Leather stains often involve ink, whether it's due to a leaky pen in the pocket of a leather jacket or purse, or an uncapped pen that leaves an ink mark on furniture or a car's leather upholstery. Leather is a difficult surface to work with when attempting ink stain removal, as the surface is porous and fairly delicate. An attempt to remove a pen mark can lead to damage that looks just as bad or worse than the original ink stain.
How to Remove Ink Stains From Leather Upholstery and Clothing
Leather is porous; this allows stains to "sink in." Therefore, it's best to clean the ink stain as soon as possible. Notably, the same methods can be used to remove ink stains from vinyl.
The following items will be required to remove felt tip and ballpoint pen ink stains from leather or vinyl:
- soft, clean white cloth (i.e. a washcloth) or cotton balls;
- soft bristle toothbrush;
- isopropyl alcohol or leather degreaser; and
- leather conditioner.
Notably, it's impossible to remove permanent ink from leather or vinyl without causing significant damage to the garment, purse or upholstery. In the case of permanent marker stains, leather garments and purses can be dyed to a color that's darker than the mark, while an upholstery shop can replace the affected vinyl or leather panel in the case of upholstery.
Geno Storey, a longtime upholstery shop owner, has years of experience working with, cleaning and repairing leather. He offered these steps to remove pen marks from leather or vinyl:
- Perform a spot test in a small, inconspicuous area. View the area after 24 hours to ensure that damage has not resulted.
- Dampen the cloth (or cotton balls) with isopropyl alcohol or degreaser and blot the ink stain; avoid rubbing initially, as this can spread the stain.
- The ink will begin to transfer onto the cloth; as this occurs, use a different clean area (or a new cotton ball) to remove ink stains.
- Once a majority of the ink is removed from the leather, gently wipe the stain in a circular motion.
- Dampen a soft bristle toothbrush with isopropyl alcohol or degreaser and gently scrub the stain using a circular motion, blotting frequently with the damp cloth or cotton balls. This will remove the ink from the leather's tiny creases.
Ink stains on the leather's stitching may remain, despite cleaning attempts. In the case of garments or handbags, a dry cleaner may be able to remove the stain. In the case of stained leather upholstery, an upholstery shop can re-stitch the affected panels.
Notably, this same method can be used to remove ink stains from vinyl car interiors.
How to Avoid Damaging Leather When Removing Ink Stains
There are several stain removal methods that must be avoided when working with leather. Damage most often occurs due to intense scrubbing which scratches the leather or the chemicals used may damage the leather's surface, which is has a very thin, plastic-like protective coating.
When attempting to clean ink stains from leather or vinyl, always avoid:
- stiff bristle brushes;
- Scotch Brite pads;
- Brillo or steel wool;
- nail polish remover;
- Goof Off or similar stain removing agents;
- hairspray;
- dish soap or laundry detergents; and
- erasers.
Notably, older, worn leather is more prone to staining, as the protective coating wears off over time. This means the leather is more porous and stain absorption occurs at a fairly rapid rate, so prompt cleaning is vital.
Leather Care Tips – Clean Following Ink Stain Removal, Condition Regularly
After removing ink stains, it's best to clean and condition the leather. During the stain removal process, any existing dirt and grime will be removed along with the ink stain, often resulting in an area that's cleaner than the rest of the leather purse, garment or upholstery.
Following stain removal, use a soft cloth to wipe down the surface with a leather cleaner. If the surface is already clean, apply a leather conditioner to moisturize and prevent cracking. According to Storey, the highest quality leather cleaners and conditioners are typically sold separately, though there are some fairly good combination products that clean and condition simultaneously.
To maintain leather upholstery or clothing, it's best to use a leather conditioner on a regular basis (i.e. once a month), particularly in the case of a car's leather upholstery, as the vehicle's interior is subjected to sun, frequent use and temperature extremes, which can lead to drying, cracking and scratches.
For more information on stain removal tips for fabrics, read Stain Removal Methods for Clothes and Home.
Source:
Interview With G. Storey, Owner of ABC Interiors, Cape Coral, Fla. August 18, 2010.
Mia Carter - Mia Carter - Journalist, Producer/Editor & Web Writer. Carter's work has appeared on CBS and CNN.com.
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