How to Clean Motorcycle Riding Gear: Jacket, Pants and Gloves Care for Street Riders

Motorcycle Riding Gear Care Basics

Before you start scrubbing, check the care label on each piece of gear. Different brands and materials - textile, leather, mesh, stretch panels, waterproof membranes - have different do's and don'ts, and the label is your first set of instructions.

Three big rules apply to almost all motorcycle gear:

• Remove armor and anything electronic or removable before washing.
• Avoid bleach, fabric softener, harsh solvents and high heat.
• When in doubt, hand wash with mild detergent and let it air dry.

Think of motorcycle riding gear care as part of your safety routine - clean gear is more likely to keep its abrasion resistance, waterproofing and fit, which all matter when you ride.

What You'll Need

You don't need a huge kit to keep your street gear in shape. A few simple supplies go a long way.

For Textile Jackets and Pants

• Lukewarm water.
• Mild liquid detergent (no bleach or fabric softener).
• Soft brush or sponge.
• Clean towels or a drying rack.
• Optional: technical fabric or waterproof gear wash, DWR (durable water repellent) spray.

For Leather Jackets and Gloves

• Lukewarm water.
• Mild soap or leatherspecific cleaner.
• Soft cloths or sponges.
• Leather conditioner or balm recommended for riding gear.

If you don't want to cobble together your own kit, MotoSport carries cleaners, fresheners, waterproofing, and leather care products built specifically for motorcycle apparel in our gear care collection.

Step 1: Strip Armor and Liners

Start every cleaning session by breaking your gear down into its main components. It's easier to clean and helps you avoid damaging armor or membranes.

• Remove shoulder, elbow, back, hip and knee armor from jackets and pants.
• Unzip or unsnap thermal and waterproof liners so you can wash them separately if needed.
• Empty all pockets, close zippers and fasten Velcro to keep it from snagging fabric.
• Check gloves for removable liners or armor panels and take those out if the design allows.

Set armor pieces aside in a dry place - these usually don't go in the wash. If they're dusty or sweaty, you can wipe them down with a damp cloth and a touch of mild soap, then let them air dry.

Step 2: Clean Textile Jackets and Pants

Most street jackets and pants are made from textiles like nylon, polyester or blends with stretch panels and mesh. These materials are tough, but they still need gentle care to keep their structure and coatings intact.

Spot Cleaning

• For small stains, dirt or bug splatter, mix a little mild detergent with lukewarm water.
• Use a soft cloth or sponge to work on the dirty area, then wipe with clean water to rinse.
• Blot with a towel and let it air dry - this is often enough between deeper washes.

Hand Washing

• Fill a tub or large sink with lukewarm water and a small amount of mild detergent or technical gear wash.
• Submerge the jacket or pants and gently agitate them by hand to loosen dirt and salts from sweat.
• Pay extra attention to highcontact areas like cuffs, collar, seat and knees.
• Drain the soapy water and refill with clean water to rinse until no suds remain.

Machine Washing (If the Label Allows)

• Use a gentle cycle with cold or lukewarm water.
• Close all zips and Velcro to protect the fabric and your machine.
• Use a small amount of mild detergent designed for technical fabrics.
• Do not use fabric softener - it can clog breathable membranes and reduce water resistance.

Drying and ReProofing

• Gently squeeze - don't wring - excess water out of the garment.
• Hang the jacket or pants on a wide hanger or drying rack in a warm, ventilated area, out of direct sunlight and away from direct heat sources.
• Once dry, you can restore water beading by applying a sprayon DWR product approved for riding gear, following the label directions.

Let everything dry completely before reinstalling armor and liners so moisture doesn't get trapped inside the garment. When it's time to upgrade worn pieces, you can browse fresh motorcycle jackets and motorcycle pants at MotoSport.

Step 3: Clean Leather Jackets and Pants

Leather gear handles abrasion very well, but it needs more careful cleaning than textile. Too much water, the wrong cleaner or strong heat can dry it out and cause cracking.

Dusting and Wiping Down

• Use a dry, soft cloth to remove loose dust and dirt first.
• Dampen another cloth with lukewarm water and a small amount of mild soap or leather cleaner.
• Wipe the leather gently, working in small sections, and avoid soaking the material.
• Use a clean damp cloth to wipe away any residue, then pat dry with a towel.

Conditioning Leather

• Once the leather is completely dry, apply a leather conditioner or balm suitable for motorcycle gear.
• Work it in with a soft cloth, focusing on flex areas like elbows, shoulders, knees and cuffs.
• Buff off any excess according to the product instructions.

