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Grease stains are some of the most stubborn stains to remove and the dark stains they leave can spoil the look of your leather items. If you have spilt oil on your leather, there's no need to panic. The stains can be removed using only common household products but it is important to work quickly. If the oil stains are left untreated, the oil will work its way deeper into the leather and be harder to remove. Over time, it can also degrade the material and cause damage.
If you need advice on how best to remove oil stains from your leather items, you can contact us at The Leather Colour Doctor. We are experts in all things leather and will help you find the perfect products and methods to use, depending on your leather type.
Oil and grease are both hydrophobic. This means they aren't soluble in water and won't break down. Instead, they actually repel water. So washing oil and grease stains using normal water-based methods often won't remove them from the material.
The second reason why oil and grease stains are so difficult to remove is that these substances are semi-solid at room temperature. Once they are spilt on a material and then set, they harden and cling strongly to the fibres.
This is why it is so important to treat oil and grease stains as quickly as possible after the spill before they have time to set.
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There are a few different varieties of leather. Removing oil stains from each of them can need different approaches.
Aniline leather is leather that is dyed using only natural, soluble dyes that permeate through the material. There is no sealant and the leather surface is left in its natural state.
Aniline leather can look beautiful but it is much more vulnerable to damage because of the lack of protective barrier.
If you have oil stains on your aniline leather, you should avoid using harsh chemicals or any liquid-based removal methods.
Instead, you should focus on dry powdered methods, such as baking soda, talcum powder, or corn starch.
Semi-aniline leather is also dyed using soluble dyes but it has a thin protective barrier added. This means that the natural grain and pores are less visible than with aniline leather but it does make it slightly less vulnerable to damage.
While semi-aniline leather is more protected than full-aniline leather, you do still need to be careful. You can use the same powdered methods as with aniline but you can also use mild wet methods such as dish soap and water.
Pigmented leather is the most durable type of leather but it is also the least natural. The hide is buffed and treated which removes the natural grain and then a grain pattern is embossed on it. There is a tough protective sealant on the leather surface which helps to protect it.
You can be less careful with pigmented leather than with aniline or semi-aniline because it has a protective barrier.
You can use powdered methods, dish soap, or harsher substances such as white vinegar and rubbing alcohol. You should still avoid using harsh chemicals.
Suede is a type of leather that is made from the underside of the hide and has a soft, nappy surface. It is the most vulnerable of the leather types and can easily get damaged or stained.
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You need to be very careful when attempting to remove oil stains from suede. You should only use dry, powdered methods and avoid overworking the stain. Because the suede is so soft and fibrous, the stain can easily spread further. It may be better to bring in an expert to help with your suede oil stains.
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Polyurethane leather is an artificial leather made from a thermoplastic polymer. It isn't made from animal hide at all and is 100% vegan. It is a durable, hardy material with a strong protective barrier.
You can be less careful with PU leather than you can with real leather because it is so durable. To remove oil stains, you can use powdered methods, dish soap, white vinegar, and rubbing alcohol.
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If you have a grease stain or oil stain on your leather, you need to move quickly. The longer the oil stains remain, the more difficult they are to remove.
The equipment and materials you need will depend on the type of leather you are working with.
Before you start working on removing oil stains from your leather, you should remember some important things to avoid. While leather is a hard-wearing material, it can be easily damaged by some specific substances and conditions.
Water is not leather's friend. If leather gets soaked with any kind of liquid, it can leave water stains. Whenever you are cleaning leather, you should take a "less is more" approach to any liquids that you use.
Avoid using any harsh cleaning chemicals to remove oil stains from your leather, as these could irreversibly damage the material. These can include things like bleach (including chlorine bleach), carpet and upholstery cleaners, and ammonia.
Always be gentle when working with your leather, especially if it is suede, aniline, or semi-aniline. Leather is a natural material and if you scrub at it too hard, you can easily leave scratches or take off some of the surface.
