Remove Stains from Leather

Written by Karen Bates (last updated September 30, 2024)

Considering how popular leather is, it only makes sense that you will find yourself cleaning it at one point or another in your life. While you can always go and hire a professional to do the job for you, there are a few times when you may want to think about doing your own work. It's not particularly difficult of a task to remove stains from leather, but the key is to knowing the best possible methods to do the work.

  • Ink. One of the more common stains that you can find yourself with is an ink stain. The best way to get this out of your leather is to spray a bit of hairspray onto the stain, and then wiping it away with a clean rag. Keep in mind though that ink stains can sometimes be a little difficult to remove, so you may want to get some professional help on this one.
  • Water. Another common stain that you may find on leather is water. Water stains can be removed usually by applying a bit more water to the garment or item, and then allowing it to dry naturally. It may sound a bit silly, but the method does work.
  • Grease. In order to remove grease stains you will need to first blot any excess grease from the leather using a clean cloth. Once you have done that, sprinkle some talcum powder onto the stain, and allow it to sit for four hours. After that time has passed, simply wipe it away and you should be good.
  • Protein. Protein stains can come from things like blood or urine, and can easily be removed by blotting the area with a damp cloth. Allow it to dry naturally, with no additional heat applied. Additional heat can sometimes lead to water stains.
  • Salt. While you really only need to worry about salt stains three months out of the year, you still need to know how to deal with this one. It is surprisingly simple; all you need to do is create a mixture of vinegar and water at a ratio of three to one. This means that for every three units of vinegar that you add, you add the same unit of water one time. Get a clean cloth moistened with this mixture, and then dab at the stained area.
  • Mildew. Sadly leather is somewhat susceptible to mildew, and as a result you need to know how to handle the situation. Create a 50/50 mixture of rubbing alcohol and water, and moisten a clean rag with that mixture. Wipe away the mildew that you find on the leather, and that allow it to dry completely without any additional heat added to the mix.

Author Bio

Karen Bates

An English student who enjoys writing and art, Karen has had her poetry published in her university's literary journal and has several novels in the works. ...

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