How to Get Sharpie off a Leather Football

Removing ink from your leather football also gives you an opportunity to clean and condition the ball.

A Sharpie is a type of marker that's versatile enough to write on most surfaces, including leather footballs. Writing your name, team or school on a football keeps it from ending up in the wrong place. Getting rid of the ink when changing schools or teams, especially on a rough, leather-skinned football, requires using an ink remover that does not harm the ball.

Things You'll Need

• Rag
• Cotton balls
• Rubbing alcohol
• Ear swabs
• Cloths
• Leather conditioner

Instructions

1. Wipe dust and dirt from the football with a damp rag. Removing excess grime allows the ink remover better access to the stain.

2. Moisten a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol. Blot the Sharpie stain with the cotton ball. Turn the cotton ball after each blot so you're applying a clean area of the cotton to the football as you continue to remove the ink. Wet another cotton ball with the rubbing alcohol if needed.

3. Saturate an ear swab with the rubbing alcohol. Run the swab through the grooves in the football to remove any ink embedded inside.

4. Wipe the football with a damp cloth to remove the rubbing alcohol. Dry the football with a clean cloth.

5. Spray a leather conditioner over the football and wipe off the excess with a soft cloth. The conditioner restores oil removed by the rubbing alcohol.

References

• "Good Housekeeping"; Ink Stain on Car's Interior Leather; Heloise
• Sharpie: The Sharpie Bio