How to Remove Ink From Leather
No one is safe from an accident involving ballpoint pen ink on the leather seats of their car. This accident could be the work of your child who loves to draw or a leak from your BIC pen stored in a pocket. Compared to other stains, ballpoint ink stains are the most difficult to remove, especially if it is permanent ink.
If you are looking for a way to get rid of these marks on your automotive leather, find out in this article “How to Remove Ink From Leather”
With the main automotive detailing tips to remove marks, ballpoint pen lines, and ink stains, choose the right products (eraser, stain remover, leather cleaner) adapted to ballpoint pen brands.
Rest assured, pen lines or marks on leather are common stains that detailing professionals and product manufacturers know how to deal with. In most cases (on smooth pigmented leathers, plain, satin or matte leathers) it is possible to remove this style feature with a leather cleaner or with their ballpoint pen eraser.
Ink Stain on Leather: The Rules to Follow
Even though leather may appear fragile and difficult to clean, it is possible to remove ink stains, or even pen marks from leather. Yes, but how to remove ballpoint pen from leather? Many detailing principles are recommended and will be applied in this article to correct the problem of your car seats with ballpoint ink stains.
“Detailing” translated as auto cosmetics, includes the different stages of washing, protecting and protecting the vehicle. Removing pen from leather is a completely accessible procedure and here we will give you all the good rules to be able to remove these ballpoint pen marks.
Leather is one of the most used materials to dress the interior of a car. It offers different advantages such as design, flexibility, but also resistance. However, faced with traces of ballpoint ink, the leather seats are very fragile. You must use a good ballpoint pen stain remover on leather to get rid of it, while taking care not to damage the material.
Be responsive
Cleaning automotive leather should be done as quickly as possible. For a better result and more ease, do not wait the next day or the following weekend to remove this Bic pen stain from leather to obtain a better result.
Also before going any further, don’t forget:
- The fresher the ballpoint pen stroke, the easier it is to erase. A stain older than three days becomes so stubborn that it is almost impossible to clean without also removing the pigmented layer from the leather.
- Children’s large scribbles and drawings are more difficult to detach than simple pen strokes.
- Attempts to clean with inappropriate products often amplify the damage.
Use the right products and cleaners
Don’t use just anything. We don’t want to see brushes, rags, or damp microfibers here. You will then need to choose a leather stain remover suitable for the leather of your vehicle and a stain remover suitable for this type of task.
As you have a very wide choice of leather stain removers and cleaners, take the time to test it before tackling the ink. This will prevent you from doing more damage, like damaging the car’s leather seats. Fully repairing these can be very expensive.
Again, you need to respond quickly. The longer the pen mark remainson the leather, the more difficult it will be to remove it. So it is imperative to do it fast! If you don’t have what you need to do it quickly, place an order online or go to a detailing or leather professional.
Take a test
To do a test, you need to work on a small area to see how the leather reacts. This is a precaution to take if you have never used the leather cleaner or pen on this leather.
Why take a test?
I always do this test on an area that cannot be seen, on a hidden part. You can carry out your test on the lower edge of the seat, under the seat or on the leather overlooking the trunk, on the back of the bench, in a place that is not visible.
This step will allow you to know whether the vehicle’s leather tolerates the chosen product. In the event of a failure, it will not impact the general appearance of your interior.
Basic rules for the test:
Observe any change in appearance on the seat one minute after applying the ballpoint pen stain remover on leather or leather cleaner if this is your chosen solution. If you choose the leather cleaner, then use the gentle cleaner first, if it is not powerful enough you can move on to the more intensive version but do this test with the gentle version first! Also, check that the cotton swab does not show the color of the leather after application.
If you see that the cotton swab is becoming colored like leather or that the leather is reacting badly, stop cleaning and remove as much product as possible. Use a clean towel to absorb it as quickly as possible. Change the stain remover and test again before tackling the bic pen stain on leather.
