Soda stains can be a pain to remove. Whether it’s spilled on your leather sofa or your expensive shoes, the stain just won’t go away. This article will teach you how to easily get rid of those pesky soda stains from your leather items.
In summary, here’s how to remove soda stains from leather;
- Step 1: Blot the excess soda stain with paper towel
- Step 2: Load a cleaning brush with the leather cleaner and start cleaning
- Step 3: Rinse off soap residue after cleaning the soda stains.
- Step 4: Condition the leather with a good leather conditioner.
Let’s get into the details of how to remove the soda stain from leather.
1. Using Warm Water To Remove Soda Stains From Leather
Usually, whenever a sensitive material like leather becomes stained, I usually try to deal with the stain using non-chemical methods, and in the case of soda stains, using warm water usually does the trick.
Using warm water helps to agitate or dissolve the soda and loosen the stain so that it can be blotted or wiped away more easily.
To use warm water to clean or remove soda stains from your leather, here are the things you need and the steps you need to follow;
Things Needed:
- Warm Water
- Microfiber Cloth
- Leather Conditioner
Procedure:
Step 1: Blotting The Stain
- Start by blotting as much of the soda off the surface of your leather.
- You will want to use a clean microfiber cloth or paper towel to remove as much of the soda stains as possible.
- You do not want to rub the stain in, instead, you want to gently dab or gently blot any excess liquid.
- This will help to prevent the soda from spreading and make it easier to clean or remove later on.
Step 2: Saturating The Stain With Warm Water
- Once you have blotted as much of the liquid off the surface, pour some warm water into a bowl.
- You want the water to be warm not hot as hot water can cause your leather to shrink or warp.
- Then, soak a clean microfiber cloth into the bowl of warm water and wring it.
- Make sure the microfiber is not soaking wet.
- Now start to saturate the soda stain with your damp microfiber cloth by gently dabbing it.
Step 3: Repeat Until The Stain Is Gone
- Repeat steps one and two until the stain starts to lighten up.
- If you notice that another soda is spilled in a different location, go ahead and repeat steps one through three.
- I would recommend repeating these steps two to four times until the stain starts lightening up and eventually goes away.
Step 4: Condition Your Leather
- Once you have removed the soda stain, it is important to condition your leather.
- Put some leather conditioner on your microfiber cloth and use it to gently and evenly condition your leather.
- Once you have finished conditioning the surface, let it sit for a couple of minutes before wiping any excess conditioner from the surface of the leather.
- When you use warm water to clean leather, a lot of the essential oils in the leather get removed in the process so it is important you conditioner your leather.
- You can apply one or two additional layers of the leather conditioner.
Step 5: Air Dry The Leather
- Once you have gone through all of the processes, allow the leather to air dry.
- Do not place the leather directly under the sun to dry.
- You want to leave it in an air or ventilated place until the leather has completely dried.
2. Using Mild Dish Soap & Water To Remove Soda Stains From Leather
Another simple yet effective remedy for removing soda stains from leather is to use mild dish soap and warm water.
While the first method of using only warm water works for most soda stains, there might be some tougher or more set-in stains that will require a little bit of dish soap.
In this round of application, the addition of dish soap helps to further break down and lift the soda stain from your leather.
Things Needed:
- Mild Dish Soap (Dawn is your best bet)
- Warm Water – As Warm as Possible But Not Hot
- Microfiber Cloth
- Leather Conditioner
Procedure:
Step 1: Blot The Excess Soda Stain With Paper Towel
- This is an important thing to do if you just had the soda spill on your leather.
- Gently pat the paper towel over the soda stain and try to absorb as much of the liquid as possible.
- Do not rub the stain in, as that will only make it worse.
Step 2: Make A Soap Solution
- Mix some mild dish soap with warm water in a bowl and bring it to lather.
- Again, you want the water to be as warm as possible but not hot.
Step 3: Soak Microfiber Cloth In Solution And Wring Out
- Soak a microfiber cloth in the soap solution and wring it out so that it is not dripping wet.
Step 4: Begin To Dab The Solution Onto Soda Stain
- Now take your dampened microfiber cloth and start to dab the solution onto the soda stain.
