First steps
Start here
- Air the jacket out first; airing can often remove odors.
- Read the care label; take dry-clean-only items to a dry cleaner.
- Brush off any visible mildew outdoors, not inside.
- Don't machine-dry it until the smell is gone.
Smoke, mildew or mothball odor soaked into a thrifted leather jacket usually needs airing and a gentle wipe-down, not anything harsh. Mildew is the tricky part, since it can weaken the leather's fibers, and an odor that has sat in the jacket for a long time takes longer to lift than a recent one. Whether the leather is aniline or pigmented sets the limits on what's safe, so look at its finish before any cloth touches it.
Cleaning a thrifted leather jacket goes best with the lightest touch you can manage. Check the lining and cuffs on their own too, since those areas can need a different touch. If the thrift store smell is still there after airing, stop and let a leather pro take over.
Before you start
What leather can take
Use with care1
- Water
Avoid7
- Soaking
- Chlorine bleach
- Oxygen bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
- Heat, once the stain is out
5 items
What you'll need
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- Soft, lint-free clothsOne for the mild soap wipe-down and one for the distilled water rinse. (opens Amazon)
- Mild soapUse only mild soap on pigmented leather, and avoid bleach, solvents and acids on it.
- Distilled waterFor mixing the soap and for the rinse.
- Soft brushFor brushing off visible mildew outdoors. (opens Amazon)
- A ventilated spot out of direct sunlightWhere the jacket can air out and then dry.
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7 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 7
Air the jacket out first
Hang the jacket in a ventilated spot, out of direct sunlight and away from heat. Airing can often remove odors on its own, so give it time before you touch it with anything.
Step 2 of 7
Check the label and the leather type
Read the care label first; if it says dry-clean-only, take the jacket to a dry cleaner instead. Then check the leather: pigmented leather has a coated, even finish, while aniline leather is soft, absorbent and shows the grain. On aniline, skip the soap and use only the maker's recommended cleaner, after a patch test in a hidden area.
Step 3 of 7
Brush off any visible mildew
If you can see mildew, brush it off with a soft brush while the jacket is outdoors. Skip this step if there's no visible mildew on the jacket.
Careful. Brush outdoors, not inside.
Step 4 of 7
Wipe the leather with mild soap
Dampen a soft, lint-free cloth in lukewarm water mixed with about 5% mild soap, not a 1/2 soap mix, which is much too strong for leather. Wipe the pigmented leather in a gentle circular motion with no heavy pressure, working in small sections.
Tip. Wring the cloth out well so it's damp, not wet.
Step 5 of 7
Rinse off the soap residue
Wipe the area again with a cloth dampened only with distilled water, and wring it out well. This removes the soap film so it doesn't dry on the leather.
Step 6 of 7
Dry it in the shade
Dry the leather with a soft cloth, then let it air-dry in a shaded, ventilated spot. Keep it away from heat, so no hair dryer, radiator or direct sunlight.
Step 7 of 7
Call a pro if the smell stays
If the smell is still there once the jacket is dry, a professional leather cleaning service is the next step. A leather specialist can judge what's safe for that particular jacket.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for secondhand smell on leather
For the wipe-down, look for a plain mild soap, and use distilled water for the rinse. Skip saddle soap, oils, polishes and any spray labeled for odor.
Leather Honey Leather Cleaner
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on leather, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
A smell that keeps coming back needs the longer treatment.
If the smell lingers →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
A lifting spot will rub onto your cloth as a faint tint with each light pass, and the smell should be weaker after a day of airing. Judge the color only once the leather has dried completely, because wet leather reads darker than it really is. A pale or patchy area that shows up after drying means the finish has been affected, so put the cloth down and get a specialist's view.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your leather
Leather jacket
The outer leather airs out fastest when both sides face the air, so hang the jacket on a wide hanger with room around it. Turn the sleeves inside out for the last stretch of airing if you can.
Keep the wipe-down light on the zipper and metal hardware, since water can leave marks there. If the finish looks unusual or you can't tell what it is, stop after airing and ask a professional.
Lining
The lining, collar and cuffs hold odor longest, so they need extra airing time next to the outer leather. Turn the cuffs back and let air move through the sleeves.
Fabric linings need their own care, so check the lining's care label before any wet cleaning reaches it. If the lining smell stays after airing, a dry cleaner is the safer route.
Collar and cuffs
Collars and cuffs take the most handling, so the wipe-down there should be the lightest in the whole jacket. Work the cloth in short strokes and follow the direction of the seams.