If you use a leather cleaner
Get a cotton swab that you have soaked in the cleaning product and do your test on an area that cannot be seen. It is not recommended to use a cloth because it may absorb the ink and spread it even more on the leather.
Adopt the right technical gestures
Always use a cotton swab to clean automobile leather with a ballpoint ink stain or a pen line. A cloth can cause additional stains on your leather seat since it will spread the paint or ink. A cotton swab is more appropriate and allows you to work only on the pen line. Circular movements are not recommended for removing BIC pens from automobile leather.
Afterwards, dab on the stain instead of rubbing and immediately change the cotton swab when the one you are using is dirty. This will prevent dirt from being transferred to the surface to be cleaned.
Below, you will see my complete method, step by step.
I am giving you my method here, step by step, please note that it is suitable for automotive leather in general.
1. Always start by drying
Is this a task? Has the ink flowed or is it a pen mark (as if someone had written). If it’s a stain where the ink has run, then always start by drying the stain!
It is forbidden to rub the ink stain to prevent it from spreading on the leather or, even worse, from penetrating it! If the stain is still fresh and the ink is “flowing,” depending on the quantity, you can start by using absorbent paper to absorb the ink as much as possible. Some rules:
- Ban on dabbing
- Absorbent sheets must be removed quickly
- The leaves should not ‘touch’ the leather but just brush against it to drink the ink
- Protect the rest of the leather!
Now if you have a “stroke” or something more “localized”, I recommend using painting masking tape. This type of ribbon is absorbent and will drink up the ink if it is still fresh. Leave the tape on for a few moments, then peel it off. Repeat as long as the ribbon is stained and absorbing ink. This method will not damage the leather or spread the stain.
Place it on the mark and apply light pressure to absorb the ink.
2. The attempt to erase the line
Test the eraser or leather cleaner on an area that cannot be seen (the underside of the seat for example).
- Make a small pen mark at the chosen location, very light
- Wait a few moments
- Try the leather eraser or cleaner with the cotton swab
If you use the eraser, press the felt tip 2 or 3 times to soak it, you can use the cap for example. The mine should not be too humid. Use a microfiber to wipe it if necessary. Do the same with your leather cleaner (if this is your option), soak your cotton swab, without drowning it.
Press very lightly and in small circular motions to dissolve the ink when using the ballpoint pen eraser on the stain. Once the area has been treated, wipe away the dissolved ink with a cloth to avoid respreading. Indeed, the eraser will dissolve the ink but you should not stain the leather with this dissolved ink.
The same goes for your leather cleaner if you haven’t used the pen. If the test is conclusive, we move on to the next step
3. We erase the trace
Use the eraser or cleaner on a small part of the pen line. You should not tackle the entire task or line immediately because:
- The ink may be different from that used for your test
- The ink has dried for a while
Proceed as in the test above:
- Squeeze the tip of the eraser so that it is soaked but not drowned.
- Very lightly press the lead using small circular movements on the stain
- Don’t go too far and concentrate your movements on the line or task
Once the area has been treated:
- Wipe up the dissolved ink immediately with a clean microfiber cloth to avoid spreading it!
- Don’t forget to wipe the tip of the ballpoint pen eraser
- The eraser tip can, if necessary, be removed to remove excess ink. To do this, remove the lead, wipe it and return it to the eraser.
If necessary, you can start again by slightly increasing the pressure exerted on the eraser.
Again, as you might expect, removing old marks or dried stains is virtually impossible without discoloring the leather. In this case, you must recolor the faded area with Leather Fresh in an appropriate color. We will see this part in a future article.
4. We apply a seal!
This step should not be neglected! Our leather has been attacked and weakened by the pen and perhaps the method used to remove this pen mark.
If you used the eraser, it is possible that the leather is now weakened, and it must be protected with a seal.
Recommended Products for Removing Ballpoint Pen Ink
Now, here is a small section of alternatives to detailing products. Be careful to take all precautions!
