How to remove ink from leather and fabric

leather sofa

Ink stains leather and fabric and almost everything it touches, but don't despair. Many ink stains can be removed if treated well. You'll have better luck getting your clothes back if you treat ink stains before putting the clothes in the dryer. Start by checking each item for stains or you can even check your leather sofas.

Remove ink from leather

Before attempting to remove ink from leather, first determine what type of leather and what type of ink is involved.

Types of leather

  • In view of: Take your garment to a professional dry cleaner who specializes in cleaning suede.
  • Smooth leather: Try cleaning methods in an inconspicuous place and proceed with care. If your garment or accessory is very expensive and you will be devastated if you ruin it, take it to a professional cleaner.
  • Vinyl, synthetic leather or synthetic leather: you can start cleaning right away.

clean ink on leather

Ink types

  • Ballpoint ink: use the cleaning method discussed below.
  • Felt tip marker ink: use the cleaning method discussed below.
  • Permanent marker ink: Consider having your garment stained a darker shade to match the stain. Permanent ink cannot be removed from leather without causing much damage to the garment. Professional dry cleaners or shoe repair shops can dye leather.

Cleaning method

Rubbing alcohol works best for removing ink stains from leather at home. Fresh ink stains are easier to remove and generally come off easily, while drier stains may require repeat treatments. Leather is porous and the stain can penetrate deep into the skin.

Start by moistening a white cotton cloth or cotton swab with the rubbing alcohol. Don't use a colored cloth because it can transfer the dye to light colored leather. Work from the outside of the stain towards the center, rubbing gently into the fabric. Keep the work area small so it doesn't spread the ink over a larger area, be patient.

You should be able to see the ink transfer to the fabric. Dampen a clean area of ​​the fabric or get a new cotton swab when you see ink coming out to avoid re-staining the garment. Continue to blot gently until the ink runs out. Don't scrub hard as that can remove color and a layer of leather. You can also use commercial ink removers.

Allow the garment to air dry after or between treatments. Once the ink is removed, treat the garment with leather conditioner to help it stay supple and smooth.

Old remedies that do not work

You may have heard about using hairspray, dish soap, laundry soap, mayonnaise, and abrasive erasers to remove ink from leather. Yes, someone from somewhere has had success using these methods, but they cannot be recommended. Abrasive erasers will likely remove the ink, but they will also remove a layer of leather, so you'll need to decide if you want a stain or a hole.

Perhaps the best of the bunch is hairspray as it contains a high alcohol content, but the other ingredients in hairspray can cause staining and other problems. Use it only in an emergency on a fresh ink stain and if you can better avoid it.

ink on leather

Ink stains from pen or markers

Ballpoint pens are a staple in most homes and offices and rarely leave as many stains as pens. However, ink stains sometimes occur, especially with children in the home. So how do you remove pen ink stains from clothes or the sofa?

Start by moistening a cotton swab with isopropyl or rubbing alcohol and testing the fabric to make sure the alcohol will not damage or discolor the material. Try an inside seam or hem. Working from the outside of the stain inward, rubbing the spot with the cotton swab. Change to a new swab as the ink absorbs to avoid redistributing the ink.

If ink remains, mix a solution of oxygen-based bleach and cold water. Follow the package directions for how much product to use per gallon of water. Completely submerge the garment and allow it to soak for at least eight hours.

ink on the leather sofa

Check the stain. If it is gone, wash as usual as indicated on the label. If it remains, mix in a fresh solution and repeat. It may take several soaks to remove the stain, but it should come off. Be patient!

If the garment is only dry-cleaned, point out and identify the stain in the laundry. If you are using a home dry cleaning kit, Be sure to treat the stain with the provided stain remover before putting the garment in the dryer or drying the sofa with a household dryer. 


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