Ink on coated Leather

[salty]

Just wondering if anyone has used any of the specialty ink removal pens that some sell. Or anything else that works better than most, without damage.



I know the whole routine on leather is a little grey area and if it doesn't come off it will need to be dyed.



I have many chemicals and abrasives, ie Magic eraser. Sometimes they work, others times it will lighten up and other times it won't budge.



Just looking for someone to share the magic potion, that probably doesn't exist.

 

[judyb]

As you rightly say there is no magic potion that will always work. This is because the ink is a dye. Just the same as it works on paper when you write it dyes the leather finish. The longer it is on the harder it will be to remove.



In general the following rules apply:



Removing ink stains from leather is not a cleaning problem.

Most ink removal products will not work simply because of the length of time the ink has been on the leather.



Ink is a dye and has re-coloured the leather (this is what it is meant to do).

The longer the ink has been on the leather the harder it is to remove because it soaks into the finish. Once it has soaked into the finish you have to use very strong products to remove it, which will also remove finish and pigment which then need replacing.



Pigment/Protected leather



If the ink stain is on a pigmented leather then the first thing you should try is an Ink removing product. The fresher the ink the more chance you have of removing it. It is a good idea to have one in your carif you have pale leather and children!!!!



Old ink stains will be harder to remove than a new ink stain and may mean resorting to solvents which will also remove the finish. This is probably best left to the experts.

If an ink stick doesn't work a solvent based remover will need to be used and it may also remove finish and pigment which will then need replacing



You should also be using a Leather Protector. This will act like a 'scotchgard' and will make any more mishaps easier to clean off.



You will see many people recommending household products to remove ink – this is not recommended as most simply will not work, some may appear to work but the damage they cause can make a much bigger problem which is then un-repairable (even by a technician).



DO NOT USE THE FOLLOWING ON INK STAINS:

Magic Erasers - these will only remove the ink by damaging the finish on the leather

Hairspray - This is very risky as it can make the matter far worse by spreading the ink over a bigger area and can sometimes then be impossible to fix.

Nail Varnish remover/solvents - will remove the finish on the leather even if you cannot tell it is doing so and this will then need replacing, and alcohol may do the same depending on the strength of the finish on the leather.

Baby wipes - just about the worst thing you can use on a leather as they break down the finish and will eventually ruin it.

Milk or Toothpaste - these are just silly ideas that will leave sticky residues on the surface which will help to break down the finish on your leather.

Silicones/furniture polish - should not be used on leather. They will form a coating on the surface of the leather which will not allow any moisture to get to the leather itself and will eventually break all the finish down and cause it to crack.

Hide food - will not remove ink and will leave residues on the leather which will attract dirt and oils.



Most leather cleaners will not remove ink unless a very good leather protector has been used on a regular basis!!.



If the Ink removing product does not work as technicians we use a 5 step process:



Ink remover

Alcohol Cleaner

Solvent based detergent

Solvent

Recolour



It is important to go through the process strictly as any one of the steps may work and then you need go no further. It is also important to remove as much ink as possible before recolouring otherwise it may come back through the new colour.



hope this helps