Skip the washing machine and tumble dryer for leather jackets and pants. Machine cycles and high heat can shrink, stiffen or damage the hide and stitching. If your leather gear is past its prime, a new leather or textile street jacket from MotoSport might be a better solution than overreviving a worn one.

Step 4: Clean Motorcycle Gloves

Street gloves take a daily beating from sweat, rain, fuel and controls. Cleaning them correctly helps them stay flexible and comfortable, and keeps the palms from turning into sandpaper.

Textile Gloves

• Brush off dry dirt and debris first.
• Spot clean with a cloth or sponge, mild detergent and lukewarm water where needed.
• If the care label allows, you can gently hand wash them in a small basin.
• Rinse thoroughly and gently squeeze out water without twisting.
• Air dry with the fingers pointing down so water can drain away from the cuffs.

Leather or Mixed Gloves

• Wipe the exterior with a damp cloth and a little mild soap or leather cleaner.
• Avoid fully soaking leather gloves - use as little water as needed to lift dirt.
• Stuff the gloves lightly with paper towels to help them hold their shape while drying.
• Let them dry at room temperature, away from direct sunlight, radiators or dryers.
• Once dry, apply a small amount of leather conditioner to the exterior to keep the leather supple.

With any glove, never leave them bunched up and wet at the bottom of a gear bag. That's a fast way to get odor, mildew and stiff materials. If you decide they're beyond saving, you can replace them with a fresh pair from MotoSport's range of motorcycle gloves.

Step 5: Drying and Storing Your Gear

How you dry and store motorcycle riding gear is just as important as how you wash it. Rushing the drying process or leaving gear in the wrong place can undo a lot of your hard work.

Drying Tips

• Always air dry - don't use a household dryer or direct heaters on jackets, pants or gloves.
• Hang textile gear on wide, sturdy hangers so the weight is evenly supported.
• Shape leather gear as it dries so it doesn't stiffen in a strange position.
• Open vents, cuffs and zippers to help air move through the garment.

Storage Tips

• Store gear in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight.
• Avoid cramped corners or hooks that crush armor and padding.
• Don't store damp gear in sealed bins or gear bags - let it fully dry first.
• Keep it away from fuel cans and strong chemicals that can affect fabrics and leather.

Once everything is dry, reinstall armor and liners carefully and check that the fit and mobility feel the same as before you washed it.

How Often Should You Clean Motorcycle Riding Gear?

How often you clean your gear depends on how often you ride, your weather and how hard you push your equipment. A commuter riding five days a week in all weather will need more frequent care than a weekendonly rider.

• Exterior and shieldtype surfaces: quick wipe after long or bugheavy rides; deeper clean whenever buildup is obvious.
• Jackets and pants: plan a proper wash a few times a season, or whenever they start to smell, feel stiff, or show visible dirt.
• Gloves: clean lightly whenever they're visibly dirty or start to smell; deep clean a few times a year depending on use.

It's better to clean more gently and more often than to let gear get filthy and then try to fix everything with one aggressive wash.

When to Replace Motorcycle Riding Gear

Good maintenance can extend the life of your riding gear, but nothing lasts forever. At some point, it makes more sense to replace a jacket, pair of pants or gloves than to keep trying to revive them.

Signs Textile Gear Is Done

• Frayed or torn outer fabric in key impact areas like shoulders, elbows, hips and knees.
• Broken or unreliable zippers and closures that won't stay shut.
• Armor pockets that are stretched or torn so armor can't stay in the correct position.
• Delaminated or peeling waterproof membranes that no longer keep you dry.

Signs Leather Gear Is Done

• Deep cracks, hard spots or flaking in highimpact or flex areas.
• Stitching coming apart at seams, especially at shoulders, elbows or knees.
• Areas where the leather has become paperthin or badly scuffed through.

After a Crash

• If your gear has slid on the pavement, inspect it closely inside and out.
• Replace any piece with torn seams, holes through the outer shell, or crushed armor and pockets.
• When in doubt, err on the side of upgrading - your riding gear is there for the next crash, not the last one.

When it's time to move on from a wornout jacket, pants or gloves, you can use your experience with the old gear to choose your next setup from MotoSport's selection of motorcycle jackets, motorcycle pants and motorcycle gloves, then keep everything dialed with products from the gear care page from day one.

Riding Gear Care Cheat Sheet