Clothing Care
The Importance of Motorcycle Clothing Care
Protective motorcycle clothing represents a financial investment. So keeping it in A1 condition using specific leather shampoo and conditioning products makes sense. Also, by keeping your gear well cared for, you are maintaining its safety capabilities. Leather remains one of the most popular materials for motorcycle clothing and accessories. Yet as hard-wearing as it is, it's easy to neglect. Whether you ride in town or country, over time, your leather will collect bugs, carbon deposits and general road grime. Here, we'll examine some of XLMOTOS's range of clothing care products. We will also look at how you can make sure your leather enjoys a long life. There are at least four different grades of leather. These are full-grain, top-grain, corrected grain and bonded leather. From motorcycle jackets to saddlebags, leather is the most traditional material of choice. Although it's tough enough to save your hide in a slide, leather is organic. So take good care of your leather clothing items and they will take good care of you.
Cleaning Motorcycle Leather
Whether you are cleaning leather trousers or a tool roll, the principle is the same. First, you will need a few light-colored, good-quality towelling cloths and a leather specific shampoo. People sometimes use a home product for this process. Unfortunately, while it may be excellent for household cleaning duties, it may contain chemicals harmful to leather.
Leather is organic, which means it's porous and contains natural oils. If you use a cleaner with some form of petroleum-based, degreasing agent, it will remove dirt. However, it may also harm the leather's natural oils.
Before you begin the cleaning process, read the manufacturer's cleaning directions. Then study your choice of cleaning care product instructions.
Next, carry out a cleaning patch test to ensure it doesn't affect the leather's colour or texture.
Once you're happy with the test's result, clean small sections at a time. Do this by applying to the cloth and not directly onto the leather. Then, in a circular motion, gently rub the leather shampoo product into the item.
By using a light-coloured towelling cloth, you see how much dirt you're removing. Better yet, you can rinse the cloth out during the process.
Then, after cleaning the leather, let it dry naturally overnight.
Conditioning your Leather
Once you've unclogged the leather pores, it's time to replace those important essential oils to the grain. This process will keep the item supple and hold road grime at bay when you are back on the road.
A leather-specific conditioner is the best choice. Read the instructions to find out the optimum way to apply the conditioner. You can do this using a damp cloth or with a damp sponge.
After washing, make sure the leather is dried thoroughly
Then apply the conditioner to the cloth/sponge
Work it well into the leather in small areas and in a circular motion
Work your way around the item, concentrating on stitching, pockets and zips
Hang the item in a well-ventilated area to dry naturally
Frequency
How often you clean and condition your leather items depends on how frequently you ride and your environment. As a rule, once every 12 months is acceptable for regular conditions. If you do a daily battle in a grimy urban environment, you may undergo this leather care procedure twice a year. On a final note, if your leather item has a detachable interior, don't forget to remove it and clean it too. Staying bacteria-free inside is almost as important as staying clean and conditioned on the outside. Take good care of your motorcycle clothing and it will take good care of you.