Leather chaps are a staple wear in every horse rider or a biker’s closet. Like any other clothing, they too become dirty after constant use. Therefore, today let us learn how you should clean them to keep them looking new for long. Yes, it is true that leather is versatile clothing and enjoys a long working life, but they too get dirty after long use. They do not come cheap, so you just cannot throw them and buy a new pair for you. Now, when I say cleaning, again there are some considerations. You cannot simply put them in the machine for cleaning. In this write-up, you will find important information on how you can care for clean your leather chaps. Remove any debris: leather chaps are highly functional garment. Overtime, they get dirty with mud, sweat and also accumulate other debris like dust, chaff etc. Take a damp clean cloth and wipe the dirty surface gently. It will get the chap rid of some dirt but for the larger part you need to machine wash them. How to machine wash the leather chaps? There are three steps, which begin with:

• Preparation: close the zippers, and turn inside out. This is done to keep the outer surface protected from any chances of abrasion due to machine’s agitator. If you are washing two chaps, make sure they are of same color tone. Wash different tones differently. If the single chap is double toned, test for color fasting prior.
• Washing: For lighter colors, set the machine setting to either cool water wash or cold-water rinse. For dark shades, well select the delicate setting. After it is filled with water to the desired level, pour in a mild detergent in the dispenser. Then dunk the chaps’ in. Let the spinner rotate for not more than 2 minutes. Then rinse it with clean water.
• Drying: unzip the zippers, lay the chaps flat on a smooth surface preferably clean floor. Let them air dry but not under direct sunlight. It could result in shrinking of leather chaps.
• Conditioning: when the chaps are damp, apply leather softener or conditioner. You might get them when you purchase chaps or need to buy it separately. Apply a good amount of it to maintain its flexibility and prevent it from shrinkage.

If you notice, some stains after you take the chaps out of machine, apply a leather friendly stain free solution and apply it on the spot. Then put it in the machine and let it rinse for two more minutes. These cleaning tips would only work on high-end leather chaps. Fake or inexpensive chaps could not withstand this cleaning process. Therefore, invest in a good leather chap wisely.