Quick answer
Wash faux leather leggings inside out in cold water on a gentle cycle, then hang them to dry. Never use fabric softener or heat.
Why faux leather needs special care
Faux leather leggings combine a polyurethane coating with a stretchy fabric base. That coating gives them their sleek look but is sensitive to heat, agitation, and harsh chemicals. Treat them like delicate activewear, not like denim or cotton leggings.
Step-by-step faux leather leggings care
- Turn leggings inside out: This protects the coated outer surface from rubbing against other fabrics or the machine drum. Zip any zippers and fasten any hooks first. Common mistake: washing right side out can cause the coating to scuff or peel over time.
- Use cold water and gentle cycle: Cold water keeps the polyurethane coating from softening or becoming sticky. Select the delicate or hand-wash cycle on your machine. Add a mild liquid detergent — no bleach, no fabric softener. Fabric softener breaks down the coating and reduces the smoothing properties.
- Wash with similar fabrics only: Put leggings in a mesh laundry bag and wash them with other smooth, dark items. Avoid towels, denim, or anything with zippers or hooks that could snag the raw-cut hem. Rough fabrics can abrade the coating and cause pilling on the stretch fabric.
- Never machine dry or use heat: Heat is the fastest way to ruin faux leather. It causes the coating to crack, peel, or become sticky. After the wash cycle ends, remove leggings promptly and reshape them while damp. Even low heat in a dryer can damage the polyurethane coating permanently.
- Hang to dry away from direct sunlight: Lay leggings flat on a drying rack or hang them over a shower rod. Keep them out of direct sun and away from radiators. They should dry within a few hours. Sunlight can fade the color and make the coating brittle.
Products mentioned
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7/8 Faux Leather Legging: Our faux leather fabric has phenomenal four-way stretch, raw-cut edges and smoothing properties. The four-way stretch means the leggings move with you, but it also means the coating can crease or peel if washed aggressively.
7/8 Faux Leather Legging
