Did you buy a leather jacket, but it came with an unpleasant smell of cigarettes and smoke? The good news is you are not stuck with that smell. Â
Wondering how to get cigarette smell out of a leather jacket? Here are our top answers that you can quickly try before you take your leather jacket to a professional leather cleaner.Â
- Use leather conditioner
- Put it outdoors, in the shade, for several hours
- Spray diluted white vinegar inside & outside
- Put a locked plastic bag of baking soda inside the jacket for 1,2 day
- Spray dish soap mixed with hot water lightly
- Put dryer sheets in the closet and near the jacket
- Put a bowl of coffee grounds in the closet
- Use activated charcoal to remove the cigarette smell
- Use fabric freshener spray
- Rent an ozone machine
- Get help from a certified leather expert
Let’s explain these answers to how to get cigarette smell out of a leather jacket in more detail.
You can try some tips at home to remove cigarette smell from leather jackets. If these methods don’t work, you’ll have to take your leather jacket to a professional leather cleaner.
Prepare for Leather Smoke Smell Removal
Before starting the smoke-smell removal process, you should take care of these first.
Clean Jacket Thoroughly
Use damp cloth to wipe down any dust or dirt. The smell may be because of the dirt. It is also important to remove dirt because you can’t apply many methods of smoke removal if there is some dirt.
Check for Other Damages to the Jacket
See if there are other tears or damages to the leather jacket. You may need to repair that before working on smell removal.
Also, some methods involve the application of liquid or spray. If there are any holes or tears, those chemicals can harm the jacket.
Test Methods On Small Patch Only
No matter how you get cigarette smell out of a leather jacket, it is important to test that method on a small patch first.
This way, you can be sure that the smoke-smell removal method you are using will not discolor your jacket. We recommend you do it on the inside of the leather cuff. That way, no harm won’t be visible, and you will test the method.
Clean with a Leather Cleaner Before You Start
Use a high-quality leather cleaner to clean your leather jacket, leather garment, or any other leather fashion piece. Remove any dust from the leather to maximize the impact of the smoke removal process.
How To Get Cigarette Smell Out Of A Leather Jacket! Top 11 Ways
These are our top recommendations for getting the smell of cigars, cigarettes, vapes, etc., out of your leather jackets and other leather garments.
1- Put Leather Jacket in the Outdoors
Outdoors reduce the smell of a leather jacket. It will surely have some impact on the smell of smoke in your jacket.
Hang your jacket outdoors but in the shade for 2,3 days. The porch is the perfect place to treat your smelly leather jacket with exposure to the elements.
If the smell is mild, this will do the trick. You will get rid of the smell of cigarettes, cigars, vapes, etc.
2- Use Leather Conditioner
Start with a leather conditioner. It restores the natural smell of leather and preserves its shape and texture.
However, you should choose the leather conditioner that matches the type of leather used on your jacket. Use this leather guide to confirm your leather type and choose the right conditioner accordingly.
3- Spray Diluted White Vinegar
Strong smells cancel each other. Before you go to a leather cleaner, I say you try 1 part white vinegar mixed with 4 parts water.
Spray this mixture on the inside and outside of your jacket. Don’t put too much of it.
Let this jacket dry in a ventilated area. Vinegar has been proven to significantly reduce the smoking smell from leather garments.
Alternatively, you can also make the above mixture and put it in bowls in the closet. Bowls will produce a similar effect on the reduction of smoke smell.
4- Use Baking Soda
Baking soda is a proven solution to the smell problem. It is also used around the house for general smell removal and it is just as effective in reducing and removing cigarette smell from leather jackets.
How to get rid of cigarette smell on leather jackets? Use baking soda in this way to get rid of the smell.
Put baking soda in a plastic ziplock bag
Seal the bag on the top
Put it in the jacket and fold the jacket
Let it stay there for a day at least. Check to see any reduction in the foul smell. If there is, keep the packet inside until the smell is gone.
Caution: don’t use baking soda directly on leather. It is an abrasive material that can harm leather.
5- Spray Dish Soap Mixed With Hot Water
Dish soap mixed with water can also reduce the smell of smoke from jackets. Make a mixture of water and dish soap and spray it thinly on the jacket.
You can also include vinegar in the mix. However, if you include vinegar, then make a mixture of warm water, white vinegar, and a few drops of mild dish soap.
6- Put Dryer Sheets In The Jacket
Dryer sheets can also absorb the smell of smoke from leather jackets. Here is how you can use dryer sheets.
- Put your leather jacket in a large plastic bag
- Put 6-12 sheets in each fold of the jacket, its sleeves, and pockets.
- Seal the bag for 48 hours.
This will significantly reduce the smoke smell. You can also repeat this process until the smell is gone forever.
7- Put a Bowl of Coffee Grounds in the Closet
Looking for a quick, affordable answer to how to remove cigarette smell from leather jackets? Use coffee grounds.
Put coffee grounds in a pan or bowl and place them near the smelly jacket. The coffee smell will cancel out the smell of smoke. However, it may not fully eliminate the smell.
8- Use Activated Charcoal
Like coffee, vinegar, and baking soda, activated charcoal also absorbs smell. Place some activated charcoal in a pan or bowl near the jacket. It is better if you put them together in a closed space like a closet.
9- Use Fabric Freshener Spray
Applying fabric freshener generously on the inside and outside of the leather jacket will also reduce the small.
10- Rent Ozone Machine
Ozone cancels smells the best way. It is one of the methods professionals use to reduce musty, smoke, or any unpleasant smell from rooms, fabric, etc.
See if you can rent an ozone machine. Use it on your leather jacket. Follow this process for the best results.
- Clean leather thoroughly first
- Place the jacket in a well-ventilated area like a garage or spare room
- Seal the room as much as possible to contain ozone
- Run the ozone machine for 2-4 hours
- Let the room fully air out for at least 30 minutes after use
- Clean the leather with a damp cloth to remove any residue
- Condition leather as ozone can dry it out
Some cautions before you do this process;
- Use well-ventilated space
- Limit treatment time to 2-4 hours
- Try on a small leather area first for any discoloration
- Repeat the process 2,3 times if the smell doesn’t go away
11- Get Help From a Certified Leather Expert
As a last resort, you can go to a certified leather expert and ask them to treat your jacket.