How do you clean pen marks off leather? I have blue pen marks on the leather of my Acura.?

Answer 1

If it is on a pigmented leather (car seats generally are) then the first thing you should try is an ink stick. The fresher the ink the more chance you have of removing it. It is a good idea to have one in your house if you have a pale leather and children!!!!

You should also be using a good quality leather protector on your leather. This will act like a 'scotchgard' and will make any more mishaps easier to clean off.
If an ink stick doesn't work a solvent based remover will need to be used and it may also remove finish and pigment so is best left to the experts.

Hairspray occassionally works but can also make the matter far worse as it can spread the ink over a bigger area so is not advisable.

Nail varnish remover or any other solvents will remove the finish and pigment which will need replacing.

DO NOT USE Baby wipes as they are about the worst thing you can use on a leather as they break down the finish and will eventually ruin it.

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

Silicones are the worst thing to use on leather as they will form a coating on the surface of the leather which will not allow any moisture to get to the leather and will eventually break all the finish down and make it crack. Leather needs water and should not be protected against it.

Leather does not need conditioning it needs cleaning and protecting on a regular basis with water based products this will keep it rehydrated and supple. Oils will make things much worse.

Leather should be cleaned gently not scrubbed so 'elbow grease' will only do damage to the finish.


Nail Varnish remover will remove the finish on the leather even if you cannot tell it is doing so.
Source(s):
www.LTTsolutions.net
Leather care consultnts to the furniture and cleaning industries

Answer 2

Oil that lubricated the ball pen and the Blue Dye in the ink is almost impossable to get out. Rubbing alochol over 75% and cotton ball is the strongest solvent I would use try it first where you cannot see like the bottom edge of the seat back in the middle if the color doesn't rub off try the ink stain. Next try Lava soap on a damp wash rag because it has pumace in it rub gently all over the area to lightly sand off the ink. I even have replaced a seat cover for one little one inch pen mark the customer thought mechanics use blue pens but most of us use black. I just hope it was not a child who decided to practice drawing on the family's best car. There are some places that will re dye the leather.... Like Black?

Answer 3

Yeah goof off or goo gone but buy some leather conditioner to use on it afterwards so the leather doesn't get dried out.

Answer 4

Try GOOF OFF. Try it on a hidden part of the leather first of all. Use sparingly and don't breath it unless you want a cheap high.

Answer 5

I would recommend leather cleaner but if you don't have any try some toothpaste. Pops

Answer 6

Have you tried saddle soap it may remove the marks

Answer 7

take a damp rag with just alittle hand cleaner the stuff mechanics use