How to Remove Permanent Marker From a Leather Couch

Clean permanent marker stains promptly to avoid the stain from setting into the leather.

Permanent marker on a leather couch can ruin a nice piece of furniture. It is important to treat the stain as quickly as possible to have the best chances of removing the marking. Before trying any stain removing technique or cleaner, be sure to test the cleaner on a hidden portion of the couch to ensure that it will not further ruin the leather.

Things You'll Need

• Hair spray
• Soft cloth
• Commercial leather cleaner
• Ink stain remover

Instructions

1. Spray the stain with hair spray.

2. Wipe the stain clean with a soft clean cloth.

3. Clean the stain with a commercial leather cleaner. This will help remove the stain if the hair spray did not work and can help match the clean spot of leather with the rest of the couch if there is a noticeable difference after cleaning the spot where the permanent marker was. If the stain persists, the Sharpie website recommends Amodex stain remover for ink stains.

Tips & Warnings

• Clean the stain as quickly as possible.

• Do not use anything hot (iron, hair dryer) on the stain as this will set the stain and make it more difficult to remove.

References

• Sharpie: Frequently Asked Questions
• Cleaning Tips: Furniture Cleaning Tips