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Edited by Jmuddy95, Teresa, Chris, Why do you want my name? and 2 others

Five Methods:Brushing MethodChemical MethodSanding MethodEraser MethodProfessional Cleaner

It's difficult to get ink stains out of suede. This article walks you through some methods that may work in helping you remove ink from suede.


Method 1 of 5: Brushing Method

  1. Remove Ink Stains from Suede Step 1.jpg
    Get a stiff nylon brush. Make sure the bristles are firm and don't bend easily.
  2. Remove Ink Stains from Suede Step 2.jpg
    Start gently brushing the stained area. Because the surface of suede is made up of fine filaments, brushing them will actually remove some of them. The hope with this method is that the ones stained with the ink will be removed, leaving the unstained surface intact.
  3. 3
    Continue brushing the stained area. You'll know that this method is working if you start seeing less of the stain. If the stain doesn't seem to be getting lighter, stop brushing before you remove too much of the suede.

Method 2 of 5: Chemical Method

  1. Remove Ink Stains from Suede Step 4.jpg
    Find a clean rag. Ensure that the rag is spotless, since rubbing a dirty cloth on suede might only make the stain worse.
  2. Remove Ink Stains from Suede Step 5.jpg
    Dab your rag in some cleaning solvent.
    • Trusted brands of solvent include Guardsman along with Arm and Hammer. Check the label to make sure that it's safe to use on suede.
  3. Remove Ink Stains from Suede Step 6.jpg
    Test the solvent on a swatch of suede. Turn your suede inside-out and find a piece of the exposed material that you can dab a small amount of the cleaning solvent on. You want to test whether the solvent will damage the suede before you apply it to the outside of the fabric.
    • Dip your clean rag into the solvent and rub it on the test area. This will test to see if your solvent has no harmful effects on the material. Once you determine that it doesn't harm the suede, you can proceed to the next step.
  4. Remove Ink Stains from Suede Step 7.jpg
    Gingerly dab cleaning solvent onto the ink stain. If the method works, you will see an immediate improvement on the stain.
  5. Remove Ink Stains from Suede Step 8.jpg
    Let the stain air dry. Regardless of whether the method worked or not, let the material air dry before using the suede or attempting another method.

Method 3 of 5: Sanding Method

  1. Remove Ink Stains from Suede Step 9.jpg
    Cut out a strip of coarse sandpaper for use on the stain. An emery board is an acceptable substitute for this method.
  2. Remove Ink Stains from Suede Step 10.jpg
    Rub the sandpaper over the ink stain. The principle of this method is similar to the one used with the brush. Be careful not to rub away too much of the suede if using this method; rubbing too hard can rip the suede.

Method 4 of 5: Eraser Method

  1. Remove Ink Stains from Suede Step 11.jpg
    Take a common everyday eraser and rub it over the suede until the stain is gone.
    • This method works best with single line ballpoint pen stains or marks of a similar makeup.

Method 5 of 5: Professional Cleaner

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    If none of the methods listed above have worked, consider taking your clothing to a professional cleaner.
    • Use this method as a last resort, as professional help can be costly.
    • Sometimes the stain is so severe that not even a professional treatment will remove it.
    • Consider the severity of the stain before spending the money on trying to get them removed.
Add your own method


  • Brushing away ink stains is the most common method use to restore suede.
  • Make sure the ink is dry before you attempt to remove it. If the ink is wet, you may end up smearing it across a larger area of the fabric.
  • Combining some of these methods will have a surprisingly good affect on the stain.


  • Use chemicals sparingly. Applying too much of a harsh chemical on a natural fiber like suede can permanently ruin it.

Article Info

Categories: Pen Ink and Marker Stains

Recent edits by: BR, Why do you want my name?, Chris

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