Do you love your beautiful wallet? If your wallet gets dirty, have you ever wondered if you can clean your wallet in the washer?
Washing a wallet in the washer can damage the material of the wallet especially if the wallet is made of leather. However, there are also wallets made of fabric and some other materials; they can be washed in the washer.
In this article, I will discuss why you shouldn’t wash a wallet made of leather in the washer and how to properly wash wallets made of different materials. So, let’s get started without further ado.
Are Wallets Machine Washable?
Leather wallets are definitely not machine washable. No matter how delicate the detergent or machine cycle is, you can’t just put your leather wallet in the washer and expect it to be clean and unharmed.
However, only 35% of wallets are made of actual leather material. Fabric wallets are also very popular. Besides that, there are wallets made of metal, wood, denim etc. So, whether wallets are washable in the washing machine or not mostly depends on the material that they are made of.
Here’s a list of a different materials of wallets showing if they are washable in the washer or not:
| # | Wallet Material | Machine Washable |
| 1. | Genuine Leather Wallets | No |
| 2. | Faux Leather Wallets | No |
| 3. | Fabric Wallets | Yes |
| 4. | Wood Wallets | No |
| 5. | Metal Wallets | No |
| 6. | Denim Wallets | Yes |
| 7. | Plastic Wallets | No |
| 8. | Elastic Wallets | Yes |
| 9. | Paper Wallets | No |
| 10. | Mixed (Combination of leather, metal or wood) | No |
How to Wash a Wallet?
The washing procedure of the wallet will differ from the material of the wallet. You can not clean a leather wallet and a fabric wallet in the same manner.
So, let’s discuss the cleaning and washing procedure of the most popular types of wallets in terms of the materials used to make them.
Leather Wallet:
Leather wallets are the most popular wallets on the planet earth without any doubt. They look elegant and stylish. Most men are obsessed with leather wallets. But most of us don’t know how to clean our leather wallets properly.
Can You Put a Leather Wallet In The Washing Machine?
Leather wallets are not machine washable. The detergent used in the washing machine will remove the essential oils that remain in the leather and will reduce the life and damage the color of the leather.
Also, rough movement inside the washing machine will damage the leather wallet physically and cause wear and tear. I repeat, don’t wash your wallet in the washer.
What if You Mistakenly Put Your Leather Wallet in The Washer?
We often keep things in our pockets and put the cloth in the washer without knowing. So, it’s possible that you forgot your wallet in your pants pocket and put it in the washing machine.
If you remember it during the wash cycle; stop the cycle at once and bring out the wallet. Otherwise, don’t panic. What’s done is done. What you have to do is, if the wallet is still dry, run it with clean water and wrap it in a towel.
Remove everything inside in the meantime. When the water is soaked, hang it somewhere to completely dry. Don’t keep it under direct sunlight.
After 6-12 hours, apply the leather conditioner properly to restore the oil content of the leather material of your wallet. This will stop any further damage to your wallet.
What is The Best Way To Clean a Leather Wallet?
Cleaning your leather wallet using your hand is the best way without any doubt.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to washing your leather wallet:
- Take a Damp Cloth: Using the damp cloth, rub over the whole surface of your wallet gently for 2-3 minutes.
- Use Saddle Soap: Now, use saddle soap or a dedicated leather cleaner. You can take a little amount of saddle and rub it on the leather surface using a wet cloth or brush. To reach the edges properly using a brush is helpful.
- Soak Excess Water and Soap: Now, take a dry and clean towel and use it to soak any excess water and soap remaining on the wallet surface.
- Apply Leather Conditioner: This step is very important. Apply leather conditioner properly on your leather wallet and this will lock in moisture and essential oil particles.
Fabric Wallet:
Fabric wallets are not as durable as leather ones but you get a lot of choices in colors and designs to choose from. Besides that, fabric wallets are easier to clean and wash. Yes, you can wash a fabric wallet in the
Can I Put My Fabric Wallet In The Washing Machine?
Most fabric wallets are machine washable. But the wash settings need to be set delicate. But I don’t recommend washing a fabric wallet in the washer. Some wallets have zippers or buttons. Washing your fabric wallet can damage the zipper or buttons.
So, it’s better to avoid washing machines. However, if your fabric wallet doesn’t have zippers or buttons, then you can give it a try.
How Do You Clean a Dirty Fabric Wallet?
I think the best way to clean your fabric wallet is by washing it by hand. If you want to deep clean your fabric wallet, then follow the steps below:
- Remove everything that’s inside your wallet.
- Mix detergent and water in a bucket. If the stain is very strong use lukewarm water.
- Dip the fabric wallet in the detergent mixed water and keep it for 10 minutes.
- Then, take a toothbrush and a few drops of liquid detergent on it and rub the whole wallet in a circular motion.
- Once you are done rubbing, run the wallet with fresh water thoroughly.
- Finally, allow the fabric wallet to dry. Don’t keep it under direct sunlight.
Note: Following a similar procedure, you can wash metal, denim, wood, and other types of wallets as well.
How Often Should You Clean Your Wallet?
I think you should clean your wallets every one or two months. The frequency of cleaning a wallet will vary on a lot of things like how often you use it. For most people, I think cleaning wallets once every one or two months is okay.
But if you find your wallet is getting dirty very soon, then you can clean it once every week. Also, if we take color into account, white wallets need to be cleaned more frequently than colorful ones.
Related Questions:
Can You Clean Leather Wallets With Alcohol?
Alcohol is not safe for cleaning leather material. [Source] So, you can’t clean a leather wallet with alcohol. Alcohol will dry out the leather and soon you will be seeing cracks and peeling on the surface of your leather wallet if you clean your leather wallet with alcohol.
Can You Put a Wallet In The Dryer?
You can not put your wallet into the dryer, heat from the dryer can cause wrinkles on the surface of the wallet; especially if it’s made of leather material. So, avoid putting wallets in the dryer at all costs.
Final Thoughts:
There you have it! You can not wash your wallet in the washer if you want it to last longer. Don’t ever think of washing leather wallets in the washer. Yes, you can wash some fabric wallets in the washing machine but it will yield good results.
If your wallet has a zipper or buttons, it’s most likely that the movement inside the washing machine is going to harm your wallet. Try to wash your wallets manually; I know it’s a boring process.
If you could just throw your wallet in the washer with the laundry life would be so much easier. But the irony of fate is that you should not wash your wallet using a washer.
