How to clean, condition and store your jacket so it looks better every year

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Why Care Actually Changes How a Jacket Ages

A leather jacket doesn't stay the same from the day you buy it — it's supposed to change. Cared for properly, cow hide, sheep hide and buffalo hide all soften and darken beautifully over the years, building a patina that looks better with age, not worse. Left uncared for, that same leather dries out, cracks at the creases, and ends up looking tired well before its time. The difference usually comes down to a handful of simple habits, not expensive products or complicated routines.

After Every Wear

• Wipe it down. A soft, dry cloth over the shoulders, cuffs and collar removes surface dust and body oils before they build up.
• Let it breathe before you hang it. If you've worn it in the cold, let the jacket come back to room temperature for 10–15 minutes before hanging it away — leather that's cold and damp from condensation is more prone to mildew if sealed up straight away.
• Empty the pockets. Keys, phones and wallets left in pockets stretch the leather unevenly over time.

Cleaning: Step by Step

1. Dust first. Brush off any loose dirt with a soft, dry cloth before introducing any moisture.
2. Spot-test. On a hidden patch — inside the hem or under the collar — dab a small amount of leather cleaner and check it doesn't lighten or mark the leather.
3. Clean in small circles. Use a barely-damp cloth with a leather-specific cleaner, working in small circular motions rather than scrubbing back and forth.
4. Wipe away residue. Follow with a dry cloth to lift off any leftover cleaner before it dries into the leather.
5. Air-dry away from heat. Let the jacket dry naturally at room temperature — never with a hairdryer, radiator or in direct sun.

Skip household soaps, baby wipes and all-purpose cleaners — they strip the leather's natural oils far faster than a proper leather cleaner.

Conditioning: How Often and How

Conditioning replaces the natural oils leather loses over time, keeping it flexible and preventing cracks before they start.

• Cow hide: every 2–3 months, with extra attention at the elbows and cuffs where flexing is heaviest.
• Buffalo hide: every 3–4 months — its thickness means it dries out more slowly, but still needs regular attention over years of wear.
• Sheep hide (sheepskin/lambskin): far less often, roughly twice a year. Its natural oils keep it soft on their own, and over-conditioning can leave it feeling greasy.

Apply a small amount of leather conditioner with a clean, soft cloth in circular motions, let it absorb for 10–15 minutes, then buff off any excess with a dry cloth.

Storing Your Jacket

• Use a wide, contoured hanger — never a wire hanger, which creates sharp creases at the shoulders over time.
• Keep it breathable. A cotton garment bag protects against dust without trapping moisture; avoid sealed plastic covers, which can encourage mildew.
• Give it space. Leather needs airflow, so avoid packing it tightly between other coats in a crowded closet.
• Watch the humidity. Very dry environments (near radiators, in attics) dry leather out; very damp ones risk mould. A normal, ventilated closet is ideal.

If It Gets Rained On

1. Blot — don't rub — any surface water with a dry cloth as soon as you can.
2. Hang the jacket on a wide hanger away from direct heat and let it air-dry slowly and naturally.
3. Once fully dry, apply a light layer of conditioner to replace any oils lost in the process.
4. For heavy, repeated exposure to rain, a leather protectant spray designed for your hide type adds a water-resistant layer without affecting breathability.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Drying it near a radiator or with a hairdryer. Fast heat pulls moisture out of the leather unevenly, leading to cracking.
• Using generic household cleaners. Most are too harsh and strip natural oils that are hard to replace.
• Ignoring small scuffs. Left untreated, minor surface scratches can dry out and deepen over time — a light conditioning pass usually blends them back in.
• Storing it folded in a drawer or bag for long periods. This creates permanent creasing, especially in cow hide and buffalo hide.
• Over-conditioning sheep hide. It needs far less product than cow hide or buffalo hide — more isn't better here.

Quick Care Cheat Sheet

Task	How Often
Wipe down with a dry cloth	After every wear
Deep clean	Every 4–6 months, or when visibly dirty
Condition (cow hide)	Every 2–3 months
Condition (buffalo hide)	Every 3–4 months
Condition (sheep hide)	About twice a year
Check hanger & storage	Ongoing — every time you hang it up

When to Call in a Professional

Home care handles day-to-day maintenance, but some issues are worth taking to a leather specialist rather than DIY-ing: deep stains that don't lift with a proper leather cleaner, tears or split seams, significant colour fading you want restored, or mould from improper storage. Trying to fix these at home with the wrong product can make the damage permanent.

With a little regular care, a Holloway Hide jacket is built to outlast trends by years — cow hide and buffalo hide especially reward the patience. Questions about caring for your specific style or hide? Reach out any time at hollowayhide.store.

If you have any questions about caring for your jacket, contact us at support@hollowayhide.store.