How to tackle tough leather stains like a pro

Leather furniture can be pretty costly so you want to make sure you’re taking great care of it. But grease stains and even water stains can very quickly work into the cushions and prove incredibly hard to clean out.

Luckily, most marks can be removed without the need for harsh chemicals – and these natural cleaning tips could bring that piece of old or stained furniture back to its best. You’ll likely already have everything you need at home. But before giving these tips a try, read the instructions from your manufacturer, (if you still have them), to ensure you don’t accidentally cause any lasting damage.

Grease stains

Grease stain? Luckily, leather is an extremely forgiving material – most of the time! When cleaning grease stains, use a dry, soft cloth. Don’t use a damp cloth, as it will not be able to remove the grease. Simply press down to blot up as much grease from the leather that you can.

Sprinkle with talcum powder or cornstarch, and allow the powder to sit for a while, before gently brushing away with a soft bristle brush. You may need to repeat this method a couple of times.

Water stains

While water stains might look like a pain, they can be easily cleaned. To remove a water stain, blot with a soft cloth as soon as the spill occurs.

If the stain has dried up before you got to it, it may be a little harder to remove. Using a damp cloth, wipe outwards, starting from the stain. Try to use less moisture as you go outwards. Don’t scrub as this will only deepen the stain.

Ink stains

Ink stains on leather are the hardest to remove. Depending on the ink and the size, the stain might need to cleaned by a professional. Like any other stain, the fresher the better. Luckily, small ink stains might disappear gradually over time, however you can try cleaning these stains with a gentle soap solution.

If a stain seems too hard to remove, consult with a professional.

Chocolate stains

If the chocolate has melted before you got to it, don’t fret! Fill up a plastic bag with a few ice cubes and put the bag on top of the chocolate. This will harden the chocolate, making it a lot easier to remove. Then with a blunt knife scrape off as much chocolate as you can.

Once you’ve scraped most of the chocolate off, dip a sponge into cold water and gently dab at the stain until it comes off. Remember to not scrub as this will only deepen the stain.