Removing Ink Marks from Leather

How to remove ink from leather — that is the question. Whether it’s a leather seat, leather couch, leather purse or leather shoe, getting pen out of leather might sound like a challenge. It’s actually pretty easy if you have the right tools! To remove ballpoint pen ink from leather, follow these simple steps:

How to Remove Ballpoint Pen Ink From Leather

1. Get an ink removing solution. If you want to use a homemade solution, isopropyl alcohol is an okay option — though keep in mind it can damage the leather slightly. For best results, however, we recommend a dedicated ink removing solution. Regardless of what you choose, always test in an inconspicuous area first to ensure it’s safe on the leather. If you see the solution seep through immediately, you may be dealing with aniline or “naked” leather.
2. Dip a cotton swab in the solution, then lightly apply to the ink stain. You should see the ink begin to lift off the surface and transfer onto the swab. 
3. Using a microfiber towel, wipe away any remaining solution. For heavier ink stains, multiple applications may be needed.
4. Dab a small amount of leather conditioner onto a clean corner of the microfiber towel and apply to the now-clean area. This step moisturizes the leather and to some extent restores an even appearance. 

What ink remover solution should I use?

You can go one of two routes when it comes to sourcing an ink remover solution:

Go Homemade (Not Recommended)

It’s no secret that an isopropyl alcohol solution can remove ballpoint pen ink from leather. Many at-home removal guides will recommend household products that contain alcohol or some other solvent — WD-40, hairspray, nail polish remover, etc. Some people say you can even use milk to remove ink stains from leather!

Unfortunately these homemade remedies can damage leather. Alcohol and other solvents fade the leather’s dye and makes it drier and more brittle. Using milk just leaves residue and an awful smell. And since these homemade solutions are not explicitly formulated to remove ink, it can take a lot more chemical to remove than a dedicated product, and that means more wear on the leather. 

Use a Dedicated Product (Recommended)

There are products out there devoted entirely to removing ballpoint pen ink from leather. These products are typically engineered solutions explicitly formulated to efficiently remove ink without damaging the underlying surface.

One great thing about dedicated products is that they often come as part of a kit that provides all the tools needed for removal. Dr. Beasley’s Ink Remover Kit, for example, includes cotton swabs, a microfiber towel and a leather finishing cream in addition to the Ink Remover itself.

I still can’t get the pen marks out of leather! What’s going on?

There are a number of reasons why this might be happening. For one, you might be dealing with aniline or “naked” leather, which is a whole other story when it comes to removing ink. You may also be dealing with a type of ink that’s harder to remove than ballpoint pen ink. Finally, it’s possible the ink mark has sat on the leather for too long. 

The longer an ink mark sits on leather, the more difficult it will be to remove. For that reason we recommend having an ink remover on-hand so any accidental ink stains can be quickly removed from the leather before they permanently set. 

What about aniline or “naked” leather?

Most leathers—especially the kind you see on car interiors, furniture and purses—are semi-aniline. This means they have a “top coat”, a protective coating that’s added to the leather during the manufacturing process. 

That protective top coat makes it easier to remove stains, as the stain sits on the top coat instead of seeping into the leather itself. So if you’re wondering how to remove ink from a leather couch, chances are you should be okay with using an ink removing solution.

Aniline, or “naked” leather, seen only on the most high-end goods, does not have a top coat. That means when it is stained by ink, the ink seeps directly into the leather. This makes it exceptionally difficult to remove. 

There are strong solutions out there that claim to remove ink from aniline leather, but these solutions all come with warnings that they will remove the leather’s color with the ink. You basically have to re-paint the leather just to get rid of the ink. 

At that point you are beyond what can be addressed at home, so we recommend contacting a professional leather repair service to remove ink from aniline or “naked” leather. 

What about other inks? (Permanent markers, gel pens, etc)

These types of stains are much more difficult to remove and may require more applications than ballpoint pen ink. Some may even require dangerous chemicals like acetone to remove. Use those chemicals at your own risk — they can damage your skin in addition to your leather. 

What about faux leathers? (Vinyl, leatherette, Tesla vegan leather)

If the faux leather material is top coated you’ll want to treat it like you would genuine top coated leather. Use an ink removing solution to get ballpoint ink off of vinyl, Tesla vegan leather or any other faux leather surface.

Removing Ink Marks from Leather

Removing ink marks from leather is surprisingly simple! It mostly comes down to having the right chemical solution and the right tools for removal and restoration. Let’s go over those steps one more time:

1. Get an ink removing solution. Homemade solutions like rubbing alcohol work in a pinch, but we recommend a dedicated product. 
2. Dip a cotton swab in the solution, then lightly apply to the ink stain. You’ll see the ink transfer onto the swab. Be sure to test the solution in an inconspicuous area first for compatibility with the leather.
3. Using a microfiber towel, wipe away any remaining solution. Multiple applications might be needed here!
4. Use a leather conditioner to restore the cleaned area. This will re-moisturize the leather and bring back necessary nutrients. 

Have any other tips for removing ink marks from leather? Comment below and let us know!