Home
The Journal
How To Get Oil Stains Out of Leather - Useful Guide

Well-Conditioned Leather with No Oil Stains — Well-Conditioned Leather Bag

Oil and Grease Stain On Leather

If you spill oil on your favorite leather bag or leather purse, the first thing you want to know is if the oil will ruin them. The small amount of oil that can be absorbed by leather makes it less likely to cause harm. Food such as almonds, olive oil, or sauces can cause oil stains on leather. With that, you better watch what you eat for the sake of your precious leather. For instance, a thicker oil that is derived from soybean oil can cause a stubborn stain on your leather.

Your leather item can be ruined by something as simple as spilled oil and that's heartbreaking. Bad odors and stubborn stains are some of the consequences that can be difficult to fix. It's not necessary for you to resign yourself to this fate. Are you asking yourselves how to get oil out of leather? We have some possible ways to get rid of the oily stain and restore your leather product to its former glory.

Basic Household Products to Clean Oil Out of Leather

Things Needed:

Talcum Powder
Corn Starch
Baking Soda
Dishwashing Liquid
White Vinegar

Doing Tricks with your Talcum Powder

Talcum powder is great for getting rid of stains because it absorbs oil and pulls it out of the leather surface. Place a small amount of powder on the stained area, pressing it into the surface and letting it sit. Rub it off with a tissue or soft cloth the day after.

There are oils that seeped into leather surfaces that can be lifted by a touch of powder. The oil stains will be removed in no time if you repeat the blotting, powdering, sitting, and wiping process as often as necessary.

Clean Up with Cornstarch

You do not have to be a mechanic to get oily stains on your leather couch or leather car seat. Anything from ink stain, salt stain, or coconut oil to the aforementioned pizza grease will leave unsightly marks.

Here's how to get oil out of leather by using this basic household product. It's a good idea to sprinkle cornstarch all across the spill. Allow that to sit overnight. You can wash or sweep the grease in the morning if you use the starch to absorb the grease.

It's a good idea to get a paper towel and an iron if you don't have corn starch. Place the paper towel over the oil stain. Put your iron on warm, and slowly press the iron onto the paper towel, as that may damage the leather. The grease starts lifting up into the paper towel.

Another Powder Power: Baking Soda

Take a small amount of water and mix it with baking soda. Put a microfiber cloth, soft cloth, or any clean cloth with the leather cleaning solution over the stain.

You should only rub the stained area if you want the material to last. Slowly, the oil will start to fade until its stain is completely gone. It's time to stop as soon as the stain disappears. This is great for lifting grease from leather without affecting the leather grains of your item.

Be Warned!

It's important to apply the leather conditioner of your choice after you've addressed those greasy spots because the powder methods can be drying.

Using Dish Soap or Dishwashing Liquid

Take a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid into a cup of warm water and use a sponge into the mixture. Try to wipe the oil stains with the sponge carefully, stop if you notice that the stain disappears.

It is possible that the leather could lose its shine if you touch it too much. Light stains, new stains, and pigmented leathers are the best candidates for this method. As we all know, this serves as a degreaser for our kitchen utensils. In this situation, this will be our leather degreaser.

Is Using Saddle Soap Good for Leather?

Absolutely yes! We want to provide you with as many options as possible to use for your leather goods. Dishwashing liquid is good but using a saddle soap gives the leather the right amount of moisture to prevent it from drying out. Leather tends to dry out over time if not properly treated. This is true if you use it outdoors where it is exposed to the sun's UV light.

Effective Sour Trick with White Vinegar

Acetic acid makes white vinegar an effective stain removing agent. The water should be mixed with it to protect the leather from its corrosive properties. A ratio of one tablespoon of white vinegar to one cup of water is adequate. Take a sponge or clean cloth and soak it in the solution then dab the stain.

Vinegar is such a powerful cleaning agent as it does not only cleans oil stains from leather but is also considered a wonderful natural leather conditioner. A two-in-one household product for your leather! Make sure to combine one part of vinegar with two parts of linseed oil then apply the solution with the help of a soft, clean cloth or towel in a circular motion.

Alternative Solution for Specific Leather Types

Delicate Leather Material — Leather Bag In Excellent Shape

How Delicate is a Suede Material?

Suede doesn't last as long as leather because of its softer nature. It looks more glamorous and elegant when kept clean. An oil stain on your suede boots can ruin them and make them look dull.

You can get oils out of suede boots and restore them to their former glory. Since it isn't as easy as wiping oils from a smooth synthetic material, be prepared to put in the work.

What You Can Do To Get Oil Out of Suede:

If you get an oil spill on your boots, it's a good idea to clean it up with a napkin immediately. A damp cloth will also get the oil out of the leather, but it is not as good as the napkin when you use it.

There is a chance that the oil will leak into the suede fabric, that's why wiping it immediately will prevent it from happening. You'll have a harder time getting it out if it does. Since you'll have to rub it more for the oil stain to come out, the suede material may weaken at that spot.

When blotting the oily stain with a napkin or damp cloth, there will still be some traces on your suede boot. It will be less difficult to remove these than it is to remove a big oil stain.

2 Ways to Get Oil Out of Faux Leather

Even though faux leather is imitation leather, it still gives the same feel and looks like the real thing. It's a synthetic alternative that can be easily cleaned and is more durable than real leather.

Rubbing Alcohol

It is possible to rub alcohol with amazing stain-removing properties. It is the most effective product to get rid of stubborn stains. Before using rubbing alcohol, it is recommended that you clean the leather couch with a microfiber towel. Apply the rubbing alcohol on the stain-affected area with the help of a lint-free cloth. Once the stain removal process is done, buff out any remaining solution on the leather seat with a soft and soggy fabric.

