How to Remove Ink Stains from Leather

Leather is notoriously one of the most difficult materials to clean, because liquid can often permanently stain leather, even if it's simply plain water, if left on too long. Therefore, getting an ink stain on leather is enough to cause alarm, but when that leather is, let's say, a leather couch, replacing the couch can be quite expensive.

Fortunately, there is a very simple way to remove ink stains from leather. Sure, you can purchase some expensive products, such as leather cleaners and leather stain removers. You can listen to your grandmother tell you to use aerosol hairspray to remove ink stains from leather. You can even buy the stain treaters made specifically for ink stains on leather.

But what you'll find is that all these things have one common ingredient that makes them work. For less than a buck, you can buy that ingredient, straight up, at any drug store or supermarket shelf: isopropyl alcohol, better known to some as rubbing alcohol.

It doesn't matter whether the ink stain on the leather is old or fresh, isopropyl alcohol will remove the stain. For set in stains, it may take a little patience and time, but if you keep at the stain, it will come up and leave the leather almost good as new.

Before Removing the Stain

Different types of leather will react different to isopropyl alcohol. If the leather is treated and/or colored, the alcohol used in large amounts can bleach the leather. If you have a leather repair kit that came with your leather item, you may have some coloring that can be used to recolor any bleached areas. First, test the colorfastness of the leather on an inconspicuous part of the leather.

If, after about 15-20 minutes, the color is unchanged or only very lightly changed, then you are safe to proceed.

How to Use Alcohol to Remove an Ink Stain on Leather

Next, you want to use a soft cloth, preferably a micro-fiber cloth, and pour a small amount of isopropyl alcohol on the cloth. Let the alcohol absorb into the cloth and then very gently blot at the ink stain on the leather.

Do not rub the stain. This is very important, because rubbing an ink stain will only set the stain in further and possibly stain the other parts of the leather item. Instead, gently blot at the outside edges of the stain until they begin to diminish. If the stain is set in and old, it may take several minutes of blotting before any results appear.

What Not To Do

Do not pour the alcohol directly on the stain. There is a risk of spillage, as well as bleaching when alcohol is applied directly to the leather. Part of what makes isopropyl alcohol great for cleaning leather and particularly cleaning ink stains on a leather couch, is that the alcohol dries very quickly, so the leather doesn't stay damp for long.

Will it Work on Suede Leather?

Yes, isopropyl alcohol will work to remove an ink stain on suede. Be careful not to get the suede too damp. When finished removing ink stains from a suede leather item (or even faux suede leather), be sure to use a soft hair-bristled brush to brush the suede and bring back the texture to it.

An ink stain is not the end of a leather. With a little patient and a cheap bottle of rubbing alcohol, you can have your leather looking as good as new in no time!