Faux leather is an excellent alternative to genuine leather for many reasons. They’re cruelty-free and economical.
Plus, they can look so similar to the real ones that you would not even know that it’s fake leather. However, similar to genuine leather, faux leather is likewise susceptible to ink stains.
This article will tackle how to remove ink from faux leather accessories, bags, and home furnishings effectively to help you preserve these items’ value and appearance.
Table of Contents
Ways to Remove Ink From Faux Leather
1. Dish Soap and PowerPaste Method
Dish soap alone usually isn’t enough to get ink off of leather, so you’d want to mix it with some PowerPaste—a clay-based compound with a natural grit to remove stains. As a chemical-free cleanser, this paste can get pen out of faux leather without damaging the surface.
This method is best for your white faux leather couch or sofa.
What you need:
- Dish soap
- PowerPaste (or any clay-based polishing compound)
- Scrub sponge
- Microfiber cloth
- Spray bottle
What to do:
- On a spray bottle, mix a few drops of dish soap and water.
- Spray a generous amount of diluted dish soap on the affected area.
- Scrape a good amount of PowerPaste with the scrub sponge and apply it to the ink stain.
- Gently scrub the affected surface until the ink stain is removed.
- Wipe the scum and dirt collected from scrubbing with a damp microfiber cloth.
- Let it dry.
2. Baking Powder and Lemon Method
A popular method to take ink off a faux leather bag or purse is using baking powder and lemon. Here’s how you can utilize this mixture to remove stains from faux leather.
What you need:
- 1 tbsp. baking powder
- 1 lemon
- A cup of water
- Small mixing bowl
- Spoon
- Soft cloth
What to do:
- Put 1 tbsp. of baking powder in a small bowl.
- Squeeze the lemon into the bowl.
- Gently mix until it forms a paste. Squeeze more lemon if needed.
- Apply the paste to the blemish.
- Take the spent lemon and rub the inner part into the ink until the stain is lifted.
- Wet the cloth and wipe the treated area.
- Pour a small amount of water into the area and wipe again to clean the excess.
- If you can still see some shadows of the ink, reapply the baking powder paste and repeat the process.
- Wipe clean with water and a soft cloth.
3. Solvent Method: Acetone or Nail Polish Remover
Acetone is a powerful solvent that can disintegrate ink stains rapidly. However, it’s important to test it in an inconspicuous area first to check if it discolors your faux leather.
This method could work on faux leather bags, jackets, etc. Aside from faux leather, it can also remove ballpoint pen ink on other surfaces and fabric.
What you need:
- Acetone (or nail polish remover with an acetone base)
- Water
- Leather conditioner
- Small bowl
- Microfiber cloth
What to do:
- In a small bowl, mix acetone and water to a ratio of 1:3.
- Dip the microfiber cloth into the mixture and dab it on the ink stain until the ink is lifted.
You can gently scrub the faux leather to hasten the process. Just don’t use too much force; otherwise, you’ll damage the surface.
- When all the ink is removed, moisten the fresh side of the cloth with water and go over the treated area to remove excess acetone.
- Squirt a pea-sized leather conditioner on the microfiber cloth and apply it on the treated area. This will help retain the faux leather’s finish.
- Remove the excess leather conditioner using the clean part of the microfiber cloth.
4. Ink Removing Stick
If you wish to clean PU leather without damage, an ink remover stick can save your day, given how handy and easy to use it is. However, note that this product is only effective for ink stains that are not more than 5 days old.
What you need:
- Ink removing stick
- Leather cleaner or cleaning wipes
- Absorbent cloth(white) or tissue
- Cup of water
- Small brush
What to do:
- Clean the surface using leather cleaning wipes or a leather cleaner.
- Wipe it dry using a clean, absorbent cloth.
- Take off the lid of the faux leather stain remover and push the bottom until about ¼ inch of the stick is exposed.
- Gently rub the tip of the stick on the ink stain. Avoid scrubbing to prevent discoloring the fabric.
- If the lifted ink has transferred to the top of the stick, wipe it clean with a tissue.
- Should you still see traces of ink, reapply the ink remover stick, but in different directions so the remover can penetrate deeper.
You can also scrub the affected area gently in a circular motion with a wet brush to ensure the ink remover can penetrate deeply into the leather grains.
- Once the surface is stain-free, clean the treated area with a leather cleaner or wipes and dry with a tissue.
- Apply a leather protector to prevent stains from sipping into the leather again.
Conclusion
Learning how to remove ink from faux leather is beneficial for the overall protection and preservation of your items.
Should you want an instant solution, getting a commercial ink remover stick would be best. However, if you are the type that prefers DIY solutions, then you can go for any of the following methods:
- Dish soap and PowerPaste
- Baking powder and lemon
- Acetone
Moreover, whichever method you choose, always proceed with caution and preliminary testing to avoid further damaging your items while cleaning.
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