Marker or crayon on leather couch

[JSmith731245]

How do I remove either marker or crayon from a leather couch? I don’t know how long it has been there. The couch wasan’t taken care of at all. I have been trying to clean it up, without much success. I have used OOps, and also a leather cleaner. The marks are still there. Any suggestions?

[bobsbuddy]

Some leathers will grab the ink and not let it go. Cleaning will remove color of the leather (that can be replaced). The longer it sits, the tougher it is to get out.

Crayons are wax and can usually be removed by solvents such as mineral spirits.

You might want to call a leather repair person.

[MistressEll]

regular children’s non-toxic crayon would usually rub off of finished leather – some saddle soap and water may help this process.

Another way to extract wax is to use heat and some non-coated absorbant non-bleached non-printed kraft paper and an iron on a low setting. (Kraft paper is what brown shopping bags – paper bags – are made of). Be sure to cut out a portion that has NO glue or printing, place it on the offending wax, and iron it slightly. (test in a hidden area first in case it negatively effects the finish of the leather).

Regarding marker or pen ink – there are different types of inks. Water soluable (washable) children’s markers – are non-permanent – and can sometimes be floated off again with saddle soap and COOL water (warm water may set the stain – especially some of the more bold colors).

Ball point ink will more likely set if warm water or hot is used, especially RED – the usual way to remove is to use refrigerated alcohol and the best source of this is some CHEAP alcohol containing hair spray (NO lacquer) which comes in a spray can (not a pump) spray it on the mark, and wipe it off with a sponge with COOL water and saddle soap. Sometimes a bit of naptha applied directly (get in a can labeled NAPTHA at the hardware store). Both the alcohol containing hairspray and the naptha are HIGHLY flamable – so make sure you have good ventillation, no open flames anywhere nearby (no cigs, candles, pilot lights near appliances – etc.) when using, and wash using a good saddle soap followed by a detergent surfactant (like liquid dish detergent and water – not dishwasher detergent) afterwards. Both the alcohol and the naptha may also remove the stain/dye which colors other than natural finished leather so you may have to resort to touching up the finish. If it is natural leather – you can restore the finish using products for example that are designed to “condition” leather baseball gloves (certain oils are rubbed in) to keep the leather supple as both alcohol and naptha will dry out the leather.

Sometimes even permanent markers (like sharpe marker marks) can be successfully removed using the above. If the marker or ink stains have been heat set, however, you may never get them out.

India ink, if it has penetrated the leather itself is also not easily removed (if not downright impossible).

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