Questions and answers

Cleaning and caring for motorcycle clothing

Posted on by Christine Fischbach
21
Feb

For care with motorcycle clothing

Frequently asked questions

How do I clean a smooth leather jacket?

Regular cleaning is necessary to ensure that your smooth leather motorcycle jacket lasts a long time, retains its appearance and remains safe and functional.

First, if possible, remove removable protectors, as this will make cleaning easier. Next, superficial dust and dirt should be removed with a soft, dry cloth or brush. For lighter stains, a slightly damp cotton cloth can be used, which removes the stain with small, circular movements. More stubborn stains, such as insect residues, can be removed with a special leather cleaner, such as our Tapir Leather and Saddle Soap. Use a damp tapir soaking sponge to absorb the soap from the can. Then rub the soap on the surface of the leather until a fine foam is formed. The foam dissolves the dirt in the leather and absorbs it. Then rub off the foam with a clean sponge. If necessary, you can repeat the cleaning process until the desired result is achieved. Soap residues can also be removed well with a gloss brush.

Then let the leather dry well in the air, never in direct sunlight or on heaters. This is because the direct proximity to heating sources or UV radiation can damage the leather and dry it out. It is best to hang the jacket on a wide, padded hanger to avoid wrinkles or deformations.

Then polish the leather with a Tapir Polishing Cloth or a Tapir Gloss Brush.
If the jacket has a removable lining, wash it according to the care instructions, e.g. by hand or in the washing machine on a gentle cycle. In the case of a firmly sewn-in inner lining, it should be cleaned with a damp cloth or sponge that has been previously moistened with our mild textile cleaner .
After cleaning and drying, the leather should be cared for and protected . For this purpose, a leather grease or a leather oil should be used to keep the leather supple and protect it from drying out. The care must be applied thinly and evenly with a soft cloth or sponge. The care should be massaged into the leather with circular movements, especially in high-wear areas such as shoulders, elbows and sleeves.

The leather grease from Tapir is used for particularly dry or stressed leather, the leather oil is considered a maintenance care that can be applied regularly.

Basically, the leather jacket should be cleaned and cared for every 3-6 months, depending on the use.

If you follow these simple tips, your motorcycle jacket will be functional for a long time and will be a good and safe companion for you on your next tour!

How often do I care for my leather jacket?

To ensure that you have optimal protection and comfort during your motorcycle tours, regular care of your leather jacket is crucial.

As with other protective equipment in your outfit, natural wear and material aging can reduce the effectiveness of your leather jacket. However, good care with the right care utensils can delay this aging a little, so that your leather jacket can be worn longer.

How often you should actually care for your motorcycle leather jacket depends on the frequency of use and the external conditions. As a rough rule of thumb, the following can be observed:

About every 3-6 months , a leather care product should be applied that moisturizes to keep the leather supple and prevent cracking. For example, our leather oil is suitable for this. A wonderful preservation care, cares for and protects the leather even in depth.

After heavy use, for example if the jacket has become wet after a rainy ride, it should be cleaned and re-greased after drying (but not directly at the heater!), as moisture can dry out the leather.

About once a year, especially before the jacket is stored after the end of the season, a more intensive cleaning should be carried out with a leather cleaner (for example Tapirs Leather and Saddle Soap) and the leather should then be treated with a high-quality leather grease or leather oil. When storing, care should be taken to store the jacket in a dry, well-ventilated place, away from direct sunlight or moisture.

Regularly and whenever visible dirt, dust or insect residues are present, the jacket should be cleaned with a damp cloth.

The aim is to protect the leather from drying out, tearing and hardening and to maintain the protective function of the jacket.

How do you care for lederhosen?

To ensure that your motorcycle lederhosen are well preserved for a long time and retain functionality and appearance, regular and proper care is crucial.

It is important that loose dust and dirt are removed regularly, ideally directly after each ride. This works best with a soft, dry cloth or brush, we recommend Tapir’s gloss brushes .

For heavier soiling, a slightly damp cotton cloth helps.

Stains can be removed with a mild soap solution (e.g. Tapirs Leather and Saddle Soap). The solution must be applied to a soft cloth or sponge and the affected areas must be gently rubbed off.

If the pants have a removable lining , they can be washed by hand or even in the washing machine if the care instructions allow it. Otherwise, however, we strongly recommend our cleaner for cotton and other fabrics.

Non-removable lining can be cleaned with a damp cloth or the cleaner mentioned above.

The trousers should then dry completely hanging in the air without direct sunlight or heating sources.
When it’s dry again, our leather care helps to nourish, protect and keep the leather supple. For this purpose, either the leather grease or the leather oil is used. Excess should be removed with a cotton cloth after care.

Use these simple care tips for long-lasting results on your lederhosen!

Can you wash a leather suit?

A leather suit for the motorcycle should not be washed in the washing machine, as the leather is delicate and could be damaged by water, detergent and spinning. Nevertheless, you have options for cleaning your leather suit thoroughly and gently.