Nail Polish

A non-acetone nail polish remover can be applied to the oily stain. If rubbing alcohol was not effective in removing the stain, it's time to use a harsher product. It's a safe idea to test the nail polish first on a hidden part of the leather couch to make sure it isn't drying out your leather seat. You need to make sure you don't touch the parts of the leather unaffected by the oil stain by using a cotton swab and nail polish remover.

In between each attempt to remove the stain, allow the leather to dry, because nail polish remover can take a few times to effect. Continue treating the stain until it is removed with a new cotton ball each time. Although the nail polish won't bleach your leather, it may not be strong enough to remove the stain.

Preventing Future Stains

Well-Maintained Leather Bag — Leather Bag In Its Tip-Top Condition

Leather oil is a natural substance that helps to maintain the elasticity and strength of the leather. It can be composed of a singular oil or a blend of oils, fats, waxes, and other conditioning agents mixed with a specialized formula.

Leather requires periodic maintenance to keep it in top shape, but it is all worth it. We will see when to use leather oil and which ones are best.

What is Leather Oil?

In order to protect the leather from drying, cracking, and breaking apart, leather oil is applied. Some oils, like mink oil, can be applied directly to some leather surfaces. A mix of natural and synthetic oils is what other leather oils are made of.

Some leather oils help restore the natural hydration to the material. It is possible to add water resistance and even waterproof qualities to the leather. The choice of which leather oil to use depends on a number of factors.

Advisable Time to Use Leather Oil

It is likely that natural leather items will need to be oiled and conditioned at one point. This is usual. The leather is made from natural fibers. Exposure to the elements such as heat, sun, dirt, rain, and the like will draw out some of its natural humidity. This can lead to the lightening of the color and eventually cracking of the leather.

It's very difficult to repair material that cracks and degrades. Leather goods can be kept for decades with proper oiling and conditioning. When one might want to oil leather there are a few things to look out for.

Proactive maintenance helps keep larger issues from coming up and prevents leather damage that requires more than just oiling/conditioning. When used frequently and in tough conditions, conditioning every few months can be helpful. Oiling every 6 months to a year is sufficient for items used less often or in lighter conditions.

Types of Leather Oil

An oil that works well for one type of leather can damage another, so choosing the right oil is very important. Several high-quality options are available, some of the more popular includes:

Mink Oil

For hundreds of years, mink oil has been used for leather. The substance is derived from the mink animal. 70% of the mink oil's value is due to its unsaturated fat composition. The flexibility of the leather fibers is given by the fats that are present. The other 30% of the oil is made up of different types of fatty acids.

"Mink oil" has evolved to not only infer natural mink oil but other oils produced from other animals such as pigs and mixed with other lubricants.

When lightly applied, the oil works to slowly penetrate deep into the leather. It's widely used in the human cosmetics industry, where its benefits are realized when applied to people.

Lexol

Lexol is a water-based substance that does not contain any substances that are silicone or petroleum-based. It is able to penetrate the leather fibers deep and evenly. It is non-toxic and not greasy. This makes it different from other leather oil/conditioners. It is easy to use, and effective at the same time.

Does coconut oil darken leather?

Yes! coconut oil oxidizes leather. The leather's color tone can be a bit darker when oil is applied. Depending on a number of factors, such as leather type, thickness, amount of oil applied, and drying time between layers, the specific amount will vary. While coconut oil is not recommended for use on leather, just keep in mind that when used, it can make your leather couch or leather bags darker.

Is coconut oil good for leather?

Coconut oil is not recommended for leather. While it might have niche uses, in general, it's a slippery oil that might not fully absorb into the leather, leaving a slick surface that will rub off onto clothing. A leather-specific oil would be best.

What happens when oil stains remain on leather?

There are various things that can stain your leather. Almost anything can find its way onto your car seat or bag, but it doesn't always come out. It can take some time to remove oil, grease, wax, and bugs from your leather.

Oil stains can leave permanent marks on your leather, which is why it is difficult to remove them. It is not possible to prevent oil stains from occurring, but it is possible to remove them if they do happen to occur.

What are other alternatives to get rid of oil stains out of leather?

It's a good idea to use a leather cleaner if you realize that the oil spots are becoming a problem. Leather cleaners made from a variety of ingredients are usually safe to use. They are good at cleaning leather goods such as leather boots, leather purses, leather shoes, leather bags, and even your leather furniture.

A leather product can easily be ruined by oil stains. The alternative products that should be used to remove oil stains are leather soap, oil cleaning products, and spray cleaners.

Additional Tips

Avoid exposing your clean leather (whether it's suede, faux leather, or nubuck leather) to direct sunlight or heat, as this will definitely cause some cracking on your leather goods. For instance, make sure to always let your leather boots air dry away from direct sunlight or heat sources such as heating vents and radiators. It is still more advisable to seek professional help if you want to get the best results for your leather goods.

Leather experts don't recommend using products with caustic or abrasive ingredients. Whenever it is approved by the furniture maker, a commercial leather cleaner for furniture is fine. There’s a possible instance that if the wrong cleaner is used on leather furniture, the warranty may not be valid. Take note, if the piece of furniture has specific instructions, it's a good idea to follow them.

FAQs

What Are The Best Leather Stain Protection Products?

Leather is as durable as it is fashionable, but it's not easy to clean, which is where time-tested leather oil extractors come into play.

What is a Degreasing Agent?

That's where a good, old-fashioned dish detergent enters the scene.

How do I get rid of leather oils?

You can use powders such as cornstarch to remove body oil from leather, pet oil, food oil, or the olive oil that leaked out of the grocery bag if a little detergent doesn't do the job.