Confession: back when I was a fashion intern, I burned a pair of leather pants minutes before they were supposed to be featured in a runway show. I'm not the only one who has struggled to figure out exactly how to get wrinkles out of leather garments. Irons and steamers are a no-brainer for cotton, linen, and just about everything else. But leather, on the other hand, could end up being completely ruined by those go-to wrinkle releasers. So what's the real solution?

It is best not to let your leather get wrinkled in the first place by storing these types of garments properly. More on that below — but first, here are the best tips for how to get wrinkles out of leather clothing.

How to Get Wrinkles Out of Leather With Steam

Using a regular clothes steamer can damage the leather, however you can still use steam from a shower to gently release the wrinkles. You can do this one while you're getting dressed without adding any extra time to your morning routine.

Instead of breaking out an actual steamer, go ahead and hang your leather garment up in the bathroom, whether it's on a hook or on the door. Make sure it is not too close to the water that droplets get on your leather. While you're in the shower, let the steam do its magic and make the stiff fabric pliable. Be careful not to hang the leather piece too close to the water or the drops will leave water stains behind. Let it sit for about 10 minutes to release the wrinkles.

How to Get Wrinkles Out of Leather Without Steam

Leather can also be stretched, and a great wrinkle-releasing solution can be made by mixing one part water with one part alcohol in a spray bottle. If your leather is suede or unfinished leather, you should skip this method.

From a distance, lightly mist the leather garment (don't soak it) with the spray bottle solution. If it's your first time using the alcohol method on a leather item, test it in a small area first to make sure no color will rub off. If it doesn't, that's the green light to spray it all over. The alcohol will loosen up the stiff fabric, and you can use your hands to pull and smooth any creases.

This method also cleans the leather, so if your garment is dirty you may need to wipe it down completely with the alcohol solution so it doesn't leave any spots.

Since alcohol can be drying, finish the process with a moisturizing leather conditioner.

How to Get Wrinkles Out of Leather by Ironing

To be honest, this method gives me flashbacks to my interning-days disaster. But if you absolutely feel you need to use an iron, turn the heat setting down to the coolest point. Then, after you arrange your leather item on the ironing board, grab a pillowcase or towel and spread it on top of the garment. That extra layer of fabric will create added protection from the iron's heat, making it safer to use.

If you have a steam iron, make sure you remove any water from the iron. Ensure that the iron doesn't touch the leather without a protective layer in place.

How to Prevent Wrinkles in Leather Clothing

Just like skincare, preventing wrinkles on leather pants, dresses, and tops is often easier than correcting them. That's why I like to properly store all of my leather pieces, hanging them on hangers to minimize the risk of creases or indents. Cheap hangers can actually cause more wrinkles over time, though, especially along the shoulder area on leather jackets. So my go-to hangers are these high-quality, yet affordable ones on Amazon.

However, even when you're diligent about properly storing your garments, wrinkles can happen. Some of the toughest wrinkles to remove from leather might actually be the ones created long before the leather garment enters your house (an unexpected downside to online shopping). Air-sealed packaging might be great for shipping logistics, but they tend to leave a stubborn crease in leather pieces.

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