We have all had to deal with leaky pens and what they do to leather—put a broken ballpoint pen or Sharpie in a pants pocket or leather bag by mistake, and suddenly, a blue or black blotch appears on your leather jacket or couch. These pen marks last forever if untreated, and if you don’t know how to remove pen ink from leather, cleaning these stains can be frustrating and may result in a bigger mess.
You don’t want to cover up or throw away an expensive and good-looking piece of furniture or purse because of an ink stain, but what cleaning options do you have?
Fortunately, there are some tried-and-true methods for getting ink out of leather – some methods require specialized ink removers, and some of them need nothing more than household cleaning products. In this article, we’ve gathered some of the most effective ways to remove pen ink from leather
How to Get Ink Out of Leather
Evaluate your stain and determine the best way to treat it. How to remove an old oil stain from a leather bag is a little different than dealing with ink.
Use Hair Spray on the Stain
The magic ingredient in hair spray that works on ink stains is isopropyl alcohol, otherwise known as plain old rubbing alcohol. Over time, companies have reduced or phased out isopropyl alcohol levels in hair spray completely, so this method is not as effective as it once was.
However, if you don’t have rubbing alcohol in the home, you can use a hair spray with a relatively high alcohol content to clean your leather. Before you try to clean pen marks with hair spray, you should test the cleaning method on an inconspicuous place on the leather.
Spray the pen marks, allow it to sit for several minutes, and then rinse the spot with cool water. Afterward, dab – don’t rub – the place with a dry cloth or paper towel.
Apply Alcohol to the Stain
Alcohol can be useful for how to remove Sharpie or other ink from leather but it can damage leather if you apply it carelessly. Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol is the most effective. Denatured alcohol or nail polish remover may work better, but you run a higher risk of damaging the leather.
Make sure to test the alcohol in a hidden spot before using it on the stain to ensure that you will not harm the fabric. Apply the alcohol with a cotton swab or cotton ball and rub lightly as you apply.
The ink should soak into the cotton swab. Do not allow the alcohol to sit too long after application – quickly dry the area with a hairdryer, if possible, or it might eat away at the leather.
For Non-White Leather, Try this Homemade Leather Cleaner
This home remedy is effective and safe to use on non-white leather, but always make sure to test the mix on a small area first.
Lemon Juice-Based DIY Leather Cleaner Recipe
1 part lemon juice
1 part cream of tartar
Mix the two ingredients into a paste. Then, apply the mixture to the ink spot using a microfiber cloth. Work the paste into the stain, and let it sit for a few hours if the stain remains.
Once you have cleaned the area with a damp cloth, apply a commercial or DIY leather conditioner to ensure that the leather is maintained, and you are working on a piece of leather furniture, be sure to always follow the tips for cleaning a leather couch for best results.
Homemade Cleaner for White Leather
White leather is more sensitive to caustic ingredients, so if you have an ink spot on white leather, use this cleaner. Make sure to test the cleaner in an inconspicuous area first.
DIY White Leather Cleaner Recipe
1/4 cup vinegar
1/2 cup olive oil
Mix the ingredients in a spray bottle. Spray the mixture on the affected area, and let it sit for five minutes or so before wiping it off.
As with non-white leather, you should apply a professional or DIY leather conditioner to properly maintain the leather, and if you are cleaning leather furniture, make sure to follow the tips for cleaning a leather couch.
Use a Commercial Leather Cleaning Product
If your home remedies don’t work for removing acrylic paint from leather, commercial cleaners might be the way to go. They can cost a bit, but they are guaranteed to not damage your leather if used correctly.
As with home cleaning solutions, however, you should always test the product on a small area before trying them on the stain.
Commercial Cleaning Product Advantages
They are carefully tested and should be safe for cleaning leather.
They may work better on stubborn stains.
They usually require no mixing or measuring.
Melamine foam, also known as a Magic Eraser, is a significant first step toward stain removal. If the Magic Eraser doesn’t do the trick, try to remove pen from leather with liquid cleaners.
There are many excellent commercial leather products available, and many of them are valid on ink stains. Choose the best one for your needs, and you should always follow the included cleaning instructions.