Whatever the reason for the ink stain on your leather seats, remember that these will not be easy to remove. Conventional methods for removing stains from fabric do not work for cleaning automotive leather. However, you will undoubtedly find a ballpoint pen stain remover solution on leather on the market. The following products are the most effective in solving your problem.
90 degree alcohol
It is important to take care of this unsightly stain on your leather seats quickly. The first tip to try is undoubtedly the use of 90° alcohol. Very easy to find, this product can also be present at home.
How to proceed?
Use a cloth towel to absorb excess ink on the leather surface. Then, dip a piece of cotton swab in strong alcohol and carry out the test phase. If this is conclusive, you can remove pen from automotive leather. To do this, gently clean from the outside of the stain towards the center.
Change the cotton swab when it is soaked with ink from the bic pen stain on leather. Finalize the cleaning by dabbing the surface with a clean towel dampened with clean water. This will remove any remaining alcohol from the area and avoid any chemical reactions. To dry the leather, you can use a soft dry cloth.
Rubbing alcohol is effective for the job of cleaning quality leather. It can be used very well, even if the ink is already dried on the leather seats of your car. However, you can try removing pen from car leather with 70° alcohol. This one is less strong, but can have good results in certain cases.
Soap and cosmetics
On a bic pen stain on fresh ink leather, your makeup bag or your wife’s can be of great help. Although the solutions it provides may not be 100% effective, they have the merit of reducing the consequences of ink on your leather seats.
As a stain remover product, there is micellar water, makeup remover and hairspray. These products moisten the stain and dilute the ink so that it is easier to remove. The use of soap is also common when it comes to removing a stain from leather. You can opt for the liquid soap you use for dishes or solid soap.
Mild soap is recommended since its effects on your leather seats will be less compared to soap with chemical compounds. To apply this bic pen stain remover to leather, apply the soap to a wet cotton swab. Rub directly on the ink mark after having previously removed excess ink from the area.
There are many types of special products for cleaning automotive leather cleaning. Opt for the one that contains the fewest chemical components so as not to damage the leather seats.
Removing ballpoint pen from leather: precautions to take into account
Leather is a durable material, but it can easily be fragile depending on the products used for cleaning it. Instead of erasing the stain, you risk completely damaging your leather seats. Once again, use suitable products!
Avoid products that are harmful to leather
It is not recommended to use products that are too acidic which can damage the leather. Among the latter, there is white spirit as well as acetone.
Instead of removing the Bic pen stain from leather, these products will strip the material. This will invariably damage your leather seats and you will then need to call a professional to repair them.
Be careful not to spray the product directly on the seat
Avoid pouring the product directly onto the seat as much as possible so as not to cause deformation of the leather. This recommendation applies equally to alcohol and cosmetic, and detailing products!
Soap or leather cleaner is less aggressive, but do not risk attacking your automobile leather, so we will apply the leather cleaner on the cotton swab or the microfiber if you must use one.
You can discover many grandmother’s tips for removing pens from leather. Some of them should be avoided in the case of a car seat. White vinegar and scouring powder are among these products to avoid. They can dissolve the leather’s fixative and allow the ink to be absorbed into the material.
Use special products
Auto detailing also recommends applying a special leather cleaner. This will remove the remaining stain without damaging the seat and will prevent cracking. Also apply a moisturizer to the seat. This product is necessary to prevent the ballpoint pen stain remover on leather from continuing to act and eventually damaging it.
Finally, treat your leather seat with a stain repellent and waterproofing on all your car seats. If you want a better result, opt for vehicle detailing procedures. These consist of giving a beautiful appearance to your car interior.
To do this, color the leather on the previously cleaned area. This step must be carried out meticulously using a roller or pad so as not to leave a trace. Once finished, you will need to apply a hairspray. This product will prevent the leather from absorbing products that may be poured on it.