Cleaning oil/grease off suede jackets

[swiego]

I have a suede jacket (medium brown) with a lot of darkness / oil around the upper labels and collar. It's clearly sweat and oil from my neck during the times I have worn it. This is not an expensive precious jacket (I think I got it from Wilson's Leather for $50 on a sale) but it fits so I like it.

Anyway it's very old and I'd like to see if there's a way to refresh the look. Searching around everyone says "have it cleaned professionally" but how do you find someone who "cleans it professionally" and does a good job anyway? I assume I can't just toss it in the washer with woolite, let it dry then hand brush it to recover the surface? Any options?

The oily collar and labels are very obvious and make me not to wear the jacket anymore--some kinds of wear are good, other kinds aren't and this is one of those other kinds. I know better now (to wear jackets like these with collared shirts, etc.) but I'd still like to save this jacket. And since I'm probably not going to wear it again unless I can clean it up, I don't mind trying out some extreme measures!

 

[Tomasso]

Originally Posted by swiego

Searching around everyone says "have it cleaned professionally" but how do you find someone who "cleans it professionally" and does a good job anyway?
There are dry cleaners that specialize in leather and fur. Ask a high end leather retailer or furrier in your area for a recommendation.

 

[RoyalTuxedo]

Just went to my Bible on these issues -- Consumer Reports' "How to Clean and Care for Practically Anything" -- and even that is a bit thin on this specific topic. However, as Tomasso said, a professional leather restorer is your best bet. That said, the "Bible" did mention that, for greasy stains on suede furniture, you can rub them with ground oatmeal, leave the oatmeal in place a while to absorb the grease, then brush it off and vacuum.

best of luck,
RT

 

[j]

Originally Posted by RoyalTuxedo

Just went to my Bible on these issues -- Consumer Reports' "How to Clean and Care for Practically Anything" -- and even that is a bit thin on this specific topic. However, as Tomasso said, a professional leather restorer is your best bet. That said, the "Bible" did mention that, for greasy stains on suede furniture, you can rub them with ground oatmeal, leave the oatmeal in place a while to absorb the grease, then brush it off and vacuum.

best of luck,
RT
I've heard a similar method, maybe it was with cornstarch? Anyway, you should talk to the best leather goods shop in your area, like Tomasso said. It may be more expensive to fix it than just to get a similar one, though.