Removing a tea/coffee stain from a leather sofa?

6thElement · 2 Mar 2006 at 12:31

Unfortunately one of my sofas seems to have aquired a tea or coffee stain down the side of it. It's a light sand coloured leather and nothing I've tried seems to help shift the run marks. Anyone got any bright ideas?

Gilly · 2 Mar 2006 at 12:33

What have you tried so far?

Zip · 2 Mar 2006 at 12:35

Keep licking it until it comes off

Have you tryed lemon? that cleans most things.
Or some stain cleaner?

6thElement · 2 Mar 2006 at 12:38

I've tried most of the kitchen/bathroom cleaner "stuff" and they're having no effect :/

iBankAllDay · 2 Mar 2006 at 12:39

6thElement said:
I've tried most of the kitchen/bathroom cleaner "stuff" and they're having no effect :/

I wouldn't try them too much as the chemicals they contain may stain your sofa worse than the tea/coffee does!

Melm0 · 2 Mar 2006 at 12:39

Put a cushion over it?

Gilly · 2 Mar 2006 at 12:39

Strange one:

Traditional wisdom recommends treating ink stains with milk or tomato. Cover the stain with a little milk or rub it with the cut side of a half a tomato. Take more care with the tomato remedy, as tomatoes contain some acidity. Rinse either treatment well.

If it works for ink I can't see why it wouldn't for other stains. I'd be careful though, they're both quite acidic. There's scope for making it worse and don't come to me

Gavstar · 2 Mar 2006 at 12:40

We have some wet wipes that claim to be especially for leather which seem to do the job on red wine. Am pretty sure that they were bought from wilkinsons.

iv-tecman · 2 Mar 2006 at 12:40

Mix a solution of 1 quart water, 1 tbsp. white vinegar and 1/2 tsp. detergent (such as dishwashing soap).

apply with a sponge, and allow to soak for 10 minutes or so... Then wash off.

Vinegar can be mixed with linseed oils as well... Conditions the leather at the same time.

Stringy · 2 Mar 2006 at 12:48

Cillit bang?

Kerplunk · 2 Mar 2006 at 12:57

Semen??

double-you tee eff ?

edit, thats sig

kitten_caboodle · 2 Mar 2006 at 13:04

Kerplunk said:
Semen??

double-you tee eff ?

edit, thats sig

LOL at misunderstanding

Brynn · 2 Mar 2006 at 13:06

Stringy said:
Cillit bang?

Oh I so misread that

Stringy · 2 Mar 2006 at 13:11

I can see how my sig would cause alarm in this case.

Oracle · 2 Mar 2006 at 13:12

use mayonaise....trust me it works (also works on wood where you get coffee rings.

It supplies natural oils back to wook and leather and removes staining in the process.

iv-tecman · 2 Mar 2006 at 14:10

Oracle said:
use mayonaise....trust me it works (also works on wood where you get coffee rings.

It supplies natural oils back to wook and leather and removes staining in the process.

Which is just lemon or vinegar and oil in eggs. Basically the same as what I suggested, just that the eggs in the mayonnaise creates a cream to smear it on the stain with. Linseed oil is better to condition leather with though. It helps to stop the leather drying out, and can help to prevent cracking overtime. I clean my leather suite with water and soap, and drop a little linseed oil in. On bad soils, I just use vinegar.

You'd be surprised what we eat you can actually clean with....

Mr Man · 2 Mar 2006 at 14:30

Like a few other posters have mentioned I have heard that vinegar is good for removing tea/coffee stains.

wozzizname · 2 Mar 2006 at 14:34

Furniture shops do some specialist kits for removing stains from leather, got one thrown in when I bought my sofa the other day.