by Megan As Well

Created on: February 13, 2009   Last Updated: February 14, 2009

It can be heartbreaking to see something stain your leather couch, especially since leather is so resistant to staining. When marked with ink, however, you will need to act quickly to remove the ink, for the drier the ink is, the harder it is to remove. If the ink is from a gel ink pen, you may have a harder time removing it.

The number one cause of ballpoint pen ink getting on leather upholstery would probably be children. Many young children will blatantly scribble on the walls, the furniture, their skineverything but paper. So learning to remove ink from leather is a handy skill for leather-loving parents of small children.

If a pen exploded or a bottle of ink spilled on the couch, first try a dry cloth, cotton ball, sponge, or Q-tip. Next, moisten your cloth or cotton ball with lukewarm water, rub gently, and then dry with another soft cloth or a dry corner of the cloth you are already using.

If water alone does not help, there are also many leather cleaners available, including Leather Master and saddle soap. Always check the labels first to make sure you that are using the right product and that you are using it correctly. Avoid regular soaps and detergents unless they are specially made for leather. Ink-removal products do not usually work on leather.

There are also some home remedies available, including shampoo (for normal hair), antibacterial hand gels, colognes, hair sprays, and rubbing alcohols. Some people also try natural solutions like milk or tomatoes.

If you prefer an all-natural solution, try rubbing a small amount of milk on your wash cloth, instead of water and shampoo. Tomatoes have also been known to take ink out of leather. Cut a tomato in half and rub it gently on the stain. But take caution when using this method, for the acidity of the tomato may harm your leather.

These solutions apply to all leather, from couches to jackets, purses, and pants. While cleaning a spot off your leather, keep in mind that cleaning that one spot may make the rest of the leather look dirty. If your leather couch is old, worn, or dirty overall, you may consider moving from cleaning the one spot to cleaning the entire couch. In this case it is a good idea to use leather cleaner, as opposed to washing your entire couch with hair spray.

One last thing to consider while cleaning your leather couch is leather conditioner. Whether you are removing a tiny pen mark or a major ink spill, it is a good idea to use a leather conditioner afterward to maintain the beauty and durability of the leather.

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