What Stains Leather?

Ink

• From pens to markers, ink can leave unsightly stains on all types of leathers. The longer the ink sits on the leather, the more difficult removal becomes. Pour some rubbing alcohol into a small plastic container. Dip a cotton swab in the rubbing alcohol and gently rub the ink stain for several seconds. Wipe the rubbing alcohol off the leather with a lint-free cloth. Dip a clean cotton swab in the alcohol and continue rubbing if the ink stain remains.

Pet Urine

• Dogs may be man's best friend but they can quickly turn leather furniture into a stinky, discolored mess. If your pooch or kitty has an accident on your leather couch, you will have to contend with a stain as well as a nose-wrinkling odor. Blot fresh urine with several paper towels until they absorb no more. Fill a small container with 1 quart of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide. Add 1/4 cup of baking soda and 1 tbsp. of clear dish soap. Mix the solution with a spoon and carefully pour it into a spray bottle. Lightly mist the urine stain and let it sit for fiveminutes. Immediately wipe the mixture off the leather with a lint-free cloth dampened in cool water.

Grease and Oil

• Everything from food to the human body can leave grease and oil stains on leather items. Grease and oil typically leave a dark discoloration that you can remove if you deal with it in a timely manner. Liberally sprinkle an absorbent material -- such as talcum powder or baking soda -- on the grease or oil and let it sit overnight. The absorbent material will pull the grease or oil out of the leather. Brush the absorbent material off the leather and clean the area with leather cleaner and conditioner.

Water

• Typically used to clean various surfaces, water itself can leave ugly stains and discolorations on leather. When the water dries in an uneven manner, it leaves behind the discoloration. You can remove water stains by damping the surrounding areas of the leather and allowing it to dry in a uniform manner. This will reduce the demarcation point and remove the discoloration. Fill a bowl with water and let it warm to room temperature. Dampen a clean sponge in the water and lightly blot the water stain. Continue blotting while moving in an outward manner. As you move outward away from the water stain, use less moisture to dampen the area. Continue in this manner until the leather is damp. Be careful not to saturate the leather, as that will cause more harm than good. Let the leather dry completely.