Cleaning and Restoring Your Vintage Flying Jacket

Many vintage collectors own a piece of aviation history in the form of a vintage flying jacket, or if you are a vintage fashionista, you probably own a Schott, Irvin or Avirex aviator jacket and know how hard they are to maintain...

At Keltex dry cleaners we have been cleaning and restoring these iconic Flying jackets for years, especially those worn by pilots during World War II, which are highly sought after by vintage clothing enthusiasts today. But with age comes wear and tear, and discolouration. Thankfully, there are ways to clean and restore your vintage flying jacket so that it looks as good as new! Let’s explore how you can bring your beloved jacket back to life!

How to Clean Your Vintage Flying Jacket

The first step in restoring an old flying jacket is to inspect the jacket for weakness, tears, holes and damaged threads. make sure to check the composition, look for care labels before cleaning it and make sure to test a small area of the fabric with mild detergents specifically designed for wool and leather. If your jacket has any metal parts such as buttons, buckles or zippers, be sure to take them off or cover them up before you begin cleaning. Once the metal pieces have been taken care of, carefully brush away any dirt or debris from the surface of the fabric using a soft-bristled brush, suede brushes are extremely useful when it comes to cleaning the nap. However, make sure to avoid using any abrasive materials or hard brushes, such as scouring pads or nail brushes which will damage the nap and scratch away at the delicate surface. Then it's time to start cleaning. Take a basin of lukewarm water, never hot! mix in the specially formulated detergent until the soap suds rise, then slowly work into the nap with a sponge using only the suds to gently clean the coat, inside and out, don't rub too hard! Once you are happy the coat has been cleaned and you can see the stains have been removed its time to start rinsing the coat through, use only cold water to do this, and make sure that no suds or detergent is remaining in the fabrics, once done, hang the coat to dry in a safe ambient temperature range between 60 degrees and 75 degrees Fahrenheit or 15 degrees and 24 degrees Celsius. The cooler end of that range is better.

Once the coat is dry, it's time to apply a leather or suede protector spray to help guard against future stains and spills. Follow the instructions on the protector's label carefully! And that’s all there is to it. Congratulations, you've just learned how to clean and remove tough stains from a vintage flying jacket! Good luck and happy cleaning!

Dyeing Your Vintage Flying Jacket

If your vintage flying jacket has lost its original colour due to fading or discolouration over time, you may want to consider dyeing it. You can choose from an array of colours depending on what look you’re going for – anything from classic black to vibrant red and more! Just make sure that whatever type of dye you use is specifically formulated for leather or suede fabrics so that it won't damage your vintage piece beyond repair. You may also want to consider having a professional do the job if you’re not confident about doing it yourself.

Now that you know how to clean and dye your vintage flying jacket, you’re ready to enjoy its beauty for years to come! It's the perfect way to keep a piece of history alive and show off your style!

Repairing Your Vintage Flying Jacket

If your vintage flying jacket has any tears or holes in the fabric, repairing it should be done before dyeing it (if applicable). This can be done through patchwork – i.e., replacing damaged sections with patches of fabric in a matching colour and texture – or through stitching up tears with needle and thread. Again, if you're not confident about doing this yourself then it's best left to professionals like ourselves who specialise in repairing suede, leather and antique garments. We can make even the most tired pieces look new again! Our team of specialists use their expert knowledge of repairing natural skins, removing most water-based stains as well as scuff marks or scratches using exact colour-matching paints.

Conclusion:

Bringing your vintage flying jacket back to life may seem like a daunting task but with some patience, attention to detail, and proper care it can be done! Cleaning and restoring an old piece of clothing such as a flying jacket requires special tools and detergents that are designed especially for delicate fabrics like leather and suede; remember to never use anything abrasive on these types of garments as this will only cause further damage! Finally, if you’re not sure about how best to clean or repair your precious flying jacket then don’t hesitate to contact us, we offer a specialist cleaning by post service, without the need to leave the comfort of your own home, we'll take the headache out of doing this yourself. As one of only a few dry cleaners in the UK to specialise in vintage sheepskin flying jacket cleaning and restoration, we take great pride and care when handling these unique items. With our extensive knowledge of restoring natural skins, you can trust that your investment into a special piece will be well looked after!

Thanks for taking the time to read our blog, we hope you enjoyed it!