Cleaning pen marks
- Thread starter lj993
- Start date
Willy Wang
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- May 2, 2013
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I've seen Larry from Ammo NYC get it completely out with steam. Of course you'd have to have a steamer 
Priyaka
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- Dec 1, 2015
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conman1395
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- Nov 23, 2013
- 1,622
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Don't use Simple Green... I hope you at least diluted it 10:1, but don't ever use Simple Green for anything but maybe tires.
For over the counter stuff, I'd try Mother's leather cleaner. Get the stuff in the red bottle, not the foaming, higher end stuff. It's thicker and will sit to allow it to dwell. Use a brush to lightly agitate between the grain. Go in in up and down, side to side, and circular motion to make sure you get through all of it.
If that doesn't work try 1Z Einszett Deep Plastic Cleaner. Same technique without letting it dwell.
Other than that, I'd see if it just goes away. My friend sat in my car (tan leather seats) with a pen in his back pocket and after a few regular interior cleanings it went away. I don't know what type of pen it was and I don't know if the oil based ballpoint pen ink is different than gel or whatever is used in the Uniball pens, but I wouldn't worry about it too much.
Please don't just try cleaning ut over and over and over again. The last thing you want to do is cause premature wearing for a little pen mark (if that's all it is of course).
For over the counter stuff, I'd try Mother's leather cleaner. Get the stuff in the red bottle, not the foaming, higher end stuff. It's thicker and will sit to allow it to dwell. Use a brush to lightly agitate between the grain. Go in in up and down, side to side, and circular motion to make sure you get through all of it.
If that doesn't work try 1Z Einszett Deep Plastic Cleaner. Same technique without letting it dwell.
Other than that, I'd see if it just goes away. My friend sat in my car (tan leather seats) with a pen in his back pocket and after a few regular interior cleanings it went away. I don't know what type of pen it was and I don't know if the oil based ballpoint pen ink is different than gel or whatever is used in the Uniball pens, but I wouldn't worry about it too much.
Please don't just try cleaning ut over and over and over again. The last thing you want to do is cause premature wearing for a little pen mark (if that's all it is of course).
judyb
New member
- Jan 6, 2008
- 145
- 0
Removing ink is a process
The longer the ink is on the leather the deeper it will go into the finish and the harder it will be to remove (also the reason that after time it can disappear as it keeps moving into the finish over time)
Most regular leather cleaners will not remove ink unless the leather has been protected with a good quality leather protector
First step is a quality ink remover specifically made for leather
This can be used gently a couple of times to remove as much as possible (the quicker you get to it the more likely it is to get it out completely)
The next step would be an Alcohol Cleaner again used gently on a cotton bud
If these steps don't work stronger solvents would be needed and this would then need the finish to be replaced
Hope this helps
Judyb
The longer the ink is on the leather the deeper it will go into the finish and the harder it will be to remove (also the reason that after time it can disappear as it keeps moving into the finish over time)
Most regular leather cleaners will not remove ink unless the leather has been protected with a good quality leather protector
First step is a quality ink remover specifically made for leather
This can be used gently a couple of times to remove as much as possible (the quicker you get to it the more likely it is to get it out completely)
The next step would be an Alcohol Cleaner again used gently on a cotton bud
If these steps don't work stronger solvents would be needed and this would then need the finish to be replaced
Hope this helps
Judyb