Removing Ink from Leather

By Ashgal from UK

Archives: Request: Removing Ink from Leather Archived on 10/22/2009 How do I remove ink from leather? Cindy from Chester, SC Feedback: RE: Removing Ink from Leather I used rubbing alcohol and it did remove the blue ink stain on my leather sectional, but it removed the color in that area. Now I need to find a leather shoe polish in a light gray color to try to correct the color. (02/26/2008) By TJR RE: Removing Ink from Leather My little boy created ink artwork on our Italian leather rust colored sofa. I just tried the rubbing alcohol and it worked really well. I used a Q-tip and it came right off. There is a light stain, but I didn't want to press my luck rubbing too hard on those areas. Thanks for the great idea. (02/26/2008) By Rachael RE: Removing Ink from Leather A huge thank you to all that recommended hairspray. Our son took the brightest orange highlighter ever to our cream leather couch this morning. We tried all the common household cleaners, leather cleaner, even Shout wipes and while they faded the art work, the hairspray was the only product that removed the stain and color and did not discolour the couch. (05/11/2008) By Stacey RE: Removing Ink from Leather (submitted via email) After trying everything to remove ballpoint ink from a light green leather chair, I used Clinique Clarifying Toner and it floated away. Shareen (06/12/2008) By jess RE: Removing Ink from Leather I tried to used alcohol on my brown leather bag, it didn't work and left a faded white spot on it. I am very upset. I then tried the hairspray. It lighten the stain, but did not completely remove the stain. Do not use alcohol. (09/17/2008) By RE: Removing Ink from Leather Tried hairspray didn't work, but Purell hand sanitizer did. It has moisturizers in it so it didn't harm or dry out the leather. (09/24/2008) By Bren RE: Removing Ink from Leather After falling asleep on the chair and waking up to a 2 year old with an ink mark on his face. I examined the furniture to see that he colored, "mama, it"s pretty" all over my brown leather couch. I tried hairspray and it still left remnants of the ink, along with faded color where I'd used it. I tried Purell hand sanitizer, as a previous poster mentioned, and it, too, faded the color, but left the ink. Finally, I got out my Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and TADA! Ink is gone and no color change. Now I just wish I'd used the eraser first so my couch wouldn't have all of the faded spots. (10/05/2008) By Corty RE: Removing Ink from Leather Try Clorox Ultimate Care, it works the best, but only on white leather. Amazingly it will not mess it up. (11/25/2008) By tson2008 RE: Removing Ink from Leather Do not use hairspray. I just used it on my Acura MDXs dark tan leather headrest and when I started rubbing the area with ink pen marks. I began damaging the leather and it revealed a dark brown color in it's place. Maybe I rubbed too hard, but either way the ink stain is still there where the leather didn't fade. Big bummer, now I need to get some leather repair. (12/23/2008) By Greg RE: Removing Ink from Leather I used 100% all natural Witch Hazel, containing 14% alcohol, on the ink (purple and orange) spots my son left from his hand stamps. Also used it to remove miscellaneous stains. It worked like a charm with no discoloration. My soft leather furniture is beige. Does not appear to be dried out as a result. Applied with Q-tips, then changed to a soft cloth which seems to work better. (12/31/2008) By Lori RE: Removing Ink from Leather (Submitted via email) I have a light beige leather lounge suite and I used CK In2u deodorant and it worked so well because it has alcohol in. I was very impressed. I am sure that you can use any substance with alcohol in. Althea (02/11/2009) By Sally_Admin RE: Removing Ink from Leather My nephew took a black marker to my sisters leather. Her friend suggested men's AXE spray. Cleaned it right up. (02/15/2009) By Deb Report Spam or Abuse Request: Removing Ink from Leather Archived on 02/08/2008 How can I get ink out of leather? Melody from Springhill, FL Answers:RE: Removing Ink from Leather car seat Isopropyl alcohol worked