Removing Ink from Leather

So you have got ink stains on your favorite leather jacket or purse, or even worse on your living room sofa, which has left you miserable. You are wondering what to do, take it to a professional cleaner or wash it at home itself before the stain dries out. If you find yourself in such a dilemma then here is some information which will help you out.

Things to Remember

The leather which we use is basically of three types i.e suede, smooth leather and vinyl leather. If the leather that has got stained is suede, then it is best that you take it to a professional cleaner and do not attempt cleaning at home. The other two varieties of leather can be cleaned at home itself.

Ink stains that are still fresh are much easier to get rid of when compared to older stains. Leather is a material which is porous and hence if ink stains are not removed as soon as they occur, ink can pass onto the inner layers of the leather, making it difficult to remove.

Many people say that hair sprays, laundry soaps, detergents or mayonnaise should be used for removing ink from leather, how effective these methods will be can't really be said. Out of these, hair sprays should be absolutely avoided because besides alcohol, which is good for stain removal, there are a number of other ingredients in it too, which can prove to be damaging to the leather.

Procedure

For removing ink from leather, you will need three things i.e isopropyl rubbing alcohol, white cotton cloth and a good quality conditioner. Once you have these things, you are ready to start with the method given below.

Step 1
Take a cotton cloth, preferably of while color and dip it in the isopropyl alcohol. Do not use a dark-colored cloth as the dye from the same can get transferred to the leather, spoiling it in the process.

Step 2
With the cloth, rub the stain on the leather gently. Remember not to rub the cloth on the areas which are not stained. As far as possible keep the application of alcohol limited to the stain.

Step 3
As you rub the cloth on the stain, the ink will get transferred to it. The alcohol dampened cloth works as a blotter and sucks out the ink from the leather. If you see that the entire cloth has ink on it, take a fresh cloth and repeat the same process, till the ink is completely blotted out.

Step 4
When the ink is removed, let the leather air dry. Afterward, apply conditioner on it as it helps in keeping the leather smooth and polished by providing enough moisture to it.

Prior to using this method, it is suggested that you perform a spot test so that the leather does not get discolored or spoiled in any other way. For this, apply rubbing alcohol to some spot on the leather which is not visible from outside. Leave the alcohol on for about fifteen minutes. Afterward, see whether the leather quality and color is intact, if it is, then proceed further, using the method mentioned above.