How to Stop Faux Leather Pants from Squeaking

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

Faux leather pants are a stylish and trendy item that can add edge to any outfit. However, their tendency to squeak can be quite irritating, not to mention embarrassing. The good news is that there are ways to prevent your pants from making that pesky noise. Here’s how to stop faux leather pants from squeaking so you can enjoy wearing them all day long!

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Key Takeaways:

  • Wear the right size pants
  • Break new pants in
  • Try a lubricant or powder in the seams
  • Soften stiff leather by steaming, washing or conditioning
  • Try coating the inside legs with antiperspirant
  • Higher quality faux leather is less likely to squeak

Products and Tools You Will Need

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Why Do Faux Leather Pants Squeak?

The first step is to understand why your pants are squeaking in the first place. In the case of faux leather trousers, this is generally the result of two surfaces constantly rubbing against each other such as:

  • Your skin against the leather
  • The inner legs of the pants rub against each other
  • The leather around the seams rubbing together.

Manufacturers and performance testers of faux and vegan leathers call this slip-stick behavior and measure it for quality control purposes(1).

The main influences for the ‘slip-stick behavior’ causing the faux leather pants to squeak are:

  1. Pants are the wrong size
  2. Pants are new and need breaking in
  3. The leather touches and rubs between the seams
  4. Leather needs softening
  5. Pants are old and worn out
  6. Poor quality faux leather

How to Stop Faux Leather Pants From Squeaking

The squeaking won’t damage your faux leather pants in any way but it can be annoying when it’s all you hear every time you move. To save your ears, there are several options to deal with it.

Break Them In

New faux leather pants often squeak for the first few wears. If your faux leather pants are new, they might just need to be broken in so that they soften more quickly. Wearing them around the house for a few hours or even taking them for a walk around the block could help to break them in and stop the squeaking.

How to Break In Faux Leather Pants

  1. Wear them around the house

    To get started, wear them around the house for short periods of time. For best results, wear for 15-30 minutes.

  2. Move around

    While wearing them, try to move around and walk in them. By doing this, you’re helping the fabric to soften and mold to your body shape.

  3. Wear them outside

    After a few days or sessions of wearing them around the house, it’s time to take them out for a spin. Wear them out shopping or running errands. The goal is to get the fabric used to being stretched and moved around until it’s more flexible and the squeaking noise has vanished.

Treat The Seams

If your leather pants are still squeaking, you can try using a lubricant or powder on the seams. This will help to reduce the friction between the two surfaces and stop the noise.

Lubricate the Seams

You can use a variety of lubricants such as oils, lotions, or even Vaseline. My preference is natural coconut oil which I find easier to apply than vaseline (plus I use it for my hair and shaving my legs!). Simply apply a thin layer to the seams and rub it in. The goal is to get enough on the seams to slide past each other easily but not so much that it’s dripping off.

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How to Lubricate the Seams of Faux Leather Pants
  1. Choose your lubricant.
  2. Apply a thin layer to the seams. You can use your fingers or a cotton swab.
  3. Focus your application on the seams in between the thighs, around the thighs, and the booty area.
  4. Rub the lubricant into the seams so that it’s evenly distributed.
  5. Remove excess lubricant with a soft, clean cloth.
  6. Put on your pants and test them out. You should notice that the squeaking has stopped.

Powder The Seams

If you don’t want to use a lubricant, you can try sprinkling powder on the seams instead. This will help to absorb any moisture and reduce friction.

How to Powder the Seams of Your Faux Leather Pants
  1. Start with a clean pair of pants. Make sure there is no dirt or debris on the seams.
  2. Sprinkle a small amount of powder onto the seams. You can use baby powder, dry shampoo, cornstarch, or even baking soda.
  3. Concentrate your application on the seams in between the thighs and around the thighs and butt.
  4. Rub or lightly brush the powder into the seams so that it’s evenly distributed.
  5. Remove excess powder with a clean cloth or clean cosmetic brush.
  6. Put on your pants and give them a try. The squeaking should have stopped by now.

Once you’ve treated the seams, put the pants on and walk around to see if the lubricant or powder has helped to stop the squeaking. If not, you can try repeating the process with a different product. I love this Tiktok video from British fashion influencer Emily Lucy Rajch. Watch her use antiperspirant to stop her faux leather pants from squeaking!

Soften the Leather

If your faux leather pants are stiff and unyielding, they’re more likely to squeak when you walk. To help soften the fabric, there are still a few more options you can try including steaming, applying leather conditioner, and using tumble dryer sheets. All 3 of these methods will help to moisturize the leather and make it more pliable.

How to Soften Faux Leather Pants With Leather Conditioner

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  1. Buy a leather conditioner suitable for faux leather. Most aren’t but Furniture Clinic’s Conditioner and Protection Cream is suitable for faux and vegan leather clothes, shoes and handbags.
  2. Start with a clean pair of pants. Make sure there is no dirt or debris on the fabric.
  3. Apply a small amount of conditioner or cream to the pants. You can use your fingers or a cloth.
  4. Focus your application on the areas that are squeaking the most.
  5. Rub the conditioner or cream into the fabric until it’s evenly distributed.
  6. Put on your pants and test them out. You should notice that the squeaking has decreased.