well - got most but not all of the ink out. BUT vigorous rubbing took some finish off the leather. I used leather conditioner and a leather protector and it looks pretty good. (07/05/2007) By golfunjim RE: Removing Ink from Leather If the ink is on a pigmented leather then the first thing you should try is an ink stick (find one that is a professional product used in the industry - LTT do one). The fresher the ink the more chance you have of removing it. If an ink stick doesn't work a solvent based remover will need to be used and it may also remove finish and pigment so is best left to the experts. Using hairspray/WD40 and all these other solvent cleaners is very risky as it can make the matter far worse as it can spread the ink over a bigger area and can sometimes then be impossible to fix. Using alcohol can also be a little risky depending on how stable the finish is. If the finish is unstable this would remove pigment form the leather. Nail varnish remover or any other solvents will also remove the finish and pigment which will need replacing. DO NOT USE Baby wipes as they are about the worst thing you can use on a leather as they break down the finish and will eventually ruin it. Please do not try milk or toothpaste these are silly ideas that will leave sticky residues on the surface which will help to break down the finish on your leather. Magic erasers usually remove finish and pigment along with the ink. Old ink will be harder to remove than new ink and may mean resorting to solvents which will also remove the finish. This is probably best left to the experts. Silicones/furniture polish are the worst thing to use on leather as they will form a coating on the surface of the leather which will not allow any moisture to get to the leather and will eventually break all the finish down and make it crack. Leather does not need conditioning it needs cleaning and protecting on a regular basis with water based products this will keep it rehydrated and supple. Oils will make things much worse. Leather should be cleaned gently not scrubbed so 'elbow grease' will only do damage to the finish. Hide food will not remove ink and will leave residues on the leather which will attract dirt and oils. Using a good quality leather protector (one that works) will help make this problem easier should it happen again, it also does your leather good by protecting it against oils and dirt which ultimately make the pigment crack and the leather deteriorate. Good Luck http://www.LTTsolutions.net Leather care consultnts to the furniture and cleaning industries and leather repair specialists Professional knowledge (11/20/2007) By Leather Agony Aunt Report Spam or Abuse Request: Removing Ink from Leather Archived on 04/22/2007 How do you remove ink from leather? Candice from Chicago, IL Answers: RE: Removing Ink from Leather I used hairspray for my tan italian leather sofa and there was a lot of designs from our son. The marks are now very light. Have not tried alcohol yet. Thankyou for all of your help. (03/16/2007) By STEPH RE: Removing Ink from Leather Surgical spirit worked for me! (04/16/2007) By Nuz RE: Removing Ink from Leather Use Amodine, it needs to be done gradually, apply, wipe off, apply wipe off. It worked really well on a beige leather that I have - did not appear to hurt leather. I ordered it from ebay. (04/18/2007) By Sheryl RE: Removing Ink from Leather My mother in law was staying and she left a pen on the couch. It moved of is own accord and drew a line across my cream couch. I found this site after using leather cleaner, vanish and vinegar. the hairspray worked a treat. Thanks PS: Can I use it on mother in law to make her vanish. (04/19/2007) By aec RE: Removing Ink from Leather During my weekly leather sofa dusting I discover a ink spot so I took the advice about and I used the hairspray first and it didn't work but then I used the alcohol and it came right up! Be careful and use a Q-tip on just that spot were the ink is because it can leave a white tint as if the color is being removed but afterwards I just used some leather conditin on it and it, better than an ink spot. By April Report Spam or Abuse Request: Removing Ink from Leather