Ink on Leather

Ink on leather is a common problem and usually quite solvable. The only question is if it requires professional attention or, can you resolve the issue yourself.

Here are some basic rules to remember:

Ink is primarily a dye and as such the ink has re-colored the leather. It is not harmful to the leather. So the problem is strictly aesthetic.

1. Get to it quickly, using a damp cloth, attempt to transfer as much ink off the leather as you can before it sets in the leather. Gently wipe or blot. In a short period of time, the ink travels into the leather. Don’t rub. The heat from the friction generated by rubbing can cause the ink to migrate more quickly into the leather, and possibly disturb or eliminate the leather’s grain pattern. Keep in mind that once ink penetrates into the leather it essentially has re-colored the leather. No amount of aggressive rubbing will change that fact. You might also try a soft artist eraser, gently tracing the ink line. The objective is to pull the ink out before it has a chance to set.
2. Once it is set, removing ink from the leather is NOT a cleaning issue. In almost all cases, any cleaner used that is strong enough to pull out the ink, won’t know the difference between the color of the ink and the color of the leather. Aggressive cleaning may remove the ink, but will also remove the leather color as well. And, aggressive cleaning chemicals will do more harm (pH damage) to the leather than the ink.
3. The use of ink sticks or other products advertised to remove ink is risky business. The active ingredient is a solvent intended to neutralize the ink. Its success depends on how sensitive your leather is to chemical intervention. If the finish on your leather is chemically resistant it may work, but then again, it may pull the color out of the leather, may simply smear the ink around, may pull the protective top coat from the leather, or may not do anything at all. Ink sticks and the like are clearly a “Buyer Beware” issue. Be careful.
4. Consider this – one attribute of ink is that it migrates. That is to say the ink moves. This means that an accidental ink stripe may be absorbed into the leather and present a gradually fading reference that dissipates within a few weeks. So, a minor ink stripe may disappear of its own accord. Therefore, as time is not critical, leave it alone for a few weeks and see what happens. It may disappear altogether or become faint enough as to no longer be an issue. However, if there is a high concentration of dye (i.e. permanent marker pen) or a larger volume (ink spill) then what you see will be there for a long, long time.
5. Remember, one of ink’s attributes is migration. If you simply color over, then the ink will migrate up through the color coating and present itself all over again