Written by Angela Reviewed by Daniel

Can You Tumble Dry A Leather Jacket? (read this first)

Under no circumstances should you tumble dry a leather jacket. This is because too much heat will cause the leather to dry out too far and crack.

Leather is a natural product and if it dries out it can crack, this is why leather jackets should never be tumble dried.

The leather jacket should be left to dry naturally by hanging it on a hanger in a warm (not too hot), dry room.

Once the leather jacket is completely dry, you should apply a coat of leather dressing to it and allow it to soak into the leather. This is to replace the natural oils that get removed in dry, arid conditions and conversely, extremely wet conditions.

Table of Contents

What The Tumble Dryer Symbols Mean On A Leather Jacket

Leather jackets should never be tumble dried but as they are likely to have a wash care label, we have included a list of all the symbols relating to tumble dryers.

Square With White Circle – This symbol is used to indicate that the item can be tumble dried.
Square With Black Circle – This is the symbol that is used to indicate the item can be dried in a tumble drier using no heat.
Square With White Circle, One Black Dot In Circle – This symbol indicates that the item can be dried in a tumble dryer using the low heat setting only.
Square With White Circle, Two Black Dots In Circle – This symbol indicates that the item can be tumble dried using the medium heat setting.
Square With White Circle, Three Black Dots In Circle – This symbol indicates that the item can be tumble dried on the high heat setting.
Square With White Circle And A Black X On Top – This is the universal symbol that means Do not tumble dry.

How To Dry A Leather Jacket Without A Tumble Dryer

It’s recommended that you air dry your leather jacket. Below are the best ways to air dry your leather jacket to cause the least harm to it.

Using A Washing Line To Air Dry Your Leather Jacket

The best way to dry a leather jacket is on a hanger. The hanger should then be suspended to the washing line and the jacket allowed to dry naturally.

You should hang the leather jacket out of direct sunlight to avoid any heat damage like cracking etc.

You can use a traditional washing line, a rotary line or a retractable clothesline to dry your leather jacket.

Using An Airer To Air Dry Your Leather Jacket

The leather jacket should be hung on a hanger and the hanger hung onto one of the bars of the airer. This can be used outdoors or if the weather is too bad, indoors.

Be sure to keep the airer away from any heat source as this could seriously damage your leather jacket.

Reducing Drying Times Indoors Using An Electric Fan

Although it is advisable to keep your leather jacket away from any heat whilst it is drying, it is OK to place an electric fan near the drying jacket.

The fan simulates a gentle breeze which will help to get the leather jacket dry faster. Be sure to open a window to allow sufficient air flow to help speed up drying times.

Using A Dehumidifier To Reduce The Drying Time

By placing a dehumidifier in the same room as your drying leather jacket, you can cut down drying times considerably.

The dehumidifier removes excess moisture from the air which will allow the leather jacket to dry faster.

What Happens If You Tumble Dry A Leather Jacket?

If you decide to ignore the advice from the care label and tumble dry your leather jacket, you run the risk of;

Damaging The Leather

The heat from the tumble dryer can dry out the natural oils from the leather and cause it to crack. This is often irreversible and will leave your leather jacket damaged beyond repair.

Distorted Shape

The heat from the dryer can distort the shape of your leather jacket as the leather dries out. The jacket lining is also likely to become misshapen as well.

Shrinking The Leather Jacket

Heat can cause the leather to dry out and shrink, this can in many cases make the leather jacket unwearable because the shrinkage is variable. Which means it shrinks at different amounts in different areas depending on the leather used and the amount of heat applied.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you use a hair dryer to dry leather?

You should never use a hair dryer to dry leather because the leather will crack if too much heat is applied to it.

Is it safe to put a leather jacket in a tumble dryer?

It is not safe to put a leather jacket in a tumble dryer. You run the risk of damaging the leather, it could crack, shrink or become distorted.

Can you air dry a leather jacket?

Air drying is the recommended way to dry a leather jacket. It should be hung on a coat hanger and allowed to dry naturally.

How can I dry a leather jacket without a tumble dryer?

The best way to dry a leather jacket is to keep it away from a tumble dryer and air dry it. Hang the leather jacket on a coat hanger and either suspend the hanger onto a washing line in the shade or hang the hanger on an airer indoors in a well ventilated room.

Does moisture ruin leather?

Moisture can ruin leather unless you apply a leather conditioner once it is dry. When leather gets wet, the water molecules mix with the natural oils of the leather. When the water evaporates it takes the oils with it. This dries the leather out and causes it to crack.