How Do You Get Ink off of Leather?

Updated on April 21, 2008
S.R. asks from Frisco, TX
36 answers

My 2 year old loves to draw and most of the time uses crayons and paper. this last week she drew a masterpiece on the leather console in our new car... she used a ball point ink pen. does anyone have suggestions on how to get the ink out without ruining the leather?

2 moms found this helpful

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A.S.

answers from Dallas on

Hair spray works on ink in cloths, try it on a soft cloth on the leather console. Hair spray doesn't bleach or anything.

1 mom found this helpful

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G.R.

answers from Dallas on

For ink stains on leather furniture and clothing, spray a paper towel or soft cloth with some WD-40 and wipe the stain lightly. Repeat several times until the ink is gone.

hope it helps you

:)

3 moms found this helpful
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H.M.

answers from Dallas on

I market for a company that has the perfect product! It is called Sol-U-Mel and it works! The company is Melaleuca and if you haven't heard of it I would love to visit with you. All of their products are natural.

H. M.

1 mom found this helpful
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D.C.

answers from Dallas on

The only things that get ink off are alchol and hairspray. I'm not sure how that will effect the leather.

1 mom found this helpful
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G.A.

answers from Dallas on

Use non acetone polish remover. Make sure it is not acetone as that will melt the leather. Try under the dash first to make sure it will be ok. I have used it on clothing as well.
Good luck. G. W

1 mom found this helpful
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J.S.

answers from Dallas on

Try this recipe:

1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon borox

mix, apply and let stand 10 min. Dab with cold water to remove.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.B.

answers from Dallas on

I use a product called Sol-u Mel that is awesome, works for make up stains, wine spills, and especially crayons- it works on leathers and car interiors. PM me if you want to know here to get it.

1 mom found this helpful

J.L.

answers from Dallas on

wd-40 on a soft cloth

1 mom found this helpful
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R.B.

answers from Dallas on

Mr Clean Magic Eraser sponge is what i used to get ink off my white recliner when my two year old decided to "redesign" it! Worked like a champ. Did not damage the leather and only took a little elbow grease! This product works as advertized, I've taken ink, marker, and crayons right off the painted walls too!

1 mom found this helpful
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T.C.

answers from Amarillo on

I also have a child that loves to write, she has marked on my leather chair a few times. You can put rubbing alcohol on a Q-tip then rub this on the ink mark but don't rub to hard just a little pressure & the ink should slowly start coming up. If you have those alcohol pads that would be better. After I finished getting as much as I could out I would put some leather conditioner on it, if you need to ask me any questions about getting the ink out please feel free to write me. If you want to you could do a small test spot on the back to make sure it want pull the color out. Good luck.... T.

1 mom found this helpful
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P.F.

answers from Dallas on

I know there are specific leather cleaning products out there and I'd probably go to PepBoys or an auto parts type store. I've always had great success removing ink with non-aerosol hairspray, sounds strange I know but it usually works. If you find something that works well you should post on here, I'm really interested to see what works! Good Luck, and I think it's commendable that you seem to be so in control and not freaking out on your babies choice of art medium!

1 mom found this helpful
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D.W.

answers from Wichita Falls on

My daughter did a wonderful art picture for us on our $2500.00 leather sofa! We had just bought it 3 weeks prior! What the leather compnay suggested was using hairspray, it worked like a charm! You can use just about any kind... Good luck.

1 mom found this helpful
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H.D.

answers from Dallas on

Try Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. My friend's son drew with ball point pen on her buff colored leather couch and this took it off. I also read another method somewhere, but I can't remember what it was! White vinegar and baking soda...maybe. Check google and maybe you'll find that method.

1 mom found this helpful
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N.H.

answers from Dallas on

My daughter colored with a ink pen on my leather truck seat. I found a leather erasure stick and it worked very well. I will look tonight at home for th name. It took some elbow grease but it did all come off.

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S.W.

answers from Wichita Falls on

This may sound crazy but: use skin so soft bath oil by Avon..... it works for everything!!! look it up on my website: www.youravon.com/suzannewebb if it doesn't work (it will) I'll refund your money
S.

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V.B.

answers from Dallas on

We went to an new restaurant with pale yellow seats and my son took the pen I signed the check with and drew huge lines and when i turned around and saw it all i saw was blue grass lines arcoss the leather seat, i told the owner don't touch it and went home to get solumel and took it right off. i was so lucky and now i am a member that just buys there products because on this incident!!!

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J.A.

answers from Amarillo on

WD-40 will take ink pen off of the walls so it might work on leather too. I would try testing a small out of sight area first to make sure it won't harm the leather.

