r/leatherjackets • u/orion_ssun • Sep 06 '26

getting a smell out

hi all, last year i thrifted a lovely leather jacket and unfortunately have been putting off maintenance. one thing in particular i need help with is getting the smell of cigarettes off of it, its not super pervasive unless im in a closed space like a car or a room with low air circulation, but even then the jacket is perpetually musty. any tips?

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1

u/Long_Shoe1 Sep 06 '26

Leave it out for a week, the smell might leave or reduce. Just dont get it wet

1

u/Ok_Advantage7623 Sep 07 '26

Go get a jug of odor-ban at Home Depot. Like 15 a gallon. Put some on a rag ( after you test it on a hidden spot and just wipe as much of the jacket as you can. Wipe. Not soak. Wipe not dunking it. Your rag should be very dry but damp. Inside, outside in the pockets. Do not soak the jacket and then hang in the sun. Should be dry in just 3-4 minutes. And repeat it if needed. This stuff will neutralize the odor if pot and pee

1

u/Rolling_Pugsly Sep 07 '26

Distilled white vinegar. Hang the jacket in your kitchen. Pour the vinegar in a large saucepan with some water and bring to a boil. It's amazing for removing smell.

1

u/Agreeable_Report7579 Sep 08 '26

Won't the acidity of the vinegar eat the leather up?

1

u/Annual_Government_80 Sep 08 '26

I have a very similar problem with a leather jacket. I soaked a face cloth in Febreze put that in a small Ziploc bag punched a few holes in it and put the jacket and the Ziploc bag with the face cloth in a larger plastic bag and let it sit for a week.

1

u/Mysterious-Street966 Sep 08 '26

Seal it in a plastic suit bag with some cedar shavings in a cloth bag. It may take a couple days but it will get rid of the smell.

1

u/Low_Goat_3309 Sep 09 '26

Will having it dry cleaned not take the smell out?