“Removing ink stains from leather is tough, but it is possible. Navinpeep/Getty Images
Ink stains on a leather couch are bad news. It’s nearly impossible to get ink out of leather. Most of the time, you’ll need to hire professionals to get the ink out and restore the leather. If that’s not an option for you, you can try removing ink from your leather couch with the following methods, at your own risk.
It’s important to clean up the ink stain as quickly as possible. The longer stains have to set in, the harder they are to get out.
- Wipe up the ink with a dry paper towel, trying not to spread the stain. Use a small amount of moisturizing soap and water to clean what doesn’t come off with the dry paper towel.
- Apply a commercial grade leather care product to the spot. Choose one that is made for removing ink stains. This is the safest way to go when you have expensive leather furniture. Then apply leather cleaner on the stain. Follow up with some leather protector to restore the leather’s finish.
- Dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and rub it over the spot. Dry the area with a blow dryer so the alcohol evaporates before eating away at more of the leather. Only try this if you don’t have access to leather care products.
- Saturate the stained area with hairspray. Immediately wipe up the hairspray, and then apply a small amount of moisturizing soap and water. As with the alcohol, this should only be done if you don’t have access to leather care products [source: MrsClean].
Originally Published: Apr 19, 2011
How To Remove Ink From Leather FAQ
How do you remove ink from leather?
Removing ink from leather can be difficult, but it’s not impossible. Try rubbing a bit of isopropyl alcohol on the ink stain to remove it but be mindful to dab carefully so that the stain doesn’t spread.
How do you remove pen marks from a leather couch?
One of the easiest ways to get rid of pens marks from a leather couch is soapy water. However, if the stain persists, try dabbing it with alcohol.
Is it safe to use magic eraser on leather?
Leather has a protective coating that can be destroyed by a magic eraser. Refrain from using this kind of product on your leather goods
