Washing a Lederhose: how to care for your Lederhose properly

Does your Lederhose still look good but smell like a smoked ham after an evening in the beer tent? Before you wash the Lederhose, start with the simplest thing: airing it out. A few days in the fresh air work real wonders and you do not have to do anything else. Important: do not hang it in direct sunlight and protect it from rain, because moisture is really bad for an untreated Lederhose.

When airing is not enough and mustard, beer or other Wiesn souvenirs have landed on the pants, you can carefully treat the affected areas with curd soap or soft soap. For suede leather a soft brush works best, for smooth leather a damp cloth is enough. Afterwards, always let it dry flat for several days. Anyone who has to wash the Lederhose should never hang it up, otherwise the weight of the leather can warp the shape.

When you wash your Lederhose, one rule stands above all: as cold as possible. Warm or even hot water makes the leather harden and become brittle. So always wash your Lederhose with cold or at most lukewarm water, whether by hand or in the machine.

Wearing it regularly is the best thing you can do for your Lederhose. It keeps the leather supple and gives it exactly the patina that makes a true Krachlederne. Important: care depends heavily on the type of leather. Cowhide is the most resilient and tolerates a little more moisture. Deerskin is softer and more delicate. Nubuck leather has a velvety surface and needs special leather brushes as well as nubuck leather spray instead of ordinary leather oil. But anyone who only takes out their Lederhose once a year for the Wiesn should help it along regularly with leather oil.

In the past people rubbed Lederhosen with butter. That still works today, but leather oil is much more pleasant and leaves no smells. You can get rid of stubborn odours after the Wiesn or Oktoberfest by hanging up the pants, steaming them lightly and then dabbing them with a damp cloth. Simply put a few drops on a soft cloth and rub the pants with it. The leather stays soft, supple and gets a nice shine.

Even more important is a good leather protection spray. It waterproofs the surface, protects against moisture and prevents cracks from forming. Especially before the Wiesn season it is worth freshly waterproofing the pants.

After the season is before the season. Anyone who stores their Lederhose properly will enjoy it for many years. The most important thing: dry, dark and well ventilated. A normal wardrobe is perfect. A damp cellar on the other hand is the worst thing you can do to your pants, the leather becomes brittle and mouldy.

It is best to hang the pants on a sturdy hanger or lay them flat in the wardrobe. And when you put them away, oil them once more beforehand so the leather does not dry out over the winter.

Types of leather: what really applies to your Lederhose

When in doubt: take the Lederhose to a cleaner

Some stains simply cannot be removed yourself, and that is completely fine. A professional leather cleaner knows exactly what to do and safely brings your pants back into shape. Many cleaners also offer oiling and waterproofing at the same time so the pants are like new afterwards.

Depending on the cleaning business and the degree of soiling, the cost is usually between 20 and 40 euros. For a high quality deerskin Lederhose that is meant to last decades, that is well invested money.