How to Remove Ink from Leather

It is frustrating when leather products become ruined with widespread, difficult-to-treat ink splatters because leather goods are investment pieces that require meticulous care. You need to take rapid action when ink comes into contact with leather to avoid permanent discoloration, whether a pen burst in your handbag or a felt-tip marker spilled on your vehicle seat. Fortunately, all four of these do-it-yourself techniques for removing ink from leather require only common household items, saving you a trip to the store.

• Water
• Mild liquid soap
• White rags
• Q-tips
• Rubbing alcohol
• Isopropyl alcohol-based hairspray
• Liquid cuticle remover
• Leather conditioner

Only polished leather, which has a protective layer that prevents the ink from being fully absorbed, is recommended for use with the following fixes. On the other hand, unfinished or naked leather will absorb the ink deeply, demanding the assistance of a specialist to remove stains. Drop some water on a discrete part of your leather to see if it has been completed or not. If the water rolls off the leather, it has been finished; if it soaks up the leather, it has not.

Also keep in mind that a number of factors, such as the type of color your leather has been treated with and how frequently the leather has been conditioned with a protective chemical, influence how leather will respond to certain cleaning products. It is essential to try each cleaning technique on an insignificant area of the leather before beginning to remove ink from it to ensure that it won't harm your couch, handbag, car seat, wallet, or jacket in the long run.

Try removing the ink from leather with a mild liquid soap as a first step. Blot the ink stain with a white rag dampened with a few drops of soap (colored rags can dye the leather). Never scrub a spot with abrasive cleaners that contain solvents; doing so could spread the damage.

If wiping with a soapy cloth doesn't work, try using isopropyl alcohol (commonly referred to as rubbing alcohol). Avoid spreading the ink by gently dabbing the stain with a Q-tip or white cloth dipped in isopropyl alcohol. Use caution because isopropyl alcohol is a potent cleaning agent. To restore moisture to the damaged region, follow up with leather conditioner, which you can buy at most big-box and home improvement stores or manufacture yourself.

This well-liked hair styling product is fantastic for removing pen stains. A little amount of hairspray with an alcohol base should be applied to a Q-tip or white rag. After a brief delay, delicately blot the stain away. Before using, always test the hairspray on a piece of leather that isn't visible; brand ingredients might vary and some kinds of hairspray can leave behind an ugly stain. If you observe that the leather surface appears dry or cracked, use this procedure with leather conditioner.

Paint-on cuticle remover, which is normally located in the beauty area of most drugstores, can also be used to remove ink stains off leather. Apply a thick layer of cuticle remover over the discoloration using a product with a non-oil based recipe. Allow it to sit for up to 24 hours before wiping away the ink with a white rag to reveal leather that is ink-free.