Remove Paint from Faux Leather

Faux leather can describe any number of synthetic plastic materials that are made to mimic the strength and finish of leather. These can include "pleather," which is made with polyurethane or vinyl (PVC), or it can include micro-suede, a polyester that mimics the nap of natural suede. Faux leather furniture can be painted to match room décor. If you have faux leather that is painted, or stained with paint, you can remove it using a few methods. The method you use depends upon the type of faux leather you are treating. This article will tell you how to remove paint from faux leather.

Steps

Material Identification

  1. Identify the type of faux leather you are dealing with. Both polyurethane and PVC (vinyl) can be treated the same way, but faux suede should be treated differently.
  2. Read the care tag on the faux leather, if it is still attached. It will tell you what cleaners to avoid.

Pleather Paint Removal

  1. Scrape up excess paint with a plastic scraper, if you have a fresh paint spill. Make sure to gently and evenly mop off the paint and wipe it on a paper towel. You do not want to gouge the surface of the pleather.
  2. Mix a bucket of water with mild detergent. Mix it until it is sudsy. Latex is a water-based paint, so this will be your main removal substance.
  3. Dip a cloth into the warm water and gently scrub the surface of the leather. You should use a textured cloth rather than a smooth cloth, because it may get into folds and cracks more easily. Repeatedly dip the cloth into the sudsy water and continue to scrub until all of the paint is removed.
  4. Dip a toothbrush into the sudsy water to get deep into cracks and crevices. Do this after there is a good layer of soap and water over the surface of the faux leather.
  5. Rinse the surface with warm, clean water. Dry it with a soft cloth.

Micro-Suede Paint Removal

  1. Treat a paint stain on micro-suede and other acrylic fibers immediately. They can become permanent with time.
  2. Flush the stain with warm water. Soak a cloth in warm water, squeeze out excess water and gently dab the stain, if you are working on a micro-suede couch. Flush it under warm water if you are treating a micro-suede clothing item or purse.
  3. Mix a solution of 2 parts water to 1 part rubbing alcohol, if the stain has dried. Dab the stain with the rubbing alcohol. Use a nylon brush to sweep the paint chips onto a piece of paper, after they have softened.
  4. Launder the fabric after it has been pre-treated with either warm water or rubbing alcohol. Clean it according to the care instructions.
    • If your micro-suede has a "W" or "W/S" on the tag, it is safe to clean with water and a mild detergent, or wash in the washing machine. If you are removing a stain from micro-suede furniture, apply the solution with a cloth and gently wipe in 1 direction, while dampening and wringing out the cloth often. You want to use as little water as possible directly on the surface. Rinse with a small amount of water on a rag.
    • If your micro-suede has a "S" on the care instructions, it means you need a solvent to clean it. You can take a micro-suede garment to the dry cleaners, or use a dry cleaning solvent at home, according to its package instructions. If you are removing a stain from micro-suede furniture, then buy a solvent-based upholstery foam at a supermarket. Apply it according to package instructions.
    • You can also treat "S" labeled fabric with rubbing alcohol, also known as isopropyl alcohol. Dip a cloth in rubbing alcohol and dab at the stain in a gentle motion.
  5. Dry a micro-suede garment according to the care instructions, either by hanging it or using a dryer. Dry a spot on a couch with a blow dryer on a cool setting. This will keep water rings or discoloration from forming.
  6. Use a soft nylon brush on a micro-suede fabric to return the nap to the surface. Brush the fabric in 1 direction.

Tips

  • Always test an inconspicuous area of the faux leather before continuing onto other sections. You can see if the cleaning process is going to damage the look of the material before you continue. This is especially important if you have colored faux leather or a delicate surface.

Things You'll Need

  • Soft cloth
  • Plastic scraper
  • Mild detergent
  • Water
  • Bucket
  • Nylon brush
  • Blow dryer
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Dry cleaning solvent
  • Rubbing alcohol
  • Upholstery cleaner
  • Soft nylon brush

Sources and Citations

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