Removing Stains From Leather

Leather is the finest material having rich looks and hence is used for preparing many outfits, shoes, bags, purses, upholstery, and many other things. These leather garments and accessories need special care for preventing them from getting stained. Removing stains from leather largely depends on the type of leather.

There are basically two types of leather, namely, pure aniline and semi-aniline. The first one has no coating on it, and it is difficult to remove stains from this type of leather, because the stain gets absorbed in the leather. However, the semi-aniline leather has a protective coating, and the stain can be easily removed from it.

So, it is necessary that you identify the type of leather before removing the stain. Even the type of stain on the leather decides the difficulty level of the stain removal. Leather can get stained because of water, ink, blood, oil, etc. Let us take a look at some remedial measures for stain removal.

NOTE: It is recommended that you do a spot test to verify that the method you are using for stain removal from leather will not harm the material.

Ink stains on leather need a timely treatment, because ink acts as a dye for leather and it cannot be removed if the ink is completely absorbed. Fresh ink stain is easy to remove than an old ink stain. Thus, whenever you get an ink stain on the leather surface you need to take a quick action to get rid of it.

Usually, alcohol and hair spray are considered to be effective measures to remove ink stains from leather. Apply the hairspray on the affected area, and wipe it away with the help of a cloth, else damp a cotton ball with alcohol and rub it over the affected area.

Even if the stain does not go away with all these steps, then consult a leather expert. Ink stains are very difficult to remove, so you may need to dye the leather again if the ink stain becomes permanent.

Water stains can result in a crumpled leather surface and further spoil the look of the leather. But, many of the times, water evaporates and does not cause much trouble. You should not use any heat source to evaporate the water, as it may harm the leather.

Allow the water to evaporate naturally. You can gently blot the water accumulated on the surface. And, when the water has evaporated completely, remove the cramps formed with the help of a leather conditioner. Use of a leather conditioner will repair the look of the leather and give it back its smooth texture.

Oil spill or butter-enriched food can result in grease stains on a leather surface. These stains are easy to remove and not a cause for worry. The first thing you need to do is blot the grease with the help of a sponge or towel. When you are done with blotting the grease, apply some talcum powder on the affected area, and leave it on for some time.

This powder will soak the remaining grease left on the leather. Wipe the powder gently from the surface after 5 hours.

If the water has accumulated on the leather surface for a long time, it may lead to the formation of mildew stains. Removing mildew stains is easy, and all you need to do is prepare a solution for it. This solution is made up of alcohol and water in a ratio of 1:1. Then, take a cotton ball or cloth and dip it in this solution.

Apply this to the stained area and rub gently. Do not hurry drying the wet surface, and let the water evaporate on its own. You will find that the mildew stain has disappeared after the stained area has dried.

Leather is an absorptive expensive material, and hence, one should take proper care for maintaining it. Different types of stain on leather need a different treatment. Only ink stain removal from leather can be troublesome if not treated soon. All other stains can be removed easily.

Follow the given simple tips and remove the stains from leather. You should consult a leather professional if you are unable to remove the stains yourself.