Is There a Cleaning Material for Pen Writing on a Leather Sofa?

Cleansing Formulas

• There are a number of cleaning products designed specifically for removing tough-to-remove stains, such as pen ink on leather. You might opt for a heavy-duty stain remover specifically designed to work on leather, as this will minimize the risk of caustic materials damaging your sofa's finish. If you have never used the product on your sofa before, try applying it first to a part of the sofa you don't usually see. After you have confirmed that it doesn't harm the sofa's appearance, use it on the ink stain directly. You can also use some general-purpose cleansers; products with glycol ether and benzyl alcohol will generally work well on ink stains on sofas. For best results, read the manufacturer's instructions before applying them.

Sandpaper

• If your leather sofa has a suede finish, you may be able to use sandpaper to remove the offending ink stain. Use sandpaper with the finest grain you can find; should it prove necessary, you can always work up to a coarser grain. Dampening the sandpaper will make it even gentler against your suede sofa. Apply the sandpaper in a very gentle buffing motion to wear off the worst of the stain. To follow up the buffing, apply white vinegar to the stain and scrub it gently. Once the vinegar has dried, the stain should be gone. You can use a coarse brush or sponge to "comb" the suede afterward to restore its original texture.

Hair Spray

• You might not have expected hair spray to serve much purpose beyond holding up outrageous hairstyles. However, you'd have to guess again; applying hair spray to an ink stain on leather can remove the stain almost instantly. After letting the hair spray sit for a few moments, rub it gently with a paper towel or rag, while the spray is still moist. Repeat as many times as necessary until the stain is gone. When repeating the process, you might also add clear liquid detergent and a few drops of lukewarm water.

Petroleum Jelly

• Petroleum jelly typically removes ink stains from leather quite effectively. To apply, simply dab a good portion of jelly over the stained area. Let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Do not firmly press the jelly into the leather, as this may rub the stain in worse. After you have let it sit, simply massage the petroleum jelly directly over the stain, working gently. After massaging gently, you may need to let the jelly continue to sit for additional hours or even days, absorbing the ink. Finally, wipe it off and buff the cleaned leather with a soft cloth.