As with many other materials, leather can wrinkle if used too much or stored incorrectly. However, getting rid of wrinkles on tanned leather is easy if you know how to handle it. Stretching wrinkles by heating with a little steam can help smooth leather items back without damaging the skin.

Table of Contents

Straighten the leather item

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Find a hook. Hang the leather item to be flattened on the hook. Be sure to use the right hook for the item. For example, if you need to get rid of wrinkles on a leather jacket, use a wide shoulder hook to ensure that the pressure exerted by the hook doesn’t cause additional creases along the shoulder line. ^{[1] X Research Source}

For short skirts and trousers, you should use a hook with a rubberized clip and hang it at the waist so that the entire length of the item hangs down.
For items that are too long, this hanging technique may not work.
Avoid using thin metal hooks as they will bend under pressure.

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Hang the clothes somewhere sturdy. You will have to pull the item, so the hook placement should not only support the weight of the item but also your pull. Beams in closets, coat racks, or other places to hang clothes would be ideal.

Avoid hanging objects such as small nails on the wall, curtain rods, as they break easily under pressure.

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Light pull. Gently pull the item with your hand until the wrinkles are relaxed. Simultaneously pull in opposite directions, that is, if the crease is vertical, grasp the upper and lower ends of the crease and pull gently in both directions.

Loosen wrinkles by alternating pulling at the ends and sides of the crease.
Do not drag too long. The pulling time of a leather item depends on its nature, but avoid pulling for longer than 3-5 seconds to be on the safe side. Let the skin rest for 3-5 seconds before continuing to pull.
This method is only suitable for small wrinkles, not effective for large wrinkles or folds.

Use a steam iron

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Buy a steam iron. You can use a standing iron or a handheld iron, but try to find one that is durable and trusted by many people. See reviews online and check out a few places before you buy. ^{[2] X Research Source}

The steam iron is a versatile product for wrinkle removal on leather. They can be used for clothes, shoes, and even large items like furniture.

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Start the steam iron. Set the steam iron to medium-low and wait for it to heat up. Test the steam out into the air before spraying on the crease. Steam that is not hot enough will condense quickly on the surface of the skin and cause damage.

Read through the instructions for use and the manufacturer’s recommendations for preheating time before using the iron on leather.

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Hang leather clothes. For leather clothes, you will hang it up to iron. The hot steam causes the skin to stretch and the weight of the item to straighten wrinkles. Use the hook or the hanger of the standing iron.

If the leather item is too big to touch the ground, that’s fine too. The steam will stretch the skin enough for wrinkles to disappear.

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Spray steam on leather clothing. Use an iron to spray a layer of steam on the wrinkled part of the leather item. If possible, spray steam on both the inside and outside of the crease. Remember to hold the iron about 10cm away from the surface of the skin and the spray time only lasts about a second, the way to move the steam iron is similar to a regular iron. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

If the crease doesn’t go away on its own after you steam it, gently pull it out with your hand to loosen it even more.
Don’t spray too much steam each time. This can damage the leather and also the stitching of the item.
If you find that there is steam on the skin, use a dry towel to wipe off the excess steam.

Use steam in the bathroom

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Open the hot water faucet. Adjust the shower to be hot enough to create a mist that mists the bathroom mirror. Keep the water temperature warm enough for steam to build up, but not so hot that you can’t shower.

If you have a temperature monitor in the bathroom, keep the water temperature around 40.5 degrees Celsius, the average temperature for showering.

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Let steam build up. During this time, close the door so that steam cannot escape. Attach the item to a hook and hang it on a rack near the steam source, but far enough away from the shower that water does not splash on the item. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Try using a towel rack or doorknob to hang leather items on it.
Leather is not made to be exposed to large amounts of water. Keep the leather item far enough away from the shower that water doesn’t splash on it. If you see water on your skin, wipe it off with a dry towel.

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Give the leather item a sauna. The longer the item is exposed to steam, the better. Leave it in the bathroom for the duration of the shower and after turning off the faucet for a while. Do not remove the item until the steam starts to dissipate and the air in the bathroom cools.

Don’t wait until the bathroom is completely cool. This will cause the skin to return to its original state and you will not be able to smooth out the remaining wrinkles.

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Flatten the leather item. Once you’re done with your sauna item, you’ll spread it out on a flat surface and pull it straight with your hand. Pull stubborn wrinkles to loosen them.

Let the item lie on a flat surface until completely cooled before putting it on or storing it away. This helps the skin to be fixed in a smoothed state and not to wrinkle again.

Flatten skin with an iron

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Turn on the iron and set it to low. Leather can’t be ironed, and leather can be damaged if ironed. You can reduce this risk by setting the iron to its lowest setting before exposing it to skin. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Empty the water in the iron compartment before starting, to prevent water from spilling onto the skin and causing damage.

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Find a pad. Find a thick sheet of paper or 100% cotton fabric, like a handkerchief, and place it over your skin. Do not use paper or thin cloth as it may burn in direct contact with the iron. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

Make sure the pad is clean and dry. Wipe the surface of the paper with a cloth before use.

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Start is. It is a quick leather item but with light pressure. Do not leave the iron alone or move too slowly over the skin, even in stubborn places. This can cause the skin to burn and be permanently damaged.

Never place the iron directly on the skin. Move the pad as needed to iron large items or deep wrinkles.
Store or hang leather goods immediately after ironing if you are not going to use them immediately.

Advice

Place leather items in a thin layer of fabric, such as a thin cotton or muslin bag, if you need to store them for a long time.
Store leather goods in a dry, well-ventilated, and temperature-stable place. Fluctuating temperatures can cause wrinkles, cracks, and damage.

Warning

Tanned leather cannot withstand extreme or prolonged heat or humidity. Limit exposure of leather goods to heat, wet or humid environments.

Steps