Archived on 03/06/2007 How can I clean pen marks off of leather? Joann from Oroville Answers: RE: Removing Ink from Leather I have a brand new 2006 chevy silverado and my 3 yr.old son drew all over the leather center console...oh boy was I unhappy but luckily for me this is 2006 and we have ask.com. so I ran to the computer and learned that alcohol really does work THANK GOODNESS it didn't completely come out but enough did to make it look alot better so thank you to everyone who posted advice! (10/26/2006) By fullerwnks RE: Removing Ink from Leather The hair spray worked like a dream on my beige sofa. Thank you very much for the tip. (12/28/2006) By Akhtar Hussain RE: Removing Ink from Leather I accidently got biro ink on our new leather couch, and my mum went crazy, as we havent even paid for them yet! so i came across this website and suggested hair spray to her. It worked a treat, and now you can hardly see the marks! Thanks! (02/15/2007) By Lei Report Spam or Abuse Request: Removing Ink from Leather Archived on 10/22/2006 How to get ink off of a leather chair? Laura Willette from Owatonna, MN Answers: RE: Removing Ink from Leather How about trying Avon's Skin So Soft. Put a bit on a clean towel and gently rub the ink spot. (06/02/2006) By Holly RE: Removing Ink from Leather Absolutely Amazing! I used the 70% Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol trick on 2 day old ink on my tan leather sofa and it took it completely out with no damage. Fantastic trick! One I'll never forget, that's for sure. (06/20/2006) By Felicia RE: Removing Ink from Leather I just used alcohol on my leather couch and now instead of ink I have an ugly white space! (b)Note:(/b) Always test in a place that won't show. Different dyes on leathers react differently. You could try touching it up with a matching shoe polish. Make sure that you buff it out so it doesn't stain someones clothing. (07/18/2006) By Ellen. RE: Removing Ink from Leather After being on vacation for a week, I came home and discovered black onk on my Baseball glove colored Italian leather. Oh no!! I used Magic Eraser by Mr. Clean and 70% Alcohol and it worked but took the color out. Then I tried after shave and it worked like a charm. Great idea! (07/23/2006) By Shinnitta RE: Removing Ink from Leather After a "no show" today by the manufacturer's representatives to remove the ink stains from my NEW leather sofa (never leave a puppy and a pen unattended), I decided to try it again myself. My previous attempt using household cleaners removed some of the dye from the brown leather! I CAREFULLY tried using alcohol and Q-tips and it helped. The ink stains were set in for a few weeks so the fact they are much lighter now is still a plus. I can gladly say it is no longer very noticeable and now neither the couch OR the puppy are destined for the trash! Thanks! (08/02/2006) By Lorraine RE: Removing Ink from Leather Thank you all of you. Brand new lether couches and my best freiends boy left ink on them. I cried. Then I tried the hairspray... It worked. Thank you so much! (09/23/2006) By Nanette RE: Removing Ink from Leather I tried the hairspray as well as the alcohol both took the color right out of my brown leather sofa so be very careful before trying these tips. I learned the hard way. (09/24/2006) By Anna RE: Removing Ink from Leather I used Vodka. Got the ink right off. (10/06/2006) By Norm Report Spam or Abuse Tip: Removing Ink from Leather Archived on 01/21/2003 I used hairspray to remove ink (from a ball point pen) on my green leather three-piece suite and it worked. Apply hairspray to a dry cloth and gently work into the affected area. The area will then become sticky so apply a damp cloth and then dry. Do this as soon as possible as some dye will be removed from leather while applying hairspray. - Mark from Wales, UK Feedback: RE: Removing Ink from Leather 06/11/2003 The active ingredient in things like hairspray etc. is the alcohol. The safe alcohol is isopropanol, which is found in common rubbing alcohol. I used a 70% isopropanol on my brand new leather sofa to remove ball point ink. It worked extremely well. Rubbing alcohol is 70% isopropanol and nothing else. So to prevent