Bürochaos: So entfernen Sie Kuli-Striche aus Leder
Whether your ballpoint pen has run out of ink, you have accidentally touched something with your pen, or your child has been more creative with the pen than you would have liked, it is best to remove ballpoint pen stains quickly, as they are almost impossible to get rid of. The longer they dry, the more difficult it is to get them out. The problem is that leather goods cannot simply be put in the washing machine or taken to the dry cleaners.
Special stain removers for ballpoint pens and ink are often the best choice here, and in some cases there are also good home remedies for the stains. However, extreme caution is required with both options: Just as with choosing leather care products , it is important to check carefully in advance whether the stain remover is suitable for the affected leather.
Identification of the leather type
When removing ballpoint pen marks, marks from other pens, ink stains and other stains, it is important to first correctly identify the type of leather . The damage can quickly get worse if the wrong cleaning method is used. We distinguish between the following types of leather when cleaning ballpoint pen marks and marks.
PIGMENTED SMOOTH LEATHER
Pigmented smooth leather is leather with a layer of color on the surface. This means that it is usually matt and has a grainy surface - you can also recognize pigmented smooth leather by the fact that a drop of water rubbed into the leather does not soak into it but instead rolls off. You should note the following: the fresher a ballpoint pen mark is when you work on it, the easier it is to remove. Stains that are three days old or older can only be removed with luck without color matching. Whole children's paintings are also much more difficult to remove than short pen marks. Attempts to clean with the wrong products can make the damage worse, especially with regard to the color.
ANILINE LEATHER
Aniline leather is open-pored smooth leather - you can tell by the fact that a drop of water is rubbed in and darkens the moistened area. Aniline leather is very sensitive due to its open pores. Ballpoint pen marks are therefore usually impossible to remove without professional help. The risk of increasing the damage is very high. As with pigmented smooth leather, you should first do a test in a hidden area to see whether the special cleaning agent causes any damage.
SUEDE
Suede has a velour-like surface: for example, nubuck leather is characterised by a very fine pile, while suede has a thicker pile. This is because suede is sanded during production. It is also worth doing a test on a hidden area before cleaning the stain. If the pile is coarse, any remaining stains can be reworked with a sanding pad or a nubuck eraser. If the pile is light, it is better to use a nubuck sponge. It is best not to sand one spot for too long to avoid discolouration around the grain. In this case, it can be worth giving up in time and possibly leaving a faded pen line.
PU LEATHER
In this case, "PU" stands for the polyurethane coating that is applied to split leather . This is supposed to look like smooth leather and the coating makes it completely water and dirt repellent - making it relatively easy to clean. PU leather is easy to recognize by its shine and plastic-like feel.
ONLY FOR INDICATORY LEATHER:
HOME REMEDIES FOR BALLPOINT PEN MARKS
For smooth and insensitive leather surfaces such as PU leather, you can use household remedies as an alternative to special cleaners. One tried and tested remedy is rubbing alcohol: Mix three parts rubbing alcohol with one part water and dab directly onto the stain with a clean cloth. But be careful: Do not rub under any circumstances: This will make the stain even more visible and will damage the leather structure. Another remedy for ballpoint pen stains: medical alcohol, which can be bought in any pharmacy or drugstore. Alcohol is a solvent and can therefore dissolve the resins and colorants in the ballpoint pen ink. This makes removing the stain much easier. Classic household dirt erasers are also worth a try.
Our care products
Lifetime repair service
Traditional craftsmanship
Free shipping from 30€ MBW
Free returns
Official Brand Shop