How do I clean a large water stain from a leather headboard?
by
Erin
+13
I received a leather headboard with a large water stain (unsure how old it is, but it’s definitely been there a while). It is noticeably a darker color and feels almost like there’s a matte film over that portion.
Ive already tried a damp cloth, leather cleaner, and leather conditioner. Is there anything else? Or alternatively, would it work out to stain the rest of it a darker color?
Hi Erin, judging by the size of the stain and based on your experience trying to clean it, I would restain the leather a darker color. Is there a small inconspicuous spot you can test first?
Here's a link on cleaning leather by the type of stain. Hopefully something here will help:
https://octaneseating.com/blog/leather-stain-removal/
I would try some kind of oil, maybe hemp oil.
I think your best option is to stain the entire headboard a darker color following leather-staining instructions and materials.
After some serious though and research, you have several options. You could dye the leather and get it to match that way, below is Amazon's link. Another option would be to take your pictures to an auto detailer that handles leather and get their input on it. Since you state the darker color has a matte feel to it, I would suggest you clean it first to hopefully get rid of that texture. A final option, with extensive labor, would be to remove the leather and replace.
https://www.amazon.com/leather-stain/s?k=leather+stain
Best to you.🌹
Doesn't look like a water stain. Looks like someone might have tried to tried to clean it. Actually looks more like someone tried to dye a wear spot and didn't work out right. Both edges on the left especially the right are too straight and even. I think they may have used brown paste shoe polish hence the matte film. I'm just assuming from the photos. What I would try is about 1 ounce of bleach to about 16 ounces of water. Use a cotton ball and a small spot first. You could also use same amount of hydrogen peroxide in water. Both will bleach and lighten the area. If none of the suggestions here work you may have to dye the leather.
I would use a conditioner that will darken the surrounding leather. I doubt that stain will come out completely.
I agree that you should try to find an oil that matches the stain and make all of the leather that color.
Folks,
Erin has stated in the question that they have already tried leather cleaners, and leather conditioners.
Ask at a Leather Co. regarding this problem or an Upholsterer. Might be just as well to re-cover it!
I concur, buy some analine dye for leather and dye it as dark as the stain. You can't use dye to lighten up the leather unless you use a color remover first to try and lighten it up. I buy it from Leathertouchup on YouTube. I've done quite a few pieces for clients using their products with great results, but Amazon also carries analine dye.
It looks like a oil on it someone tried to condition it that won’t. One off get more and do the rest of the leather so it matches it will all fade together.
You will have to treat the whole thing to get a consistent coloring
you can paint the leather or just replace it with new leather
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c22hq3RM0nw
I would clean entire panel to even all out
Honestly, I personally would take it to a professional for restoration.