How to remove stains from white patent leathers?
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Keeping white patent leather clean and in good condition is hard, but with proper knowledge it will be much easier and less time consuming. Like anything white, it gets dirty faster and easier, so follow these steps if your white patent leather gets dirty, marked, or scuffed.
Try hairspray. The most difficult marks on white patent leather are those caused by items like ink pens. The best way to remove ink or other like substances, from white patent leather is to use hairspray. A spritz of hairspray on the mark will pull it out of the white leather and you can then gently rub, after letting it sit a few minutes. Dampen a cloth with warm water and rub in circular motions to remove the stain. Repeat as necessary, but be sure not to rub too hard, or you can damage the leather. This method works even on set in stains.
To remove stains that will not come out with hairspray, use white vinegar. DO NOT use colored vinegar, as the leather can absorb the color (not likely, but some leathers are more porous, so just to be on the safe side, white vinegar is best). Similar to hairspray, which contains alcohol, the vinegar will pull the stain out. Vinegar is much harsher than the slight alcohol of hairspray. You may want to begin by diluting the vinegar in 1:10 ratio with water (i.e. 1 cup vinegar in 10 cups water) and slowly increase the amount of vinegar until you get the desired effect. You can also use rubbing alcohol in place of vinegar, if you are worried about the smell, but it may have slightly different results. Always dilute and slowly increase the concentration, and be watchful for any damage.
When done with the above steps, rinse under cool, clean water and let air dry. Keep wet leather away from heat sources and direct sunlight, as this will slowly weaken leather over time and can cause cracking.
It is best to condition the leather after using harsh cleansers, like alcohol. A conditioner, like saddle leather conditioner or one specially formulated for leather, will keep your leather looking new longer and protect it from water, sun, dry conditions, and cracking or damage.
Try hairspray. The most difficult marks on white patent leather are those caused by items like ink pens. The best way to remove ink or other like substances, from white patent leather is to use hairspray. A spritz of hairspray on the mark will pull it out of the white leather and you can then gently rub, after letting it sit a few minutes. Dampen a cloth with warm water and rub in circular motions to remove the stain. Repeat as necessary, but be sure not to rub too hard, or you can damage the leather. This method works even on set in stains.
To remove stains that will not come out with hairspray, use white vinegar. DO NOT use colored vinegar, as the leather can absorb the color (not likely, but some leathers are more porous, so just to be on the safe side, white vinegar is best). Similar to hairspray, which contains alcohol, the vinegar will pull the stain out. Vinegar is much harsher than the slight alcohol of hairspray. You may want to begin by diluting the vinegar in 1:10 ratio with water (i.e. 1 cup vinegar in 10 cups water) and slowly increase the amount of vinegar until you get the desired effect. You can also use rubbing alcohol in place of vinegar, if you are worried about the smell, but it may have slightly different results. Always dilute and slowly increase the concentration, and be watchful for any damage.
When done with the above steps, rinse under cool, clean water and let air dry. Keep wet leather away from heat sources and direct sunlight, as this will slowly weaken leather over time and can cause cracking.
It is best to condition the leather after using harsh cleansers, like alcohol. A conditioner, like saddle leather conditioner or one specially formulated for leather, will keep your leather looking new longer and protect it from water, sun, dry conditions, and cracking or damage.
I bought a BEAUTIFUL white leather Coach bag at a garage sale for $10. The entire back side had pinkish stains all over it, like red juice or Kool Aid had been spilled on it. I tried several different cleaning methods, the one that worked best for me was using NON acetone nail polish remover. I started on the bottom of the purse in the most inconspicuous place possible and when I was satisfied it wasn't going to cause further damage, I cleaned the rest of the purse. I soaked a cotton ball with the remover, then gently dabbed and rubbed lightly. Then I immediately wiped the area with a wet soft cloth. If the stain was stubborn, I wiped with the cotton ball again but also used a soft toothbrush to gently scrub with the grain, then cleaned with the wet cloth. After each application, I cleaned the area with leather lotion. When the entire bag was cleaned, I let it dry. Then I used leather lotion on the entire bag and let that dry. When done with that, I applied a very thin layer of mink oil and buffed with a soft cloth. It was a little labor intensive, but the bag looks brand new! There are still some very faint pink marks, but you have to look very hard to find them. Overall, I'm tickled to death because I rescued this beautiful bag!
Thank you for this. I hadn't seen anything recently on this and I have a white bag that has some stains. I will test non-acetone nail polish remover and see if it helps.
Ink stains are the worst to try and remove. They are almost always permanent. My advice would be warm soapy water and a soft rag. Gently go over the stains. Any removal possible will take place with this. If that doesn't work then they're on there for good. Be careful of what you use to clean patent. If it's too abrasive it could remove the shine and leave a dull spot. You might want to test rubbing alcohol on a small inconspicuous spot and see if it does anything to the leather, if not I would try that on the stains.
I have used alcohol & 100% pure acetone (not together but separately) to get out super stubborn stains on patent leather! As long as you use it sparingly and don't rub too hard it's not gonna hurt the plasticy overlay.