Heat can indeed help to remove oil and grease. They are semi-solid at room temperature and heat will turn them into liquid, which will separate them from the surface more easily.
However, heat can also damage leather so you should avoid it when removing oil stains from a leather item.
You also shouldn't use heat to speed up the drying process (e.g. a hairdryer or sunlight) after you have finished cleaning. It can make the leather dry out too quickly, causing it to crack.
You can use one method or multiple methods. Using a combination of techniques can often be your best bet for removing oil stains. Remember that some of the harsher techniques can't be used on very vulnerable leathers such as aniline and suede.
There are a few different powders you can use to lift oil stains from leather. All of them work by absorbing oil, which pulls it out of the leather surface so that it can be removed. Because leather is natural and porous, the oil is quickly absorbed beneath the surface. Powders will pull the oil out from underneath the surface and bring it to the top. Because the oil is absorbed into the powder, once the powder is removed the oil will be taken away with it.
Take a paper towel and blot the oil stains to remove any excess oil that is sitting on the leather surface.
If you are using talcum powder or cornstarch, sprinkle them onto the stain. If you are using baking soda, mix it with a tiny bit of water first to make a paste and then apply it to the stain. It can help to very gently rub in the powder or paste using a soft brush.
Let the cornstarch, baking soda, or talcum powder sit overnight. This will give it time to absorb as much oil and grease as possible.
Use a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment to remove the powder. Alternatively, you can brush it off with a soft brush or a microfiber cloth.
Dish soap is a degreaser. It is designed to remove organic materials, including grease and oil, from your dishes. This is because it is made from surfactants. These are compounds that lower the surface tension of water. This allows it to penetrate grease and oil and reduces the oil's ability to repel the water.
Dish soap can dry out the leather, stripping it of its natural oils. If you do use it on your leather to remove oil stains, you should make sure to condition the leather afterwards.
Instead of using dish soap, you can use a specialised leather cleaner. Leather cleaners will have oils added to help prevent the leather from drying out. They may be less effective than dish soap if they don't have surfactant properties and you should still condition the leather afterwards.
If you haven't already gone through the steps for powder removal and the oil stain is still fresh, blot it gently with a paper towel to remove any excess oil or grease.
To make a cleaning solution with dish soap, you should dilute it heavily. Use one teaspoon of dish soap in a cup of water.
Dip a clean cloth in the cleaning solution and gently rub the oil or grease stain. Use a small circular motion, staying in the same direction. Avoid using too much pressure or rubbing back and forth to avoid damaging the leather surface.
Keep dipping the cloth in the cleaning solution to avoid adding the oil back into the leather. But remember not to let the leather get too wet.
Once you have finished, you should rinse the affected area with plain water to remove any soap residue.
Take a clean cloth and dip it in plain water. Rub the area very gently using a small circular motion. Make sure that it is a damp cloth and not a soaking wet one to avoid staining the leather.
Leave the leather item to air dry. You shouldn't use anything to speed up the process, such as heat or sunlight, as this can dry out the leather too much and cause it to crack.
If you are drying leather clothing, such as a leather jacket, let it dry in an unfolded position. You can place it on a hanger or lay it flat.
If you are drying leather boots or shoes, stuff them with plain white paper (without ink) so that they retain their shape.
If powders or soap haven't worked, you can move on to some stronger substances.
White vinegar, lemon juice, and rubbing alcohol all work to remove oil stains on leather. White vinegar contains acetic acid which breaks down the proteins in oil and grease stains, lifting them from the material. The acids in lemon juice work in the same way with the added bonus of a mild bleaching effect.
Rubbing alcohol and nail varnish remover is both very effective at removing oil and grease stains. But they should be used as a last resort because they are quite harsh and could damage the leather if you aren't careful. Never use rubbing alcohol or nail varnish remover on aniline leather or suede.
