Leather is a popular material for many items such as purses, jackets, and shoes. But what do you do when that leather item gets egg on it?
You can’t just wipe it off in all cases! So what is the best way to clean your leather items like a jacket, shoes, etc after an “egg-y” breakfast? This article will show you 4 ways to remove eggs from leather and how best to avoid future stains.
So how do you clean eggs from leather? You can clean egg from leather by;
- Step 1: Scoop or blot excess egg residue with a dry cloth.
- Step 2: Make a mixture of 4-5 drops of dish soap in cool water.
- Step 3: Dampen your microfiber cloth with the solution and wipe the surface of the leather.
- Step 4: Once the surface is clear of egg residue, use a damp cloth to remove the soap residue
- Step 5: Let the leather surface air-dry.
- Step 6: Apply the leather conditioner and leave it to air-dry again before use.
To learn other methods you can use to clean eggs from leather, keep reading this article.
1. Using Toothbrush
If the egg stain on your leather is from boiled eggs then you can use a soft-bristled toothbrush to remove it.
The egg white part of the boiled egg will come off almost immediately, but the yolk is a little harder to remove due to its fine powdery yet sticky nature.
With this type of stain, all you will do is to use the toothbrush to brush off all of the egg residues that might be stuck in the pores of the leather, around stitches, etc.
If you happen to have a clean shoe brush that you haven’t used yet, then that would work just as well. Here’s all you need to do to get this done;
Things Needed:
- A soft-bristled toothbrush or Clean shoe brush (optional)
Procedure:
- Brush the surface of your leather item with a soft-bristled toothbrush or shoe brush, in an up and down motion.
- You want to concentrate on the areas with the egg stains.
- Repeat the process until the stains are gone.
2. The Distilled Warm Water Method
Using distilled warm water is an easy and effective way to clean eggs off of leather. It is not only fast but gentle on the leather material as well, which will prevent it from drying out.
Using distilled water is one of the best ways to clean raw or fresh egg stains on leather if you do not have any cleaner available to you immediately.
Distilled water is available at most grocery and convenience stores and can be used as a replacement for tap water when cleaning leather items.
Things Needed:
- Distilled warm water
- Clean cloth
- Leather cleaner
Procedure:
Step 1:
- Blot the egg stain with a clean cloth to remove as much of it from leather as you can.
Step 2:
- Pour a small amount of warm distilled water on the leather to dampen the area.
- The warm water will help to agitate the stains and allow you to wipe them away with a cloth with ease.
Step 3:
- Using a clean cloth, gently wipe or blot the egg stain off of the material.
Step 4:
- Repeat this process over the entire egg stain until it is removed from the leather.
- Be sure to wipe in a circular motion to get rid of any remaining residue.
Step 5:
- Use a dry microfiber cloth to finish drying the leather.
Step 6:
- Leave the leather to air dry. Do not place it in direct sunlight or a high heat area as this can damage the material and set any stains.
Step 7:
- Apply your leather conditioner and leave it dry.
3. The Mild Dish Soap Method
Using mild dish soap is a great way to remove egg stains from leather. Even if the egg stains are raw and have been on the surface of the leather for a while, this method should work well.
Another great thing about this method is that it will also remove any smell that the raw egg might have left on the leather surface.
Things Needed:
- Mild dish soap (Dawn or Palmolive)
- Cool water
- Microfiber Cloth
- Leather Conditioner
Procedure:
Step 1:
- First, scoop or scrape away the egg residue using a spatula or a spoon to remove as much of the egg as you can.
Step 2:
- Then, mix a small amount of cool water with mild dish soap in a bowl.
- You can put about 4-5 drops of mild dish soap into a bowl with water.
- Stir until the mixture comes to a lather.
Step 3:
- Then, apply the soapy mixture onto a microfiber cloth and gently wipe it across all of the leather pieces.
Step 4:
- Rinse the microfiber cloth in water, and then wipe it across all of the leather surfaces again. You can repeat this process until you are satisfied with the results.
Step 5:
- Once the leather surface is free from both the egg and soap residue, you can grab a dry microfiber cloth and wipe the leather surfaces until they are completely dry.
Step 6:
- Leave the leather to air-dry and then apply the leather conditioner.
- Make sure to condition the entire surface of the leather including parts of the leather where there were no eggs stains.
- Applying the leather conditioner will help to restore the oils that were lost during the cleaning.
4. The Dry Cleaning Method (Dry Powder)
There are some household powders you can use to also clean your leather surfaces when they get stained with eggs.
This is particularly useful if the egg stain has resulted in sticky residue on the surface of your leather item.
However, you must be very careful when using this method so that the powder does not get stuck in any of the stitching or other details of the leather.
Things Needed:
- Dry cleaning powder (Talcum or Cornmeal)
- Soft cloths or microfiber towels
Procedure:
Step 1:
- Start by scooping as much of the egg stain as possible.
- If possible, use a damp microfiber cloth to blot the surface of the leather where the staining occurred.
Step 2:
- Take some talcum powder to sprinkle over the stained area.
- Do not use too much powder as this can lead to an excess that will get stuck in the leather.
- You can try cornmeal as it is a dry powder that will give you more gentle cleaning results compared to talcum powder.
Step 3:
- Leave the powder to sit on the leather for about 30 minutes.
- This will give the powder enough time to absorb any residues from the egg stain.
Step 4:
- Then, take a clean cloth or microfiber towel and brush off all of the powder.
- You can also wipe the leather surface with a damp cloth. This will help to remove any powder that got stuck in the stitching or other details of the leather.
Step 5:
- As the last step, apply your leather conditioner to restore any lost oils from the cleaning process.
What To Do If You Can’t Remove The Egg Stain
This can usually happen if the egg stain had too much time to dry on the leather.
If the egg stain has been on the leather for very long and at the same time you have used the leather item outdoors and have been exposed to the sun’s rays, salts, etc, then it can be very difficult to remove.
In this case, what you could do is to;
Purchase Leather Cleaners Or Stain Removers
If this happens, you can purchase a leather stain remover like the one from Chemical Guys.
These products are generally termed leather cleaners but can combat stains like eggs with a lot of ease.
It can remove dried-in stains from leather surfaces without harming the leather material itself.
There are also a lot of stain removers out there you can try if the Chemical Guys Leather Cleaner is not an option for you.
Consult A Professional
Another alternative you could try in the unlike situation where you’ve tried everything and you still can’t get the egg stain out is to contact a professional leather cleaner.
They might have more options at their disposal that you haven’t considered yet.
What you will have to do when you get to this point is to disclose all that you have done to resolve the issue and they would gladly take it from there.
FAQ’s
Q. How do you clean egg from suede?
A. You can use talcum powder to clean the egg stain from suede. Simply sprinkle some powder over the stained area and leave for 30 minutes. Then, brush off any excess talcum with a clean soft bristles toothbrush or shoe brush.
Q. How do you remove dried-in egg stains from leather?
A. You can use mild dish soap to remove dried-in egg stains from leather surfaces without harming the material itself. Alternatively, you can use a leather cleaner or stain remover to remove dried-in stains or leather stain remover over.