Let these spots dry fully before the jacket goes back on, since pressure on damp leather can leave marks.
Aniline leather
Aniline leather is soft and absorbent, so odor can sink deeper than it does on coated leather. Expect the airing to take longer, and don't push the cleaning.
Use only the maker's recommended cleaner after a patch test, and skip the soap wipe-down entirely. If the maker has no recommendation, stop at airing and ask a professional.
If the smell lingers
If the smell is still there after airing and one wipe-down, it has likely settled deeper into the lining and seams. A second gentle pass with the mild soap and distilled water is the realistic next step, with full drying in between.
Smell that has dried into the leather usually takes several rounds of airing, not a stronger product. Give the jacket more airing time between rounds, and check the smell each time.
Badly mildewed leather may be damaged beyond repair, and some odors will ease rather than vanish. For persistent smoke odor, a dry cleaner that offers ozone deodorizing is an option if the care label allows. For anything unusual, a professional leather cleaning service is the next step.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on secondhand smell on leather?
You'll see plenty of home remedies for thrift store smell, but leather is picky about what touches it. Many of them are harsh, and harsh cleaners can fade or stain leather. Skip the harsh options and start with a damp cloth and mild soap.
Skip1Avoid5
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't use unknown products on leather
Unknown odor sprays and cleaners can damage the finish, and you can't tell what's in them. Stick to airing and the mild soap method, which are safe for this jacket.
Don't use saddle soap or furniture polish
These products are off-limits on leather in this method, and they can leave residue on the finish. The light wipe-down is the better choice.
Don't spray fragrance over the smell
A fragrance spray over mildew or smoke just gives you a second odor to deal with. Give the jacket airing time first, then judge what's left.
Don't brush mildew off indoors
Brushing mildew inside spreads it around the room and onto everything nearby. Take the jacket outside, brush off the visible spots gently, and let it air out before you bring it back in.
Don't skip the hidden-spot test
A hidden spot shows you how the leather takes water and soap before you commit the whole jacket. Try the inside of a cuff or a low corner of the back, and wait for it to dry before you judge.
When to call a professional
If the smoke smell hangs on after airing, a dry cleaner that offers ozone deodorizing is the next stop, and a leather specialist should take on anything that persists. Bring any color change, scuff or small rip to a leather repair business, and mention what you've already used on the jacket.
Questions
Will the smell come out of a thrifted leather jacket?
Often, yes. Airing it out and a gentle wipe-down handle most secondhand smells. Mildew and deep smoke odor are harder, and some smell may only fade rather than disappear.
Can I use vinegar to get rid of the smell?
No. Vinegar is an acid, and leather can't take acid cleaners because they can fade the color or strip the surface. Airing and the mild soap wipe-down are the safer route.
Can I put a leather jacket in the washing machine?
No. Leather can't be soaked or left wet, and a washer does both. Use the wipe-down method and let the jacket air-dry in the shade.
How long should I air out the jacket?
Keep it airing until the smell eases, checking on it now and then. There's no fixed time, so judge by the smell rather than the calendar.
Should I take my leather jacket to a dry cleaner?
Yes, if the care label says dry-clean-only, since that label rules out home cleaning. If the label allows home care, the airing and wipe-down come first. Take it in if the smell stays after those steps.
Does the lining need different care?
Probably, since fabric linings need their own care. Check the lining's care label before wetting it, and air it out first like the rest of the jacket.
What if I already wiped it with something harsh?
Stop, then wipe the area with a cloth dampened only with distilled water and let it air-dry in the shade. After that, call a professional leather cleaning service to look at it.
How can I tell if my leather is the delicate kind?
Aniline is the thin, absorbent kind with no protective finish, so a drop of liquid can darken it quickly. Pigmented leather is coated, so water tends to sit on the surface instead of soaking in. Test a hidden spot first, and if you still can't tell, treat the leather as aniline.
Can I speed up drying with a hair dryer?
Skip it. Leather dries best slowly, somewhere cool and airy with no direct sun. Keep the jacket clear of radiators and vents while it dries, and never iron or steam it either.
What if the leather changes color while I'm cleaning it?
Put the cloth down as soon as you see the shift, because another product on top of it will only make the damage worse. Ask a leather repair shop to look at the area, since they can work on dye and finish problems that home cleaning can't reach.
Secondhand Smell on other materials
Other stains on leather
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.