residues from being deposited it is recommended to use this. If your are in a bind I recommend Vodka, and stuff like hairspray, or even a high proof whisky!! In fact anything with alcohol will work, only you have to worry what OTHER stuff is in the solution you use. Hence I recommend simple rubbing alcohol. A good substitute is the fluid used to clean tape heads and VCR heads. The beauty is that it simple alcohol evaporates almost instantly so no further mess. DO NOT USE NAIL POLISH REMOVER. It contains ACETONE, not Alcohol. AGAIN DO NOT USE NAIL POLISH REMOVER although it SMELLS somewhat like alcohol. USE YOUR NOGGIN, read the label. Acetone is too strong, and can dissolve most dyes. BE CAREFUL, on dark colors. No matter what tip, dark colors can be tricky. If your color is light beige, white and cream the alcohol trick should be extremely safe. If the leather is smooth and not a soft (absorbent kind) the dyes are generally fast, but WATCH OUT!!! ALWAYS TEST AN INCONSPICUOUS SPOT. AFTER TESTING: Take the rubbing alcohol on a cloth or paper towel. Rub into the spot. Get the area wet. Before the alcohol evaporates absorb it into a clean cloth/paper towel by pressing on the spot. The absorbing will help remove the dissolved ink, rather than leave on the leather. Repeat to clean to satisfaction. This should work on most ink types, and some color markers, or other coloring material. Alcohol dissolves most types of marker ink, though once marker ink dries for too long it requires much more work. Enjoy your couch! By psmsrs Avoid Acetone 06/25/2003 AN UPDATE: Some rubbing alcohol is 70% ethanol, but also contains acetone and other organics as "inactive" ingredients. AVOID THIS, because of the acetone. I have used this on real light colorfast leather with no problem, but I cannot recommend it. Note 70% ethanol by itself will not be sold since it is good for drinking!! It is always dosed with other "spirits". Here is a link to Rite Aid's 70% ISOPROANOL (or ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL): Cost: $ 0.59 http://www.drugstore.com/qxp73865_333181_sespider/rite_aid/isopropyl_rubbing_alcohol_70.htm By psmsrs RE: Removing Ink from Leather 04/27/2004 Alcohol worked like a charm. Thanks for the tip! By designerliz (Guest Post) RE: Removing Ink from Leather 10/01/2004 Mark, Mark, Mark, I CANNOT thank you enough. Was talking on the phone to my mom for about five minutes while my three-year-old was happily watching teletubbies, drinking apple juice and eating pirate's booty. I glanced over at him and he was DRAGGING a black ball-point pen along the arm of our BRAND-NEW leather sofa (still owe $600 on)! Hairspray took it right out. Massive thanks for the tip. By suesue RE: Removing Ink from Leather 10/03/2004 Alcohol worked like a charm on my 02' 4 Runner. Thanks a bunch Mark! And thanks to Jeeves, you are now in my Favorites File. By Sherman Smith (Guest Post) Be Careful 10/13/2004 BE CAREFUL. I used 70% Isopropyl on 100% Italian leather and it took the color out. . I found if you dilute it with a little water it works better without taking out the color By Brian (Guest Post) RE: Removing Ink from Leather 11/19/2004 Just wanted to say a huge thanks. Didn't have hair spray, so I used deodorant, and it really worked. Really bloody amazing. You are the man! By Lob Ree (Guest Post) RE: Removing Ink from Leather 12/03/2004 Mark, I just wanted to let you know that I have a 2003 Lexus with a crème color interior. The other day I found a red ball point pen mark across part of the front seat. Not sure how it got there but nevertheless I was upset. Did not have any hairspray so I used the 70% Isopropyl alcohol solution and IT WORKED! Thanks for the great information By Harry Washington DC USA (Guest Post) Rubbing Alcohol 01/17/2005 I tried the rubbing alcohol thing on my new tan leather sofa to remove green marker that my 2 year old designed and that was the most useful tip I have ever used. Thank you thank you a million times. By pam carver (Guest Post) Hair Spray 01/20/2005 I used pump hair spray on my white leather coach purse. What a miracle! Came right out with a little bit of scrubbing. By Jenna (Guest Post) After shave 03/28/2005 I