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N.F.

answers from Dallas on

My daughter did this to my coat when she was 3.5 years old. I took it to the dry cleaner and they said they couldn't be responsible for it if anything happened. I don't know why, but I tried Bath and Body Works peach moisturizing cream and it worked. You might want to start with coconut oil, though. That's what I'd do today if the same thing happened.

Good luck.

N.
Little Elm
Vegan, Pregnant, Healthy

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J.C.

answers from Dallas on

Trying using a little alcohol on a cloth, and gentle rubbing, you may have to repeat until the ink is gone. If that doesn't work, try a little nail polish remover (NOT the one for acrylic nails), or a little hairspray. You may have to "armor-all" the leather once the ink is removed.

Good luck,

A granny in Richardson,

~J

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P.T.

answers from Dallas on

try hairspray - i know it sounds weird but i heard about it and used it to get ink out of clothing material - test it somewhere you can't see it first to make sure it doesn't remove color

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B.D.

answers from Dallas on

try rubbing alcohol...start with just a small area, but it works for me with ball point ink.

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J.C.

answers from Dallas on

Hi S., Try a 'baby wipe'. I had 'red lipstick' on the roof interior the my car... I looked at it for WEEKS before I tried the baby wipe... and it took it right off. Good Luck!

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J.C.

answers from Dallas on

My DD did this, not once but twice, on our tan leather interior. I googled how to get ball point pen off leather and the one thing I tried that really worked was... PERFUME! Probably because of the alcohol content. I sprayed it on the pen marks then rubbed and off it came! Sounds really random, but it worked for me. And I'd do as someone else suggested here and use a leather conditioner afterwards so it doesn't dry out too much. Good luck!

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B.M.

answers from Dallas on

try using wd-40 ( a little) on the spot since wd-40 isn't oil it should work. remember thee longer is stays on the leather the harder it will be to remove.

B.

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J.B.

answers from Dallas on

Try a Mr. Clean Eraser. They come two to a box and are very effective. The eraser is non-chemical and is used with warm water, it comes a few differnt way so be sure to purchase the orginal with no special sides just plain. I have used it on many different surfaces including the removal of ink and black sharpie from car leather as well as cleaning very old (5+ years) red koolaid off my kitchen counter gets my vote. Good luck. Oh one short note, they made a Mr. Clean Eraser mop, don't bother with it, it doesn't work anything like the hand held eraser sponge.

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K.H.

answers from Dallas on

Try old fashion lighter fluid & a soft cloth or Avon skin so soft. One of them should work. Good luck.

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E.H.

answers from Dallas on

Don't do anything to it! Once ink gets wet, it spreads and spreads fast. Call a professional. You can call my office Cornerstone Chem-Dry ###-###-#### and we will at least come take a look at it for you! or email ____@____.com
E.

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D.M.

answers from Dallas on

I don't know if these will work...
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is amazing on walls, desks and such - not sure about leather.
Also, maybe a baby wet wipe... my little one wrote on leather (with a crayola marker I think) and another Mom saved me by immediately wiping it off.

Good luck!

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D.S.

answers from Dallas on

I was told to try hairspray and if that don't work the dealership has something to take it off.

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A.C.

answers from Dallas on

I've used hair spray to remove ball point ink from dress shirt pockets. You also might try using rubbing alcohol - I just used it this morning to get magic marker stains off the refrigerator. I had to really rub long and hard, but it came off.

A.

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J.H.

answers from Amarillo on

I have heard that spraying hair spray on it would take it off with a paper towel then , but don't know for sure. Hope it works.

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B.B.

answers from Dallas on

I don't have any experience with this but, I bet you could call a cleaners and ask them. It would probably be the same situation as if it were a leather jacket. They might even be willing to sell you some cleaning solution?! It's worth a try. Good Luck.
B. B

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T.C.

answers from Dallas on

As much as I know you will miss the masterpiece ;o) you might be able to scrub it off with cotton balls soaked with alcohol or hairspray. Good luck!

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H.S.

answers from Dallas on

My daughter had also done the same. I managed to remove the ball pen mark by using Nail polish remover.

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K.F.

answers from Dallas on

Hairspray removes ink from clothing & other items. I would try that first, since it won't hurt leather. If I get ink on my clothes, I just spray a bunch of hairspray on it & throw it in the wash. Works every time. Haven't tried leather yet, but it works so well on clothing that I'd definitely try it.

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R.N.

answers from Dallas on

i dont know if it will ruin the leather, but alcohol gets most ink out (or hairspray-but it's the alcohol in it that works). you could condition it right after...

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