Leather Care

Top 5 Most Common Leather Stains (and How To Remove Them)

You take your leather bag everywhere. Think about it - your bag is by your side from the time you leave your house in the morning and until you get home. Although leather is very durable and ages well, it's not impervious to every-day threats like unexpected rainfall, coffee spills, pen marks, and other unfortunate spills. But here's the good news: we have some ideas that may help remove stains and grease from your leather duffel or pen marks from your leather briefcase.

1. Rain

   If you get caught in significant rain, water won't leak through unless you leave it in pouring rain for an extended period of time. The American Luggage Dealers Association (ALDA) suggests that you leave your leather bag to dry away from any heat source (no hairdryers) and then rub your leather bag with a leather conditioner. Also, conditioning your bag once in a while will increase the water resistance of your bag.

2. Grease

   Grease stains are caused by spilled food and cosmetics. Try applying talcum powder to the stain - on both sides of the leather - and leave on your bag for 24 hours to let it absorb the grease. Then rub the powder off with a slightly damp cloth. You can use this method on suede as well. Another method that is known to lift grease stains - grind blackboard chalk into a powder and sprinkle on the affected area. Leave for 24 hours and brush off.

3. Pen/Ink Marks

   Ink can be very difficult to remove from your leather bag. Your best chance for removal is to tend to the stain as soon as possible after it occurs. If a pen marks your bag, ALDA suggests that you dip a piece of leather of the same color in a small amount of alcohol. Many manufacturers include a leather hangtag with each bag that can be used for this purpose. If you don’t have your leather hangtag, use a soft, clean cloth instead. Gently rub the ink mark with a circular motion. Don’t use too much alcohol or it may cause a ring in the leather. Remember to try this on a small, discrete patch of your bag first.

   Another option is to buy an ink stain-remover on the market, like the Guardsman Ink Remover Stick. The Guardsman Stick will remove ink and lipstick stains from finished leather and vinyl. Not recommended for aniline, suede, nubuck, or unfinished leather.

4. Wine

   For white or rose wine spills, simply rub the stain with a soft cloth dipped in water. Red wine spills require more care. If the spill is fresh, first blot up excess wine. Then, mix mild soap in warm water and swish the solution to create suds. Use a clean damp sponge to apply just the soapy foam to the stain. Then blot the stain well with a cloth dipped in just water to pick up all the soap. After the water dries, condition your bag with a leather conditioner.

   Though not endorsed by ALDA, we've heard that immediately pouring white wine over the red wine will neutralize the red color. Then just rub the remaining wet spot with a cloth dipped in water and let dry away from any heat source.

5. Mildew

   To remove mildew from leather, mix one cup of rubbing alcohol with one one cup of water. Wipe the mildew area with a cloth dipped in the diluted alcohol mixture and allow it to dry. If the mildew persists, use mild soap and water that contains a germicide, then remove with a clean dampened cloth and allow to dry.

When in doubt, or for old and hard-to-remove stains, consult a professional leather cleaner or your local dry cleaner.