You can learn how to remove paint from leather sofa with four different products. We will discuss the methods for using water, knife, oil, alcohol, and petroleum jelly. These are some of the most popular DIY remedies for a couch stained with paint.
If you are dealing with other stains, you can also read this guide on removing ink from the leather sofa. Be sure to understand the dos and don’ts of cleaning leather to avoid ruining it. So without further ado, let’s see how effective these home remedies are in cleaning paint from a leather sofa.
How To Remove Paint From Leather Sofa Safely
Before anything else, you must identify the type of leather on your sofa. It might be incompatible with specific ingredients, and you risk having the material dry, fade, or even crack. You will have better peace of mind using a specially formulated leather cleaner for paint or bringing your sofa to a professional.
How to get rid of paint from leather with water
If you’re uncomfortable using solutions to your leather couch, warm water or even soapy water is typically effective in removing paint. You can directly wipe the paint off with a cloth soaked in warm water if it hasn’t dried yet or spray the stains directly with warm water if the paint has dried.
For more stubborn stains that the leather has soaked up, the paint should be removable if you use a dish soap and water solution. Remember that leather is naturally porous, and it can absorb paint over time. In some cases, you might even need to dab the residual stains with hydrogen peroxide.
How to get rid of paint from leather by scraping
Another chemical-free method of cleaning paint off from a leather couch is by scraping off the dried paint. This is especially effective if you stained the leather sofa with acrylic paint, which dries quickly. You only need to lightly scrape the paint with a dull knife to pull it out from the leather fibers.
Do note that extra care is necessary to avoid scratching the surface. You should also not scrape the finish of the leather accidentally. If you don’t have a blunt knife, use a flat scraper.
How to get rid of paint from leather with oil
You can use olive oil, cooking oil, or even baby oil to eliminate paint residues on the leather sofa. However, do not saturate the leather with oil. Instead, use a cotton swab dipped in oil to target the painted areas.
Let the leather sit for a few minutes and wipe off the paint. Note that some leather types might not work well with oil. Always test a small portion of the sofa first to check for reactions from the oil.
How to get rid of paint from leather with alcohol
Add a few drops of isopropyl alcohol on a damp cloth and gently dab the paint stains on the leather couch. Alcohol is an effective solution for addressing paint that dried down. However, you still need to test a hidden portion of the leather couch with alcohol because it might fade or dry down.
Alcohol tends to dry leather, so you must only target the paint stains. It would help if you didn’t also saturate the couch with rubbing alcohol. And once done, remember to condition the sofa to restore moisture and prevent cracking.
How to get rid of paint from leather with petroleum jelly
A less drying alternative for alcohol is using petroleum jelly to remove paint from the leather sofa. It should effectively loosen the paint without drying the leather too much. But first, check its safety on your couch before applying it to the affected areas.
Apply a bit of petroleum jelly on the paint stain and let the leather sit. You should be able to peel off the stain after. Wipe the area with a cloth soaked in soapy water and dry with another cloth.
Does Paint Thinner Remove Paint From Leather?
Never attempt to use paint thinner to remove paint on your leather sofa. It might seem reasonable to use this solvent to eradicate paint stains on leather, but it will be too harsh on the natural material. Paint thinners are only effective in paint removal for certain types of equipment like brushes that are still wet with oil-based paint.
Does Vinegar Remove Paint?
Vinegar is an affordable yet effective option to remove paint on most surfaces. However, you must be mindful if you’re using it on leather. It’s best to dilute it with water and don’t use too much on the material.
Vinegar can also be drying on leather, so condition your leather sofa after removing stains with vinegar.
Conclusion
Do not panic if you have paint stains and specks on your leather couch. To recap this guide on how to remove paint from leather sofa, you should always use a leather cleaner to avoid issues. However, some home remedies like water, alcohol, and petroleum jelly might work as long as you test them on small areas of your sofa.
Identifying the type of leather you have should prevent damages such as fading and cracking. You should also never overlook leather conditioning to keep your sofa moisturized. And if you’re dealing with other issues, check this guide for fixing a leather sofa.