When leather is exposed to moisture, it can leave behind a stain. Some leather is prone to water or moisture damage, such as Nappa or suede. When these types of leather get wet, they can leave behind a water stain. A water stain on your leather jacket can be unsightly and embarrassing if you are wearing it in a public place. Thankfully, it’s not difficult to remove most water stains from leather articles of clothing and accessories. Read on for advice on how to remove a water stain from leather.
How To Remove A Water Stain From Leather?
Dry the Leather
If the leather is still wet, place the article of clothing on a clean cloth and let it air dry. If the leather is dry but stained, place the article of clothing in the dryer on a low setting. While this method will not guarantee a stain-free leather article of clothing, it will help remove some water stains and extend the life of your leather.
Use a Leather Cleaner
If the water stain on your leather is still wet, blot the stain with a clean cloth and use a leather cleaner to remove the water from the leather. If the water stain is dry, use a leather cleaner on the stained area. Some leather cleaners also condition the leather, which will help it remain soft and stain-free.
Re-oil the Area
Some water stains on leather articles of clothing can be removed with oil. If the leather is still wet, place the article of clothing on a clean cloth and dab it with a small amount of oil to seal the stain. If the water stain is dry, use a clean cloth to rub a small amount of oil into the stained area.
Try A Little elbow grease
If the water stain is stubborn, apply a little elbow grease to the stained area to help remove it. Mix a small amount of baking soda with water to create a paste. Use a clean cloth to rub the paste into the stained area to remove the water stain. Once the stain has been lifted, rinse the area with water to remove the baking soda paste.
Why Remove A Water Stain From Leather?
It’s important to remove stains ASAP.
When you first notice a water stain on your leather, you’ll want to act quickly to get rid of it. It’s best to treat it before it becomes a stain (which is a lot harder to remove). This is especially true if you’re trying to remove a stain from an item that you’ll be storing over the winter (when the humidity is much higher inside your home). The longer it takes you to get rid of the stain, the more of an impact it’ll have on your item overall. Water stains can cause a lot of damage to leather; from darkening it to weakening the material. The longer you wait to remove the stain, the harder it’ll be to get rid of.
Water damage can be very difficult to repair.
One of the biggest issues with water stains on leather is that they can cause water damage to the item. If you’re not careful, you can end up making the stain worse. If you aren’t careful while you try to remove the stain, it’ll seep into the leather and run down inside the item’s seams. If the item is a handbag or a wallet, water damage can cause the seams to tear. This is a very common issue with wallets, as the water damages the glue that holds the seams together. If you have a water stain on a jacket or a pair of pants, water damage can cause the leather to weaken. In the long-term, your item will lose some of its strength because of the added strain. If you aren’t careful, you can tear the item accidentally or cause the leather to rip. Water damage is an added strain on the item, which means it’ll weaken it over time. Water stains are the easiest way to cause water damage to the leather.
Leather that’s stained will look darker and dingy over time.
When your leather item acquires a water stain, it’ll look darker, duller, and dingier. A water stain will apply a lot of pressure on the leather, which will cause it to stretch and break down over time. The longer you leave a water stain on your item, the worse it’ll look over time. As the stain continues to build up, it’ll cover up the leather and make it almost impossible to remove. The longer the stain sits on your leather without any treatment, the more damage it will cause. A water stain on leather is the quickest way to darken and dull an item over time. If you let it sit, the pressure from the stain will build up over time, causing the leather to break down. Eventually, the stain will become so severe that it’ll be almost impossible to remove.
Stained leather is more likely to break or tear.
When you have a water stain on your leather, it’s going to weaken the material. The stain will apply pressure on the leather and gradually cause it to break down over time. The more pressure it applies, the more likely your item is to tear or rip. If you have a water stain on your leather wallet, it might cause the item to tear when you try to open it. If you have a stain on your leather bag, it might cause the seams to rip when you put too much pressure on them. The more often you use the item, the more likely it is to tear or rip. The damage is gradual and will increase the more you use it. The longer you leave the stain on your item without treating it, the more likely it is to tear or rip. A water stain will gradually increase the amount of pressure it applies on the item until it breaks or tears.
If a stain isn’t removed, it will only get worse over time.
The longer you leave a water stain on your item, the worse it will get. If you are storing your item for the winter and it acquires a stain, you need to treat it before you put it away for the colder months. If you don’t, the stain will intensify during the winter, making it much harder to remove. A water stain will start to darken the leather and make it look dingy in the summer months. In the winter months, it will only get worse, intensifying the stain and the damage it causes. A water stain that isn’t removed in the summer months will be much more difficult to remove in the winter. The longer you leave a stain on your item, the harder it will be to remove. The damage will also increase each time you use the item.
Pros Of Removing A Water Stain From Leather
- A water stain will cause deep, lasting discoloration.
- It will get worse over time if you don’t remove the stain.
- If you don’t remove the stain, it will turn into a permanent mark.
- The stain could also cause the leather to break down over time.
Cons Of Removing A Water Stain From Leather
- Water stains require a special cleaner to remove them.
- You may have to use a professional cleaner if the stain is bad. –
- Some cleaners leave a sticky residue behind.
- The cleaner could also strip the leather of its natural oils.
- There is a chance that you could damage the leather.
Conclusion
When leather is exposed to moisture, it can leave behind a stain. Some leather is prone to water or moisture damage, such as Nappa or suede. When these types of leather get wet, they can leave behind a water stain. Thankfully, it’s not difficult to remove most water stains from leather articles of clothing and accessories. Read on for advice on how to remove a water stain from leather.