If your pants are still squeaking, you can try repeating the process.

Steaming

Gently steaming your pants inside out with a handheld or standing steamer is a great way to soften the leather. If you are short of time or on a budget – go for a handheld. I have both and only pull the upright one out (it’s an absolute pain to get out and put away) when I am steaming a pile of clothes.

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Clean Vegan Leather Pants

Another way to soften the leather is to clean the pants. This will also help to remove any manufacturing residue that might be causing the squeaking. Simply machine wash the pants on a delicate cycle with cold water and air dry them.

If you don’t know how to care for vegan leather and are nervous about machine washing, follow the steps listed to gently handwash faux leather pants:

  1. Fill a sink or basin with lukewarm water and a mild detergent
  2. Submerge the pants in the water and let them soak for 10-15 minutes.
  3. Gently agitate the pants to loosen any dirt or debris.
  4. Rinse the pants with cool, clean water.
  5. Remove excess water by gently pressing them between two towels.
  6. Lie the pants flat on a towel and let them air dry

Use A Tumble Dryer Sheet

If your pants are still squeaking after you’ve tried washing them, you can try using a tumble dryer sheet. The chemicals in the dryer sheet will help to soften the fabric and reduce friction.

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  1. Start with a clean pair of pants. Make sure there is no dirt or debris on the seams.
  2. Place a dryer sheet in your tumble dryer.
  3. Put the pants in the dryer on the lowest low heat setting.
  4. Let the pants tumble for 1-2 minutes.
  5. Remove the pants from the dryer and test them out. You should notice that the squeaking has stopped.

Use a Hair Dryer

If your pants are made of plastic leather, you can use a hair dryer to soften them. The heat from the dryer will help to loosen the fibers and make the fabric more pliable.

How to Soften Faux Leather Pants With a Hairdryer
  1. Turn your hair dryer on to the low heat setting.
  2. Hold the dryer about 6 inches away from the pants and blow it evenly into the legs of the pants.
  3. After a few minutes, test the pants to see if they’re still squeaking. If they are, continue drying them until the noise stops.
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Buy The Correct Size Pants

It is essential to find the right fit for your trousers. If they are too tight, the faux leather could look cheap, will be hard to keep smooth, and the fabric will bunch up and creak. If they are too loose, the material will rub and squeak when you move around.

If you are anything like me, the most likely culprit is that your pants are too tight! The fabric on faux leather pants can create friction which causes a squeaking noise. If the pants are too tight, you’ll hear the noise more often in the legs, thighs, or crotch area.

So, how do you fix it? The best way to stop your faux leather pants from squeaking is to simply size up. I know it’s tempting to buy those pants that are just a little bit too small in the hope that you’ll lose weight and they’ll eventually fit. But trust me, it’s not worth it. The only thing you’ll lose is your sanity when your pants squeal every time you move. So save yourself the headache and buy pants that actually fit.

Buy Better Quality Faux Leather

If your faux pants are old and worn down, they’re more likely to make a noise when you walk. Consider buying a higher-quality pair of pants made with better materials. Brands such as Mango and Zara all offer great quality faux leather pants that won’t break the bank.

In addition, you’ll now find cool faux-leather pants across designer houses and at cult brands such as Nanushka. And you won’t just find classic black styles on offer, but a whole host of fun prints and exciting new silhouettes too. These might be more expensive, but they’ll last longer and those pesky squeaks won’t be as noisy.

Conclusion

There are a few different ways to stop your faux leather pants from squeaking. Start by trying a simple solution like using a conditioner or cream and treating the seams. If that doesn’t work, try washing the pants or using a tumble dryer sheet. You can also use a hair dryer to soften the fabric. If your pants are old and worn down, consider buying a new pair made with better materials.

No matter what method you try, it’s important to be patient and test the pants out after each step. The surface of faux leather is a delicate material; you don’t want to damage it further by trying too many things at once. If all of these solutions fail, in all honesty, it might be time to invest in a new pair of better-quality faux leather pants.

How To Unwrinkle Faux Leather Pants and Avoid Spoiling Them

What is Vegan Leather? (Should You Make The Switch?)

Is Faux Leather Durable Enough For Everyday Use?

How To Store Faux Leather Pants

Is Faux Leather Waterproof Or Water Resistant? (The Difference Matters!)

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Iron Faux Leather Fabric?

Yes, you can iron faux leather fabric. However, be sure to use a low heat setting and a pressing cloth to avoid damaging the fabric. Check the care label for any specific instructions for your particular brand.

How Should Faux Leather Leggings Fit?

Faux leather leggings should fit snugly, but not so tightly that they constrict your movement. Make sure you buy the right length for your height. If they’re too tight or too short, they’ll be uncomfortable to wear. If they are too long, they can bunch up at the ankles and look sloppy.

Sources

(1) https://www.filkfreiberg.de/en/research-development/surfaces/friction-abrasion-wear