How do you get ink stains off a leather couch?
Joe from Inver Grove Heights, MN
The antibacterial soap worked for me. Thrilled to get all of the ink off my tan leather couch after my 2 yr old scribbled all over. Thanks so much for the great tip! I never would have guessed. (08/07/2007)
By steph
I used the antibacterial gel and the ink soaked into a much larger spot than it was before. It was a few spots of black ink on a pink leather wallet. Now it's A LOT of dark purple ink on a pink leather wallet. (09/21/2007)
By nikki r.
Try Soft Scrub. Rub gently, wipe, reapply and rub again. Repeat until the spot is gone. (02/08/2008)
By Judy
Just used VO5 hairspray on some ink marks across a brand new cream leather lounge and they're definitely faded, if not completely gone! Thanks for this site, who'd have thought? (02/08/2008)
By MC, Florida
I used a cleaner that is for cowboy boots and it worked very well. It not only cleaned the leather, but it has a leather conditioner and UV protectant in it. It worked great. Usually any place that sells cowboy boots or western wear will have this. (03/04/2008)
By Andrea K
I just tried the antibacterial soap (Purell) and it took off some of the finish and faded the color of my brown leather sofa, so use this method with caution. Also, if you have children, keep the Purell away from them, because I've read that even swallowing a small bit of it could cause them to become "drunk" because there is a high alcohol content in it. That's why it dries so fast! (03/29/2008)
By susan
Folks, I just use plain old rubbing alcohol. I think that's the ingredient in all the above solutions that make each one work. I just got an ink stain out of my car's tan leather seats with alcohol, a cotton ball, and a little elbow grease! All gone! (04/29/2008)
By Janet
Alcohol worked. I tried everything from leather cleaner to hairspray but it did nothing. Alcohol took it right off. It was dark blue pen on a white leather seat. (05/12/2008)
By danny
Rubbing alcohol or nail polish works great! (05/30/2008)
By nn
Do not use alcohol or any alcohol based product on dark leather furniture. It will turn it lighter. (06/26/2008)
By JHL
I have a distressed leather sofa, so it doesn't have much of a finish on it. I used hairspray on a q-tip to try to remove ball point ink and it made matters worse. Finally, I pulled out a tub of Quick 'n Brite. They say on the tub that ink on leather is usually not removable, and to be careful using their product on unfinished leather, suede, etc. So I put a tiny bit of the Quick 'n Brite butter in an inconspicuous area, and it seemed fine. Eventually I used a damp toothbrush to apply a teeny amount of the product full strength to the stain and I brushed in circles. It lifted out the dark residue from the hairspray, and as I dried it with a towel...it looks great. I'm very pleased. (07/12/2008)
By Ellen
You can use toothpaste. It works pretty well. Just leave it on the stain for a few minutes, rub it off, and you can barely see the stain. You can also use nail polish. (08/06/2008)
By Stephanie
This is the truth, and I hope it helps someone. I purchased a new Cole Haan leather bag and today was my first time carrying it. I just arrived home about 1 hour ago and noticed a black ink spot. First of all, toothpaste did not work. However, I used the Walgreen's brand hand sanitizer and it removed the ink COMPLETELY in three different spots on the same handbag/purse. (08/07/2008)
By Thea
I was just surfing the internet not knowing what my son was doing. When I looked back it was too late, ink all over my leather. I googled and found this site and used the rubbing alcohol, and it totally worked. There is NOTHING left. (10/10/2008)
By Nancy A.
DEFINITELY use the perfume. Totally worked for me on my leather couch after my daughter had fallen asleep with pen on her and it left a mark on the couch. So happy now that my couch is finally clean again. :] (10/21/2008)
By Caddi
I, too, tried Goo Gone, leather cleaner, and even liquid dishwasher detergent. Nothing. Your site suggested rubbing alcohol. It immediately removed blue ink from my light beige leather couch! Thanks! (10/25/2008)
By Robin
I tried toothpaste on an ink stain on my cream colored leather sectional. It did not completely remove the stain. However, what DID work was a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. It took it off completely! And it did not affect the leather surface. Try it, I highly recommend it. (10/31/2008)
By Joe
I had an ink spot that either my niece or godson put on my brand new beige color leather couch. No one wanted to confess to it though. I searched google to find out how to remove ink from leather and I got this website, which is where I read that rubbing alcohol worked. So I ran and got some rubbing alcohol, tried it, and it worked. Rubbing alcohol DOES work to remove ink from leather. (11/08/2008)
By ~Teresa
I would not recommend using alcohol on light cream colored leather because it made that area lighter (but it did remove the ink spot). So I used a cream pastel color pencil to color in the bleached area. What else do you expect me to do! Ha...ha. (12/10/2008)
By free30
Try hairspray and you will be amazed. (12/12/2008)
By Harry
Perfume was the answer, thanks. Got the ink stain off my cream leather sofa easily. My 2 year old is sighing with relief! (01/22/2009)
I would try rubbing alcohol first. We tried the hairspray that everyone raved about and it ate away at the leather. (01/27/2009)
By josie
Just tried the Magic Eraser on cream colored leather sofa to remove ink stain. It smeared the ink and lightened the leather. Going to buy rubbing alcohol to give that a try. I do not suggest the Magic Eraser on leather. (02/07/2009)
By Maria
I used WD-40 and it took some of the ink stain out. (01/06/2010)
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