by Alicia Slansky

Created on: February 11, 2009   Last Updated: February 18, 2009

Ink on your leather couch, jacket or car upholstery can be a dreadful thought! You can work towards restoring your leather to pre-stain condition in a few easy steps. If you have leather products in the home, you should also have a LTT Ink Stick on hand for emergency moments. The earlier you get to an ink stain, the better chances you have of removing it.

Considering the pigment of the leather and of the ink, some stains will be more noticeable than others. You may to need seek professional help if you cannot get the stain out on your own. Don't be afraid to ask for help on this one. Before running to the phone book, try these ideas:

* Finished leather

If your leather has a finish on it, you should be careful of the products you use to clean it. Many products will damage the leather by breaking down the material, removing the pigments and dyes or leaving a sticky residue that will attract dirt in the future.

Finished leather is best cleaned with a mild soap and very little water. If the ink stain is fresh, start here. Using a clean cloth, lightly dampen it with water and apply a gently soap. Work the soap into a lather on the cloth. Blot the lather onto the stain and gently work it onto the leather. Wipe away all soap with a clean, damp cloth and then polish with a clean, dry cloth. You will want to condition your finished leather with a leather conditioner to preserve it's luster and shine.

Alcohol, hairspray, and baby wipes will only damage the finish of the leather and quite possibly remove the pigments. Since the ink on the leather is essentially a dye, and you are trying to remove it, anything that gets the ink off will likely discolor the leather as well. This is why you should use great care and not be afraid to consult a professional. We cannot fix everything on our own!

* Unfinished leather

Similar methods can be used to clean your unfinished leather, but certainly not similar products. For your unfinished leather, you will want to use a saddle soap, much in the same way you used regular soap earlier.

Dampen a cloth and work saddle soap in to a lather on the cloth. Using circular motions, wipe saddle soap onto are needing cleaned. Allow the soap to settle into the leather for a few minutes. Use a clean, moist cloth to remove all traces of the saddle soap and dry thoroughly. Condition with leather conditioner.

Avoid Mink Oils, as they will only spread a greasy appearance over the spot and leave the rest of the leather unfinished. When conditioning either type

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>