I lent an expensive, textured, white leather purse to a friend who marked across it with a blue pen. I researched online how to remove pen stains and was dumb enough to use rubbing alcohol without testing it first. So now not only is the pen stain still not removed, but I removed the coloring on a very small portion. How can I remove this stain? And is there anything I can do to cover up my mishap?
I would try to test this before trying it, but I think it will work. Use a magic eraser to remove pen mark, then leather cleaner to help shine it up. Also try white leather shoe polish on the spot you used the alcohol. Good luck! (I have used magic erasers to remove permanent marker from my leather couches.)
I think that if you have a purse that expensive, you need to take it to the dry cleaners. Make sure they specialize in leather, or call the manufacturer, or call one of your local furniture stores, and ask for advice. I personally would not risk a bag that I paid that much for, on an at home repair job.
This pages has been archived 6 times. You can view older posts and feedback below.
Request: Pen on a Leather Purse (04/01/2009)
I have pen marks on my Italian leather pocketbook. I tried using hairspray and a spot remover pen, but nothing has worked.
Request: Pen on a Leather Purse (03/09/2009)
I have blue ballpoint ink on a Coach sand pebbled leather bag. What's the best way to remove it?
Request: Pen on a Leather Purse (05/27/2006)
Someone at my workplace drew a huge line of blue pen on my light pink, leather Juicy Couture bag. I can't get it out.
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Request: Pen on a Leather Purse
Archived on 04/01/2009
I have pen marks on my Italian leather pocketbook. I tried using hairspray and a spot remover pen, but nothing has worked. The leather is soft, and the color is tan. The pen is black. Help.
Priscilla from Hartford, CT
Answers:
RE: Pen on a Leather Purse
Go to your local furniture store- tell them that you have ink on your leather and see if they can give you a cleaner. I have done this with several of my Coach and Dooney purses- works like a charm. (03/09/2009)
A friend stayed over night and while I was making supper, let her young son draw all over my cream leather couch. She told me, "Oh, he writes on ours all the time, it just wipes right off!" Turns out hers is vinyl, not real leather. I scrubbed mine with Crest toothpaste (not the gel), it took me a couple of hours, but it all came out. I've used this on velvet dining room chair upholstery, as well. Must be the white paste, the colored paste will leave the color behind. (03/10/2009)
I have a cream leather purse I got pen on. I read the blog and used acetone. Do not use this!
I bleached out the leather around the stain so I now have pen stains with white areas surrounding it on my cream leather. (04/25/2008)
By angry
RE: Pen on a Leather Purse
I had ink on my new smooth red leather Liz purse. I used a Q-tip dipped in alcohol. Rubbed area till ink was gone. It worked marvelously! Didn't discolor at all. I put a dab of Vaseline on and rubbed all over and wiped lighly off. Hope this works for you. I thought it was a miracle. (05/07/2008)
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser was horrible advice! Do not use! Turned a little pen mark on my Marc Jacobs bag to a pen mark with a dulled leather blotch around it. Do not use! (05/11/2008)
By Michanne
RE: Pen on a Leather Purse
Fab idea! I read your note to use Spray and Wash to get ink out of a coach purse. I tried my Spray and Wash stain stick and it did the trick!! (06/14/2008)
By Sue
RE: Pen on a Leather Purse
I tried a sharpened typing eraser, the white one with the brush on the end. It worked pretty well, but still left a light hint of the stain, so I used a colored pencil the same color as the leather and lightly went over it. It takes a very artistic touch to stay only on the stain area. Afterward, buff it. This worked for my Cole Haan shoe, but they were not shiny leather. Good luck. (08/14/2008)
I'm so upset. I got blue ink stain from a bleeding pen on my white, Chanel purse. I panicked, so I went to the bathroom, took a cotton ball and put some nail polish remover. As soon as I tried to salvage my purse, the ink bled and it spread out a big part of my purse. I don't know what else to do. Help! Don't ever use nail polish remover! (10/09/2008)
How can I get pen ink out off a leather clutch bag?
Mark from UK
Answers:
RE: Pen on a Leather Purse
I got pen marks on my cream colored leather purse. Just sprayed a tiny bit of hairspray on it and it immediately bled, so now I have a big blue tinted blotch on my new purse. DON'T USE HAIRSPRAY!! I hope someone can learn from my mistake! (04/06/2007)
By Tiffany
RE: Pen on a Leather Purse
I just removed a 2 inch black ink stain completely from an ivory Coach leather bag using a q-tip dipped in spray-n-wash. I rubbed gently with a circular motion, wiped with a damp cloth, and followed with leather cleaner to remove any residue. You would never know the stain was there. Might work on your bag! (05/30/2007)
By Kelly
RE: Pen on a Leather Purse
I had a ballpoint ink stain on my WHITE coach wallet and it was terrible! I used acetone to take it off and it worked but theres a small hint of where the stain was and i think the acetone may have removed some of my leather. But it looks better than a ballpoint ink stain! (06/25/2007)
By debbie
RE: Pen on a Leather Purse
ISOPROPYL (RUBBING ALCOHOL) Dab generously on the ink mark with a cotton ball leave for 15- 20 mins. Then rub off with some more rubbing alcohol. (08/05/2007)
Someone at my workplace drew a huge line of blue pen on my light pink, leather Juicy Couture bag. I can't get it out. I tried hairspray, but it started to discolor the leather. Does anyone know what I can do to save it?
Thanks,
Allie from Ohio
Answers:
RE: Pen on a Leather Purse
I had l large blue ink biro mark on my Prada beige leather bag and on the inside loads of them caused by a friend borrowing and leaving a lid off pen inside. I used acetone on a cotton bud and repeatedly rubbed gently waited to dry and continued. It worked. You can then use saddle soap or mink oil to put the oils back in the leather but mink oil will darken the leather just a touch. Try on the inside somewhere first. The oils will protect your bag from water marks anyway if you go out in the rain. Good Luck (06/15/2006)
Unfortunately, because leather is extremely porous, any solvent you chose runs the risk of damaging the outside finish, or flushing the ink color into a big blotch on the leather. Since the mark is on the inside I would leave it. However, you may contact the Tandy Leather Compnay in Fort Worth for advice. Using a very small amount of alcohol, or acetone, followed by aggressive pressure and blotting may remove most of it, but will cause the stain to bleed. Be careful, and seek out a professional. Coach is worth it.
By Darrell (Guest Post)
RE: Removing Ink From Leather Purse
09/24/2005
Hi, I am no expert of course, but what about trying an Armour-All wipe? Good Luck!
By shesbertsernie (Guest Post)
RE: Removing Ink From Leather Purse
04/27/2006
Mr. Kleen Magic Marker does not work, at least it didn't for me.
