How to Get Ink Out of a Leather Couch

Leather is a porous and unforgiving fabric. While proponents love it for the texture, and its resistance to minor liquid spills and smells, ink can cause a big problem. The one thing to remember when trying to clean up ink from a leather surface is that time is not on your side. The longer the ink stays embedded in the leather, the harder it will be to get it out. Another thing to remember is that dyed leather will be much more difficult to clean than white leather. With any circumstance, however, the best bet is a professional ink remover. At the top of the list is a product called Guardsman's Ink Remover Stick, which is sold at many hardware stores. Simply follow the directions.

Many people recommend a do-it-yourself with household products approach to cleaning ink out of leather. This can be risky, but it can also be very effective in the right circumstances. Hairspray, perfume, and even WD40 have all proven to take ink out of certain kinds of leather. The danger here is taking the color out of the leather along with the ink. Another danger is simply smearing the ink to a larger area, making a small problem a much larger one.

The best way to get ink out of a leather couch is to keep it from getting there in the first place. With pale colored leather, it is especially important to protect the surface from dirt, grime, and, of course, more serious stains. There are plenty of leather protectors on the market, and a bottle of the stuff does not cost very much, and as such is an excellent investment in the life of a couch. Wipes, including baby wipes, are not protectants, and can actually damage the couch, so stay away from them.