Leather Cleaning

[CEO]

My vanson suit is still mint after one season, but it has some salt/sweat stains from the really hot days in a few places. They show up since the leather is black and it dries white/crust.

I usually use febreze and my suit dryer hanger after a TD or race weekend for general maintenance but that doesn't help this situation.

I've heard people say they throw their shit in the washer but that sounds extreme to me and maybe would beat them up a bit...?

What are the good/easy ways to give your leathers a good clean?

[golden chicken]

Wear your leathers in the shower.

[G21forme]

I'm interested as well, I've cleaned my suit in the tub and the minute I sweat in it the funk comes right back.

[golden chicken]

http://www.esportbike.com/forums/sho....php?p=1018156

[union]

If you sent it to Vanson last year you might get it back by the time youre ready for F40 but it will be clean

[CEO]

Bump. Any more thoughts on this? Thinking about what to do that will clean it but is least invasive. The idea of throwing it in the washer just doesn't seem right to me.

[The Snowman]

Saddle soap. Cheap & easy.

[Stromper]

I am happy with a coarse cloth or microfiber and use

Murphy's Oil Soap weak solution in a spray bottle
enough soap so the soap bubbles will form and then exist for a few moments

Then I do condition with their Vanson cream conditioner
coat it and leave it for weeks as it soaks in then finally
wipe off excess if any

[FirstDuc-1098]

I talked to Todd Heroic leathers last race weekend. He told me to put it in a warm bath with a 1/4 cut Oxyclean. Soak for a bit and then rub with a soft cloth. Then hang it in the shower and rise it for a bunch.

[boloson]

Bump. Any more thoughts on this? Thinking about what to do that will clean it but is least invasive. The idea of throwing it in the washer just doesn't seem right to me.

Gentle/ delicates cycles with cold water. It's no different then hand washing it minus the hassle of hand washing it. I believe barnacle bills and lizzys throws them in the washer for leather cleaning also & charges like $70? So save yourself some cash & do it at home. It's much easier If u have them front loader washer, especially them newer smart washers.

[The Snowman]

Here's an interesting question, anyone have any idea how to remove a grass stain from leather? My round 5 slide through the infield grass left a stain in midsection of the front of the suit.

When I had it in for repair/cleaning in October, they couldn't remove it, because they use a chemical that would remove the metallic coating on the coloring of the leather in that section and I wasn't going to pay to have it re-dyed. Had I known this, I probably would have gone with a different color.

[G21forme]

Change the ECK colors to yellow black and green?

[Donjuan]

I was going to have my suit cleaned a couple of years ago at Vanson but they told me the proceedure thy used.

Clean Vanson Leathers

1 Take a bucket full of warm water & add some Woolight laundry
Detergent to the water (or dish detergent with NO degreases)
2 Wash the suit inside & out using a white cotton tee shirt
3.After cleaning the suit hose it down with a garden hose
4 Put on a suit hanger or a hanger with a towel so you
don’t distort the suit & let it dry in a cool place 60 degrees
Under a shade tree for 2-3 days
5. After the suit is dry put in the drier for ½-1 on a cold air
Fluffier setting with a pair of tennis shoes & a cotton
Towels
6. Use a Pledge or Endust furniture polish & a cotton shirt
to polish. Oil the leather as needed to stay soft & supple
7. After every race use Pledge to clean & condition the leathers

8. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR SUIT IN A HOT TRAILER UNTIL THE NEXT TIME YOU USE IT !

Hope this helps

[golden chicken]

Pledge, eh? Hm.

[R7]

Pledge, eh? Hm.

Interesting for sure. I've used pledge on my bikes, but never thought of leather. I'll have to test that

[HanktheTank]

I read in this month's Sport Rider about Motul Perfect Leather, I never used it but they gave it a good review on a leather jacket.

http://www.motul.com/us/en-US/produc...%5Brange%5D=21

[CEO]

I was going to have my suit cleaned a couple of years ago at Vanson but they told me the proceedure thy used.

Clean Vanson Leathers

1 Take a bucket full of warm water & add some Woolight laundry
Detergent to the water (or dish detergent with NO degreases)
2 Wash the suit inside & out using a white cotton tee shirt
3.After cleaning the suit hose it down with a garden hose
4 Put on a suit hanger or a hanger with a towel so you
don’t distort the suit & let it dry in a cool place 60 degrees
Under a shade tree for 2-3 days
5. After the suit is dry put in the drier for ½-1 on a cold air
Fluffier setting with a pair of tennis shoes & a cotton
Towels
6. Use a Pledge or Endust furniture polish & a cotton shirt
to polish. Oil the leather as needed to stay soft & supple
7. After every race use Pledge to clean & condition the leathers

8. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR SUIT IN A HOT TRAILER UNTIL THE NEXT TIME YOU USE IT !

Hope this helps

That's interesting coming from the maker of the suit... a lot of it still seems odd to me.

I read in this month's Sport Rider about Motul Perfect Leather, I never used it but they gave it a good review on a leather jacket.

http://www.motul.com/us/en-US/produc...%5Brange%5D=21

Maybe I'll just do this... assuming it can get off the salt sweat stains

[jasnmar]

Instructions from Todd @ Heroic...

draw a half tub of lukewarm water with a half cap of oxy-clean.

Drop the suit in the water and suds it for 20 min.

Drain the tub and hang the suit in the tub and hose it down with the water wand.

Let it hang for 20 min, come back and rinse it with the wand again.

Do this two more times.

Let the suit SLOWLY dry in the basement or if you must hanging in the tub.

Once dry, lexal the old cow down conservatively.

Go back 30 min later with a microfiber towel and wipe off the excess residue.

Next season, between sessions, use 409 and a microfiber to remove the film and bug guts.

[CEO]

That sounds a little better to me. Not sure why. Maybe I will try this.

I'm guessing I should pull all my armor and stuff out first.

[CBR929RE]

That sounds a little better to me. Not sure why. Maybe I will try this.

I'm guessing I should pull all my armor and stuff out first.

I would too. the foam can probably hold a lot of water and you don't want them getting all moldy later

[Trouble]

If you're going to use the tub to clean your leathers in I'd do it when your wife isn't around.

[CEO]

No wife, no problem!!!

[CEO]

I'm thinking about doing this right now based on Todd/Heroic instructions above but I'm worried it won't dry in time...? Some people said it can take several days..?

[tsorfas]

I'm thinking about doing this right now based on Todd/Heroic instructions above but I'm worried it won't dry in time...? Some people said it can take several days..?

my gloves took 2.5 days hanging on the window.. im assuming a suit would take about 5.

[Trouble]

My Syed suit took about five days but that was following Todd's instructions and drying it slowly. That and the suit is thick enough to have been made from four cows. I'm sure it could have been dried quicker but I don't know how it would effect to suit.