Alcohol is a solvent and it mixes very well with the oil, breaking down the long fatty chains. This allows them to be picked up and removed by surfactants (such as dish soap). Both rubbing alcohol and nail varnish remover will have this effect.
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Use a paper towel to remove any excess grease or oil on the leather.
Regardless of which substance you are using, you should test it on a small inconspicuous area first to ensure that it won't stain or damage the leather.
Once you are happy, dip a clean soft cloth into the substance and gently apply it to the oil stain. Use a small circular motion to rub the substance in, being careful not to let the circle get too wide. You don't want to spread the stain out further.
Allow the leather to dry naturally and then see if the stain is still there. If it is, repeat the process. It is better to do this a few times than use too much on the first go and risk damaging the leather.
You can now clean the leather with soap or a mild leather cleaner. Then rinse with a damp cloth and leave to air dry.
Natural leather contains oils that help to keep it supple and prevent it from drying out/cracking. When you have an oil stain, you will be using methods designed to remove oil from leather. This will work to get rid of the stain, but will also remove the natural oils in the material.
You can replace them by using a leather oil. This will soak deep into the surface of the leather and replenish it.
While it might seem strange to add oil after working so hard to remove oil, you can think of it as shampoo and conditioner. We use shampoo to remove excess grease from our hair but it also removes the natural oils that keep our hair looking soft and supple. So we apply a conditioner to add oils back in but in a controlled way.
If you have removed oil stains from PU leather, you will not need to condition it afterward. Synthetic leather does not have natural oils that need to be replenished.
You have a few options when it comes to leather oils, with options for both natural and synthetic oils.
Commercial leather oils are perfect for conditioning leather. They are specifically designed to replace the oils that would naturally be in the material. They are designed to be mild and won't cause stains on leather.
Some commercial leather oils will use natural oils whereas others will use synthetic alternatives.
Mink oil is a natural leather oil. It is taken from the fatty pelts of minks as a by-product of them being hunted for their fur.
This is a highly effective oil that can help to restore and improve the look of your leather. Mink oil will permeate deep into the leather fibres, remove surface scratches, and subtly darken the leather surface. It makes the leather more supple and improves flexibility (reducing the chance of cracks appearing).
Neatsfoot oil is another natural leather oil. It is a thick, yellow liquid taken from the shins of cows. It isn't recommended for all leather types, however.
It is an effective leather oil, and it will work to soften, restore, and condition the leather. However, it has a stronger darkening effect than mink oil. So it will change the look of light leathers drastically and can sometimes lead to a patchy finish.
If you want to retain the look of your light leather, you should use a commercial leather conditioner specifically designed for light leather or mink oil.
While there are many oils recommended online for preserving and restoring leather, some of them won't have the effect you want.
Olive oil is another natural leather oil that is taken from pressed olives. It will soften leather and make it more supple but it can have several unwanted effects. As well as darkening, it works to resurface the leather which can leave you with a patchy finish.
It will also leave an oily film on the surface of your leather goods which can be unpleasant.
Coconut oil is similar to olive oil in the effects that it has on leather. It will make leather supple and it will also provide a small amount of waterproofing. But it can darken the leather too much and make it patchy. It will also leave a greasy film because it can't be fully absorbed.
We know how frustrating it is to find an oil or grease stain on your leather. These are stubborn stains that can be difficult to remove without damaging the material. If you need help restoring your oil-stained leather, we can help. We will find the perfect products to use for your leather type and guide you in their use to prevent any damage. Your leather can look like new again with a little help from The Leather Colour Doctor.
Removing oil stains from leather can be difficult. Oil and grease are not soluble in water and cling very strongly to the leather fibres, which makes them hard to remove using normal cleaning methods. Powders like talcum powder or baking soda will absorb the oil, helping to lift it. Acids and alcohols can help to break down the fatty molecules, making them soluble in water. And detergent is a surfactant that will attract grease molecules, lifting them from the surface. Conditioning your leather once you have finished cleaning will help to replenish its natural oils and make it supple again.
