How to Get Pen Marks Off of My White Leather Couch

Ink shouldn't ruin white leather if you remove the stain right away.

If you have a white leather couch in your living room or den, protect your investment by removing ink stains as soon as possible. It's simplest to remove a surface stain that hasn't bled into the leather material yet. If you just skimmed the surface of the couch with a ballpoint pen, you can remove the stain using a few basic household items. Always test an inconspicuous area of the couch first to see how the leather will react to the cleaner.

Things You'll Need

• Mild, soap-based cleaner
• Bowl
• 2 soft cloths
• Hairspray
• Paper towel

Instructions

1. Add a few drops of a mild, soap-based cleaner, such as dish soap, to a bowl of warm water.

2. Dip a soft cloth into the soapy water and rub it into the ink stain to remove as much as you can. Saturate a cloth with plain water and dab it over the leather to remove soap residue.

3. Spray one squirt of hairspray onto a remaining ink stain. Allow the hairspray to soak into the stain for one minute or less, before it dries.

4. Remove the still-wet hairspray with a clean paper towel. Repeat the process with the hairspray if the ink stain is still visible.

References

• Mrs. Clean: How to Remove Ink Stains
• "Real Simple"; Removing Ink Stains From Leather; Ashley Phillips