tried everything, from tomatoes, polish and the only thing that worked was after shave, after I did this it came out, but I put leather wax on it after just to protect it as it went a bit soft. It did not take the color out. Thanks for the tip. By (Guest Post) Nothing Worked for Me 08/01/2005 We have a brand new expensive leather couch. My son marked on it with an ink pen in several places. First I tried hairspray, which didn't work. Second I tried rubbing alcohol in an inconspicuous place. It tore the leather up. so I diluted it. That didn't ruin the leather in the same fashion, but it did make the ink stain worse. By Amy (Guest Post) RE: Removing Ink from Leather 11/07/2005 I discovered blue ink marks on my white leather chair, found this web site, took the advice of many who used 70% isopropyl rubbing alcohol and it worked like a charm the ink came right out. Thanks! By Doug Burke (Guest Post) Alcohol 11/15/2005 I tried hairspray on my leather car seat and the ink didn't budge, then I tried rubbing alcohol. The ink lifted off with some scrubbing. This after the ink setting in for 2 days! It worked great! Do not buy car products for cleaning leather. All it will do is clean the leather, not remove the ink. By Barb (Guest Post) RE: Removing Ink from Leather 12/02/2005 I used the rubbing alcohol on the ink mark, and it worked great! My sofa is off white. Thanks for your help. By (Guest Post) RE: Removing Ink from Leather 12/08/2005 I used 70% Isopropyl with a paper towel on my SUV's console that got inked. It came off in 2 minutes. THANKS! By Reggie (Guest Post) RE: Removing Ink from Leather 12/21/2005 Thanks! My daughter wrote all over our couch with a blue pen. I ran to this web site and it saved me! I ran and got my hairspray and it came right out! Thanks! By christina (Guest Post) RE: Removing Ink from Leather 01/15/2006 I used your idea to get deep blue ink from the stupid valet off our new car's white leather interior with great success. Worth the effort to look your site up. Thanks a bunch! By (Guest Post) Mr. Clean 01/24/2006 If your worried about staining your couch with alcohol, deodorant or after shave lotion stop worrying. I just used MR. CLEAN MAGIC ERASER PADS on my creme colored 100% italian leather couch and it worked! No worry about it staining. I wet the pad a little bit and out it came. By Jenny Bushey (Guest Post) RE: Removing Ink from Leather 03/11/2006 We have black ink on our brown leather sofa. I tried rubbing alcohol, hairspray, Magic Eraser, and leather cleaner - nothing has budged the stain. By Heather (Guest Post) Target Magic Eraser 03/15/2006 I just used a Target Magic Eraser Pad on my white leather jacket and it removed the ink off almost too easily, I was so amazed, I didn't even need to wet the pad. By Christine (Guest Post) GOOP 04/06/2006 I tried everything mentioned on the feedback and then some. Nothing worked. Then I thought about it. GOOP. I tried it and it worked with no color change to leather (actually conditioned the leather) , no scrubbing or rubbing , and took ink out of leather trailblazer seat. In the automotive section at Wal-mart , less than a dollar , smear on with your hand , let sit about 10 minutes , wipe off with damp rag. did it twice and no hint it ever existed , no scrubbing , cleans and conditions. By brandy (Guest Post) RE: Removing Ink from Leather 05/10/2006 I used 99% Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol. It worked but it took a lot of rubbing. It didn't harm the leather or the color but I tested it in an inconspicuous spot first. According to my five year old, the ink had been there a few days and that could be why it was so hard to get out! It was gray leather in my brand new Durango. By Wanda (Guest Post) RE: Removing Ink from Leather 05/20/2006 Used the hairspray on my leather jacket to get blue ink out and it worked. Yay! Thank you a billion times! By Deedra (Guest Post) RE: Removing Ink from Leather 05/27/2006 Thank you so much! Me and my brother were watching tv when a pen in my pocket leaked! it got all over the sofa. I used after shave, hairspray and deodorant and it came out like magic. Grounding averted. By Throquat (Guest Post) Report Spam or Abuse