[bill.appleton]

Evenin' all.  Have had an enquiry from someone with a biro mark on a leather suite     Not done leather before so is there a solution that will remove the stain? (only need to spot)

Needless to say the client has already tried fairy liquid, etc

[LTT Leathercare]

First check leather type.  Is it pigment, aniline, wax pull-up, two tone leather with poor quality finish etc.?

Has customer done any obvious damage with fairy liquid, as this product should not be used to clean leather.

At this stage it is unlikely that consumer based ink lifters will make any difference, but they are worth a try as long as it is a pigment and always pre test.

No doubt someone will tell you about hairspray...........it might work but you will need to be prepared to fix the damage if it doesn't.

Your next line of attack would now be solvent removers followed by touch up or re-finishing.

We have many notes on our technical website about the problems of ink removal so feel free to register for this site at www.LTTsolutions.net

Sorry there is no simple answer as ink removal can be a complicated process if not dealt with very quickly, ink is a dye which soaks into the leather and is difficult to remove.
Regards
Judy

[bill.appleton]

Thank you very much, Judy.  Now who's going to tell me about hairspray?

[LTT Leathercare]

Hi Bill

Hairspray seems to be a popular item for technicians to carry and in certain circumstances it can work.  However these cases cannot be defined and the damage that can be done is unpredictable.

Much depends on the type of leather,how long the ink has been on and even the type of hairspray.

Knowing your products when dealing with leather is vitally important as you must know how to limit and repair any damage that might result.

We have heard of many strange things being used to remove ink but there seems little thought as to what damage is left behind.  The result may look good but in the long term far more damage may have resulted to the finish which will cause long term problems for the consumer.

Happy cleaning.
Judy

[bill.appleton]

Oo-er! Cheers.  This is fortunately a mates' sister who is a childminder.  The Ofsted (or whatever) inspector came to visit and got the mark on the sofa.
The sister is doing the department concerned for compensation (I understand there is a form involved) and i have been asked if it is possible to deal with.

With my limited experience, I am really aiming for a policy of non-involvement so if there's anyone in the Huntingdon area interested in taking a look, let me know and I'll pass on your number. :

[strakercleaning]

Vaseline took a blue ink mark ( 4 inches long ) out of my in laws cream leather sofa. Smeared onto mark, left to soak out the ink and wiped off. No ill after affects but would suggest anyone else  tested in unseen area first

[Harry]

Glycerine which may be similar also works well sometimes.  Also milk has worked in some cases.
Have no idea why, but may be worth a try after testing.

[Dynafoam]

Harry,

Does the milk have to come from one of your cash cows?  

John.

[Glynn]

"Panelwipe" if used carefully can be very sucessfull.

[LTT Leathercare]

Hi

Once again the need to identify the type of leather you are dealing with becomes extremely important.  
Whilst vaseline/glycerine/milk have all been known to work (most commercial ink sticks have a glycerine content) on pigmented suites, any use of these on an 'aniline type' suite would: a) probably not remove the ink and b) leave you with a bigger problem than you started with.

With the hundreds of finishes now on the market, the lines between the varying types of leather are becoming much more difficult to spot and it is important to understand how you can test for the differences.

On the subject of 'aniline' leathers: we are contacted now by many consumers with suites that have faded (inevitable with anilines) who are looking for people that can restore them.  This is a very straightforward process and the results can be fantastic.  As carpet and upholstery cleaners you are in the front line for seeing these type of suites and it would be a good add on service for your business.  The process combines cleaning with restoration.

Regards to you all
Judy

[Ed Valentine]

Bill;

(Just for your information) Harry at Leatherwright is one of the most respected in the field of Professional Leather Cleaning in North America. He is an expert in terms of cleaning, procedures, and inspections/solving problems. In fact, some have referred to him as the "Miracle man" of leather.

He  certainly has the credentials for someone like yourself, to keep his e-mail address and use it for future reference.

Good Fortune to all;
Ed Valentine
cross-american corp.