Take It to a Dry Cleaner
If all else has failed you and you’re willing to pay to get your leather
purse or sofa back to pristine condition, you might consider a trip to the dry cleaners. Dry cleaners have a lot more tools and tricks to get Sharpie off of leather, and they have access to more powerful cleaning chemicals.
If you choose to take your leather to a dry cleaner, you should always do research and choose a reputable business. And, be sure to inform the cleaning staff of any special care instructions before entrusting them with your leather.
After you’ve cleaned out the stain, consider applying a leather protector to avoid future stains. It doesn’t require ballpoint ink to damage leather, after all—a single drop of water on unprotected leather can ruin it.
If you’re the victim of a broken ink pen and have been unfortunate enough to find yourself with a big black or blue ink stain spreading across your favorite leather item, we hope that you found this article on how to get pen ink out of leather to be helpful.
Whether you use a home cleaning solution or a professional, patience and persistence can get your leather goods clean, ink-free, and beautiful again.
Thanks very much for reading our tips on how to remove pen ink from leather. Please share these ink stain removal tips with your friends on Facebook and
76-yеаr-оld Саndiсе Веrgеn, sаys shе is hаррy bеing ‘fаt’ bесаusе shе ‘livеs tо еаt’
Candice Bergen is a television screen staple. The actress has been in multiple shows and movies over the years, and has earned a solid reputation for herself!
And when critics come to silence her, she shows that she is someone who will not be messed with! She really is someone who lives life on her own terms.
Candice Bergen started off her career as a model, working for magazines likе Vogue. Since then her career has sky-rocketed and she has become a household name. Her role in the show “Murphy Brown” led her to five Emmy wins.
But her iconic role came to her with a few hardships involved. In an interview, she revealed that the role was meant for a younger actress, namely Heather Locklear.
circa 1967: American actor and model Candice Bergen. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
But her audition caught the writer and producer Diane English’s eye who insisted that she was the one for the role.
The show and her role were a huge hit and women all across the country adored her portrayal of a reported. Bergen fondly recalls, “That character gave me permission to be my brattiest, bawdiest self.”
She was nominated for seven Emmys for the role and won five of them. But apparently, after her fifth win, she asked not to be considered for an Emmy again.
The reason for this was because of how the actress’ priorities changed and she decided to live her life differently. In her Memoir “A Fine Romance,” she revealed that she was more focused on herself, talking about how she did not care if she was ‘fat’ because she loved to eat!
She talked candidly in the book about her relationship with food, revealed that in the last 15 years, she has gained about 30 pounds but does not care about it.
She plainly in the book, “Let me just come right out and say it: I am fat. I live to eat. None of this ‘eats to live’ stuff for me.”
She also shаrеd stories of her enjoying decadent meals at dinner parties with her husband, and getting smug looks from other dinner guests but that she pays no mind to them. She wrote, “I am a champion eater. No carb is safe — no fat, either.”
She went on to talk about how women in their 50s are so caught up with trying to maintain their youth that they often forget to enjoy their current selves. She has opted out of trying to maintain her youthful looks or figure, and is very much enjoying her decision to do so.
While her friends focus on their diets, Bergen is clear that she focused on food. She wrote, “dieting is out of my purview. I crave cookies, all the things that dilate my pupils.”
She talked of women she knows who ‘vomit’ out their meals after eating them to maintain their figures, strongly saying that she would never do such a practice.
She wrote, “They maintain their weight by routinely vomiting after major meals consisting of a slice of steak or a filet of fish. I am incapable of this.”
Now the actress is in the second stage of her life, as a mother and grandmother. Her first marriage to French director Louis Malle lasted 15 years, ending upon his dеаth from cancer in 1995. She had her daughter Chloe Malle from that union.
She married Marshal Rose in the 2000s, her second marriage which is still going successfully.
She is now also a grandmother to her daughter’s children. Her grandson Arthur Louis Albert was born in 2020, and her granddaughter, Alice Malle Albert, followed in April 2022.
The actress has publicly talked about the excitement she feels for her daughter on becoming a mother, she said of her daughter, “She is the love of my life.”
She shаrеs sweet moments from her life on social media, and the actress is clearly smitten with being a grandmother to two toddlers.
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