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Have your kids accidentally drawn on your leather sofa whilst doing their homework or colouring in a picture? Have you left an ink stain behind after accidentally sitting on a pen you hadn't realised was beneath you? Whatever the cause, ink stains on your leather couch aren't as uncommon as you'd think.
And that's good news.
Because it means professionals, like us here at The Leather Colour Doctor, know exactly how to tackle an ink stain when it affects your leather sofa.
The secret? Identifying the ink stain type, picking an appropriate method for dealing with it, and then acting fast. But don't worry, we'll explain the full method below, so you know exactly how to remove ink from leather should you find yourself with an ink stain that needs to be dealt with!
Knowing how to remove pen marks from leather sofas can be difficult. If you have to remove ink stains of any kind, it can be hard - especially if you leave the pen mark to dry for too long, because then it can leave damaging substances behind which can damage the protective layer of your leather and set in for the long haul...
The best thing you can do, then, is clean spills immediately. And there are a number of cleaning options that are open to you that will help you clear up the stained area quickly, and with great results.
Below, we'll cover four of the BEST METHODS for cleaning ink stains from leather, so you can pick the method that's best for you and you can act fast.
One excellent way of cleaning ink stains from leather is by using a leather cleaner and leather conditioner combination. They're specifically designed for dealing with messes on your leather items and will almost certainly help remove ink from leather, too.
At The Leather Colour Doctor, you could buy this cleaner and conditioner combination here. A good leather conditioner, like ours, will also act as a leather protector too, preventing further stains in the future.
If you choose to use our cleaner and conditioner combo, here's what you'll need to do:
If you choose another cleaner or conditioner, besides ours, make sure you follow the specific cleaning instructions provided with the product, as each cleaner and conditioner is different.
Surprisingly, rubbing alcohol is great at removing ink stains from leather. Because you will need to act quickly, you should gently blot and immediately wipe the ink stain with a cotton cloth to get the worst of the stain up before it dries.
Any residue left behind can be cleared up with rubbing alcohol.
Simply take a cotton ball or cotton swab and soak it in rubbing alcohol before you gently rub it over the stained area. The isopropyl alcohol will help breakdown the ink stain and make it easier to remove. Once most of it has been removed, take a damp cloth and wipe the affected area gently to remove the residue. Dry with a dry paper towel or dry cloth, and the stain should be gone.
This one really does rely on you acting quickly. The longer stains have to set in, the harder it is to remove ink from the affected area. Act quickly, though, and rubbing alcohol is a great solution to your pen ink problems.
Can you use nail polish remover as an alternative?
Absolutely not. Nail polish remover is much harsher than rubbing alcohol, and even a few drops could cause damage. In fact, many furniture retailers deliberately advise keeping nail polish removers away from leather because it can damage the protective layer of leather items too easily.
White vinegar is another great cleaning option when tackling pen marks on leather. Start by mixing together equal parts white vinegar and warm water in a spray bottle or bowl.
Next, take a clean cloth and gently dab the mixture on to the ink stain. The lightly acidic vinegar helps to lift the stain. Just remember to dab, not rub, or else the ink stain can spread around the leather, potentially making your job harder.
You can also mix 1 part white vinegar with 2 parts olive oil as an alternative cleaner here. Apply the mix to the stain with a cotton ball and leave to sit for 15 minutes before wiping away.
Both of these methods will tackle ink stains with ease.
There are a couple of soap options you can use here, but a moisturizing soap or a clear liquid dish soap is probably best. Simply use a small drop of your soap on a damp cloth and gently rub the area from the outside in (to stop the stain from spreading).
The soapy water will help breakdown the stain, and then you can simply wipe away the ink and soap residue with a dry cloth or paper towel.
If the stain has been left for a little longer and has started to dry, then allowing the mild soap mix to sit on the stain for 5 minutes or so could help breakdown the stain quicker.
Ink stains can be treated differently depending on the type of ink stain that's affecting the area. Two of the most common are ballpoint and biro pen marks, so if you are dealing with either of these, listen to our advice below:
Ballpoint ink stains can be dealt with quickly, so long as you have rubbing alcohol readily available. This is the best method for removing ballpoint ink marks from leather sofas.
Soak a cotton ball or swab in rubbing alcohol before gently dabbing the ballpoint pen marks. The alcohol is great at breaking down the ballpoint ink.
Failing that, the white vinegar method outlined above would also work.
Biro pen marks need to be dealt with as quickly as possible, but even if you only notice an old stain during a weekly clean (remember, cleaning your leather sofa regularly is key to keeping your leather at its best), then the following methods will still work.
The very best method for removing biro ink from a leather sofa is with commercial cleaners and conditioners, like the ones available at The Leather Colour Doctor.
If, however, you don't have any cleaner/conditioner available to you right away, then using the mild dish soap and warm water technique should also remove biro ink quickly.
The four methods discussed today should all be capable of removing ink stains from your leather sofa with ease. Just pick the method that's best for you, remember to act as quickly as possible, and you should see results fast.
If you need to stock up on leather cleaners and conditioners before the next ink disaster strikes, then check out our latest range of leather care products today. Here at The Leather Colour Doctor, we're dedicated to looking after your leather, and yes, that includes helping you in your fight against your kids' (or your) pen marks!
