How to Remove Sharpie Ink From a Leather Chair

You can lock drawers and hide objects away in boxes and storage containers, but no matter how careful you are, a little one can still acquire a marker and create beautiful artwork on your leather chair. The way luck usually runs, the chair will be only one piece of a matched set and something that is no longer manufactured, but before you replace your entire living room set or trade the child for a dog, try to remove sharpie ink from the leather chair using a common household item.

Things You'll Need

• Paper towel
• Cotton ball
• Rubbing alcohol
• Sponge
• Soft towel
• Leather conditioner

Instructions

1. Blot the stained spot with a paper towel to remove any wet ink. Do not rub the spot or you will smear the stain, creating a bigger problem.

2. Dampen a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol and blot the ink. Replace the cotton ball if the damp part is full of ink. Repeat this process until you've removed all of the ink.

3. Rinse the cleaned area with cool water and a damp sponge. Make sure you remove any rubbing alcohol residue. Dry the cleaned area with a soft towel. Skip this step if your chair is suede.

4. Apply commercial leather conditioner to the cleaned area to prevent the leather from drying and cracking. If your chair is suede, skip the leather conditioner and brush the chair with a suede brush to lift the fabric.

Tips & Warnings

• Test the rubbing alcohol on an inconspicuous area before cleaning the sharpie stain.

• If you don't have a commercial leather conditioner handy, you can use WD-40 to condition your leather.

References

• "Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things;" Reader's Digest Staff Writers; 2005