Like your other clothing items, leather jackets get dirty at times. The soiled areas on the outside of the jacket are quite noticeable, getting the most attention. Although the lining picks up most of the moisture and odor from your body and the environment around you, this part of the jacket is often neglected.

Even if you don’t notice these issues, they aren’t going away and require the proper cleaning to keep your jacket looking and smelling its best. Learning how to clean your leather jacket at home ensures you never have to deal with unsightly stains or unpleasant odors again.

There are several common lining materials to choose from when picking a leather jacket. Cotton is a favorite since it is soft, breathable, and light. Polyester is also light and glossy, though it lacks the breathability cotton has to offer. Poly-cotton is a blend of the two materials, resulting in a durable, lightweight fabric that won’t shrink.

Nylon is another good choice since it is strong, versatile, and flexible, plus it resists heat, water, and wear. Silk is luxurious and soft, with a smooth texture and a great deal of strength, at least when it’s dry. It does lack elasticity, stains easily, and is more expensive. Viscose is also known as faux silk, offering a similar drape and feel. It is also breathable, strong, and less expensive.

Taffeta is a fabric that is made of other woven materials, like nylon, polyester, and silk. It varies in texture, sheerness, weave tightness, and weight, depending on the fabrics used to create it.

There are also heavier lining options available, like wool, fleece, shearling, sherpa, or faux fur. These materials are more difficult to clean by hand, so it may be best to have these linings dry-cleaned for the best results.

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When cleaning the lining of your leather jacket, there are a couple of methods to choose from.

The detergent method for cleaning a leather jacket lining is best for stains. Be sure to choose a gentle laundry detergent used for delicates to avoid damaging the lining material.

Combine a teaspoon of laundry detergent with about 3 cups of water.

Turn your leather jacket inside out, including the sleeves. This reveals the entire lining for easy cleaning.

Take a soft cloth and dip it in the detergent and water solution. Then wring the cloth out until it is only damp, not dripping.

Wipe down the liner with the damp cloth, focusing on the heavily soiled areas. These include places you sweat the most, like the collar, cuffs, and armpits. You can also wipe down any other areas that need it.

When you’ve wiped down all the necessary parts of the liner, soak the cloth in clean, warm water, wringing it out as before. Then wipe down the lining again to remove any leftover residue and soap.

Hang your leather jacket to dry. When this is done, reverse it back to its original shape. Now it’s ready to wear again.

The baking soda method is also good for stains but has the added advantage of removing strong odors as well.

Turn your leather jacket inside out, including the sleeves.

Sprinkle baking soda over the leather jacket lining, focusing mainly on the soiled and smelly areas.

Using a spray bottle with a misting function, coat the lining anywhere baking soda is placed with water.

Let the jacket sit for about 20 minutes. The baking soda will become dry and crispy during this time.

Using a damp cloth, wipe the lining to remove the baking soda.

Let the lining dry again, then turn it back to its original shape.

Leather jacket linings are often forgotten, resulting in a stained, smelly fabric that needs some attention. Luckily, using either of the cleaning methods we’ve described above can return your leather jacket lining to its former glory.