Yes, I have hit dizzying new heights with my laundering hubris.

I saw a post on Instagram from a vintage shop. They said they use the washing machine DAILY for silk, wool and…suede.

Now, I’ve washed a lot of stuff I shouldn’t have. I’ve unfelted a mohair sweater with my fingers and several hours.

But I’ve never chucked suede in. It had just never occurred to me.

So, I see this post. I scroll the comments for other women’s wisdom, as I know it will be forthcoming. And lo! A commenter proudly announces that she has WASHED LEATHER JACKETS. Her justification is that cows get wet. This is girl math.

But I start thinking. Hmmm. Cowboys. Cowboys must have got their jackets wet and kept wearing them. Probably for decades. And they look cool as heck.

That was enough for me. That same day, I pulled out a 1970s brown leather motorcycle jacket, threw it in the washing machine and wished it my best.

How I washed a 1970s leather jacket

I’d never worn the jacket because it smelled of garage. That alone would usually qualify it for Honor’s Reckless Laundry: if no one can wear it, it might as well be in the bin. Give it a lifeline.

1. Turned it inside out

I don’t super know why, but my mum always did this with stuff. Perhaps I figured the surface of the leather would have less stress placed on it?

2. Put a drop of hand soap in the drawer

I wanted just a bit of foam but nothing that would strip the leather (like my usual fave, white vinegar). Hand soap is fairly delicate and anti-bacterial, so why not?

3. Set the machine to delicate

This gives it less agitation and tumbles it less roughly. It’s an old jacket so chucking it about could have made the leather crack (it might anyway as it dries tbh).

I had the temperature at 20 degrees, figuring any warmer was asking for it.

4. Stopped the cycle early

The full cycle is over an hour and I thought that might truly cook the goose, so I stopped the machine after 30 minutes.

The water was BROWN. Good sign. Disgusting sign.

5. Set the machine to rinse and spin at low speed

I didn’t want any soap residue (or nicotine-brown water????) left but I also didn’t want the jacket drying really slowly, which would just make it smell again.

Low speed spin took most of the water out but wasn’t too rough.

6. Hung the jacket out to air dry

I pulled it out and examined it with amazement. It had suffered no ill effects and looked bloody new. Where it had looked quite scuffy and dull, it’s now supple and glossy.

We’ll see what the drying does to it but I’ll give it a go over with some leather conditioner and I reckon it’ll live to fight another day.

I’ll be damned.

7. Update: conditioning

She air-dried just fine, then I decided to use some shea butter I had rather than buy a leather conditioner. Conditioners are usually just beeswax and a natural fat like mink oil (vile), so any natural oil you’d put on your body will work.

I didn’t want to make the leather greasy with too much shea butter, so I applied it to my hand first. I then rubbed it lightly over the leather in circles, massaging it in.

And what do you know? She looks 20 years old again!