Leather jackets can be a cleaning nightmare. You may wipe and polish and rejuvenate your jacket exterior regularly, but even the most attractive and well-kept leather jacket can accumulate unpleasant odors from perspiration, smoke and pollution. Although you can keep your jacket smelling as nice as it looks by taking it to a professional cleaner, do-it-yourself methods are often the simplest and least expensive techniques available.

In a medium bowl, mix 1 tablespoon mild detergent with 4 cups warm water. Mix the solution until the detergent is completely dissolved.

Turn your jacket inside out. Dip a sponge into the detergent and squeeze out the excess water. Gently sponge-wash the entire lining, focusing on areas such as the armpits, where odor may be more prevalent.

Empty the bowl of washing solution, and rinse both the bowl and sponge until the residual detergent is removed. Fill the bowl with warm water. Sponge the entire lining with clean warm water. Hang the jacket inside out on a padded coat hanger to dry.

Turn your jacket inside out. Lay your jacket on a flat surface so the lining is exposed. Sprinkle baking soda evenly on the entire surface of jacket lining.

Fill a spray bottle with warm water. Set the spray nozzle to mist and lightly spray water over the lining until the baking soda is damp and clings to the lining. Allow the baking soda to set for 15 to 30 minutes or until the baking soda is dry.

Gently wipe the baking soda from lining with a clean damp cloth. Hang the garment on a padded hanger to dry.