First, superficial dust and dirt should be rubbed off with a soft, damp cloth. To remove heavier and more stubborn dirt such as insect residues and road dirt, a treatment with our mild leather soap can help. This must be applied to the leather with a sponge and rubbed in. The foam dissolves the dirt. Residues should then be brushed into the leather. If necessary, these steps can be repeated.

The inner lining of the leather suit can be gently wiped with a damp cloth with our mild cleaner for textile.

After cleaning, the leather suit must air dry – never in the sun, on the heater or with a hair dryer, as fast drying leads to drying out and cracking in the leather and UV rays can damage the leather.

To ensure that the leather is cared for after cleaning, the treatment with our leather care, either the leather grease or the leather oil, is suitable. This should be applied thinly and evenly with a thin cloth. The leather is thus nourished, protected and kept supple.

How often should you grease your leather suit?

Since the leather is often exposed to a wide variety of influences during motorcycling, such as temperature fluctuations, weather changes, and also often comes into contact with dirt and insects, regular care, including greasing of the leather, is of great importance.
In order to take good care of the stressed leather and ensure a long durability, it is always better to clean and care for it more often with few means than just every few years with aggressive chemicals.
A major cleaning of the leather suit, including greasing, should take place at least once a year . This is especially advisable before the longer storage during the winter break. Thus, the leather remains beautifully groomed and supple.

Our Tapir Leather Grease for Smooth Leather or our Leather Oil is suitable for greasing, which is well absorbed into leather in need of care and leaves excellent protection. The fat must always be applied very sparingly with a soft cloth and massaged in. Lose excess with both products.

How do I clean motorcycle clothing?

The cleaning of motorcycle clothing depends on the material (textile, leather or mixed materials) and the type of soiling. Here is a step-by-step guide for the different materials:

Cleaning of textile motorcycle clothing

Motorcycle jackets and trousers made of textile are often made of robust materials such as Cordura or Gore-Tex, which require special care. First, protectors and inner layers (e.g. thermal lining) should be removed if possible. All zippers, Velcro fasteners and press studs must be closed.

Stubborn stains such as insect residues or oil are treated with a soft sponge and mild textile cleaner . For example, our Tapir Draußen unterwegs is suitable for this! Cleaner. If the care label allows it, the motorcycle suit can also be washed in the washing machine with a mild detergent on the gentle wash program at 30-40 degrees Celsius. Fabric softener is taboo as it can damage breathable membranes (e.g. Gore-Tex).

After cleaning, the clothing must dry completely in the air – but not in direct sunlight or on the radiator, as this can damage the material.

After the clothes are dry, the impregnation for tapir can be used for fabrics. Work these evenly into the material with a brush or brush, so that the water- and dirt-repellent properties can be restored.

Cleaning leather motorcycle clothing

Cleaning smooth leather motorcycle clothing requires gentle treatment, as leather is delicate. First, superficial dust and dirt must be removed by removing the leather with a slightly damp, soft cotton cloth or brush.

Our leather soap from Tapir, suitable for smooth leather, cleans and cares for leather particularly well, and gently but effectively removes stains. After cleaning, the leather must air dry, just like textile clothing, but not in the sun or on a heater, as it could dry out and crack.

After cleaning and drying, a leather grease or oil should be applied to keep the material supple and protect it from drying out. The care should be applied evenly and sparingly to avoid residues.

Cleaning of mixed materials (textile and leather)

Textile and leather combos require a combination of the above methods. The textile and leather areas should be cleaned separately to avoid damage to the respective materials.

Here, too, special care should be taken to remove or close protectors and zippers.

A regular cleaning and care routine keeps your motorcycle clothing – no matter what material – durable, functional and safe.

What is the best way to store a leather suit?

Proper storage is crucial to ensure that your motorcycle leather suit lasts a long time and does not suffer damage such as cracks, drying out or deformation of the leather or mold when stored for a long time between seasons.

It should be thoroughly cleaned before storage so that residues of dirt, dust or sweat do not cause permanent damage. It is best to use a damp cloth and a special cleaner such as our leather and saddle soap.

Next, it is very important that the leather suit is completely air-dried before it is stored, as moisture can cause mold. After drying, it makes sense to apply a leather care product so that the material remains supple and is protected from drying out.

A suitable storage location is crucial to ensure that the leather suit does not suffer during storage. It is best to store the suit in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight or heating sources and major temperature fluctuations, as extreme heat or cold can damage the leather.

Hang the leather suit on a wide, padded hanger , as the hanging storage does not create wrinkles or creases that remain permanently in the leather.

Plastic covers should be avoided, as they block air circulation and can lead to mold growth. Ideal for protection against dust is a breathable cover made of cotton.

Ideally, you should check the storage regularly and check the combination for signs of drying out, cracking or mould. If the leather becomes too dry, you can reapply leather grease or oil to keep it supple.

In addition, it is important to always make sure that all zippers are closed to keep the suit in shape. In principle, chemical odor neutralizers or cleaning agents should be avoided, as they can damage the leather.

With proper care before storage with suitable leather care products and suitable hanging storage in a dry place , your leather suit will be ready for use for the next season and will always serve you well.