How to Remove Cosmetics Stains from Leather Upholstery

With our hurried lives, it does happen to apply your makeup in your car and often this can lead to messing up your leather car seat. Such incidents can occur at home on your leather sofa as well. Thankfully, there are efficient ways to remove makeup and other cosmetics stains from your leather upholstery by yourself and without professional help. Here are the steps to follow, to successfully remove the stains:

1. Remove any excess makeup gently using a dry clean cloth, but be careful not to smudge it around further during the process
2. Make a mixture of warm water and mild dish soap
3. Carefully apply the foam on the stain with a clean sponge by dabbing it
4. Use a clean soft cloth to wipe the foam and stain – again, don’t scrub it, but rather dab it
5. If there still is an oily or greasy remainder, us cornmeal or another absorbent by applying it on top of the oily stain
6. Leave the absorbent to do its job overnight
7. On the next day, use a brush with stiff bristles to gently sweep the absorbent off, or if possible, simply shake it off of the leather surface
8. If the greasy stain is still visible, you may want to repeat the process
9. After the stain is gone, make sure you use a leather conditioner or saddle soap to moisturize and condition the leather, so that you prevent it from drying and cracking

Here are some other tips to follow when removing cosmetics from your leather upholstery:

• Abstain from using aggressive detergents and chemicals, as they may cause irreversible damage to the leather
• Make sure you proceed to clean a makeup stain as soon as possible, as it may become oxidized when dry and will be difficult to remove over time
• An alternative method includes using a mild 10% ammonia solution and applying it on the stain gently with a cotton pad. Let it sit for a couple of minutes and then sprinkle the area with baking soda. After letting it sit for another few minutes, wash it off with a soft sponge and warm water with a bit of mild dish washing solution.
• Since lipstick stains are more oily, you may proceed by applying a mild dish washing detergent directly on the stain, and rub gently with a soft sponge

If the stain cannot be removed by the above mentioned methods, you may consider turning to a professional upholstery cleaner to assist you and restore the original look of your leather upholstery.