How To Remove Stains From Your Leather (Delicately)

Leather is a premium material that uniquely incorporates natural elegance and elite class to any room in your home. While leather is a preferred material for sofas and other types of furniture because of its durability, it can be damaged by various types of stains. You may be dismayed to discover seemingly permanent stains in your leather furniture that detract from aesthetics in your home.

The good news, however, is that many leather stains can be removed if you use the right strategies. The stain removal process varies depending on the type of leather stain that you are dealing with, so get to know the processes carefully before tackling your stain.

• Removing Water Stains

You are aware that leather is relatively impermeable to water, so you may be surprised to find out that the material can be damaged by water stains. If water is allowed to sit on your leather sofa or chair for more than a few minutes, you may notice a white stain develop on the material. While this may seem to be a water stain, the stain is actually created by minerals and other elements that are in the water.

To remove these white stains, dab some distilled water on a microfiber cloth. Use the cloth to make circular movements across the stain. After the moisture has completely dried, the stain may be gone. If it is not, you will need to repeat these steps. Once the stain is no longer visible, condition the leather using the product and process that the manufacturer of your leather furniture recommends.

• Dealing with Grease and Oil Stains

Grease and oil from food, cosmetics, and many other items can find a way onto your leather furniture. As is the case with water stains, greasy and oil stains can be removed when the right process is used. Because of the unique nature of grease and oil, you will need to blot up as much of the oil or grease as possible before applying any grease-busting substances to the leather. Use a clean, lint-free cloth to soak up the superficial grease. Then, sprinkle talcum powder or cornstarch over the entire surface area. The powder should sit on the stain for several hours to soak up the grease before you wipe the powder away. The stain should be gone.

However, if it remains, you can choose to repeat the powder process or to apply dishwashing soap to the furniture. The liquid dishwashing soap can be rubbed over the stain using a clean cloth. Rub the cloth lightly over the stain in a circular motion. When you rinse off the soap using clean water, ensure that you completely dry the area. As is the case with the water stain removal process, you should condition the leather after the stain is removed.

• Targeting Ink Stains

A stray ink mark can be an unsightly blemish on your leather sofa or chair, but the good news is that an ink stain is not permanent. Apply a small amount of rubbing alcohol to the stain using a cotton swab. After the area dries, the stain should be removed. If it remains, apply a non-gel, oil-free cuticle removal product using a clean cotton swab. While both of these steps are effective, some stains may be stubborn. You can purchase various ink removal products online or in a local store if the first two processes are not effective. Condition the leather after the ink is gone.

• Removing Other Dark Stains

Has your couch or chair been blemished by other dark stains? The process for removing miscellaneous stains from leather material is relatively easy to walk through. You can make a homemade concoction using equal parts of lemon juice and cream of tartar. Apply the paste, and allow it to sit on the surface for approximately 10 minutes. Then, wipe the paste away using a clean, damp cloth. To finish the process after the leather is dry, condition the leather.

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