- You want to do this in a circular motion so it lifts as much of the stain from your leather as possible.
- Do this until you see the soda start to lift off from the leather.
- If needed, repeat steps two and three until the soda stain is completely gone.
Steps 5: Rinse Of The Soap Residue
- Use a microfiber dampened with clean water and use it to wipe away the soap solution and any leftover residue.
- Continue doing this while rinsing the microfiber cloth in between.
Step 6: Dry Off The Leather Surface
- Use dry clean leather to dry off the surface of the leather.
Step 7: Condition Your Leather
- Once you have removed the soda stain, it is important to condition your leather.
- Put some leather conditioner on your microfiber cloth and use it to gently and evenly condition your leather.
- Once you have finished conditioning the surface, let it sit for a couple of minutes before wiping any excess conditioner from the surface of the leather.
Step 8: Leave The Leather To Air-Dry
- Last but not the least, let your leather air dry afterward without putting it in direct sunlight.
3. Using Leather Cleaner To Remove Soda Stains From Leather
If the methods above do not work, and you want a much safer but effective method that will take away all the guesswork, then you can try using a leather cleaner.
Leather cleaner is specifically designed to remove tough stains and dirt from leather surfaces.
This is an awesome solution but it is also the solution that would require the most monetary effort. But using a leather cleaner will work for both old and new soda stains.
When choosing a leather cleaner, you want one that is pH-balanced that you can easily use and will not harm your leather.
You do not want one that leaves soap residue and contributes to the leather’s fiber deterioration.
I will use the Leather Honey Cleaner for this as it is a pH-balanced cleaner and it will not harm the leather.
Things Needed:
- Leather Cleaner (Your Choice of Brand)
- Water
- Microfiber Cloth/Horsehair Brush
- Leather Conditioner
Procedure:
Step 1: Blot The Excess Soda Stain With Paper Towel
- If you have fresh soda stains on your leather, make sure to blot the excess liquid with a paper towel.
- Do not rub it in as that will only worsen the stain and damage the surface of your leather bag or shoes.
Step 2: Load A Cleaning Brush And Start Cleaning
- Spritz your cleaning brush or microfiber cloth with some leather cleaner and start to scrub the soda stains.
- You will want to do this in a circular motion and continue until all of the stain is lifted from the leather surface.
- The stain should be gone in only one cleaning session if it is a fresh stain.
- If the stains are old and set in, then you might need to repeat this step until all of the soda stain has been lifted.
Step 3: Rinse Off Soap Residue
- Once all of the Soda Stain have been removed, rinse off the leather surface with clean water-damp cloth and make sure to wipe away any soap residue.
Step 4: Condition the Leather
- After cleaning the leather, it is important to condition it.
- Apply some leather conditioner on your cloth and start applying it in a circular motion.
- Leave the conditioner to sit for a couple of minutes before buffing away any excess with a dry cloth.
Step 5: Allow Your Leather To Air-Dry
- Put your leather bag or shoes in a cool, dry place to air-dry.
- Do not put it where sunlight can reach the leather as that will cause fading and damage your shoe’s surface.
4. Using Magic Eraser To Remove Soda Stains From Leather
Another go-to method for removing the toughest soda stains on unfinished leather and suede or nubuck is to use a Magic Eraser.
Generally, this is a method you would want a professional to do for your but you should be able to do this on your own at home if you’re up to the challenge.
The Magic Eraser is a household cleaning product that is made up of melamine foam. It has the ability to remove tough stains and dirt without any damage being done to the surface of your leather.
What’s even better is that it is very affordable and can be bought in any local store. One of the most common brands of magic erasers is the Mr. Muscle brand.
Below is a step-by-step guide on how to use this product to remove soda stains from leather.
Things Needed:
- Magic Eraser (Your Choice of Brand)
- Water
Procedure:
Step 1: Blot The Excess Soda Stain With Paper Towel
- If you have fresh soda stains on your leather, make sure to blot the excess liquid with a paper towel.
- Do not rub it in as that will only worsen the stain.
Step 2: Soak The Magic Eraser In Water
- Soak the magic eraser in water for a couple of minutes and wring it out.
- You want the magic eraser to be as damp as possible.
- The amount of time you need to soak it will depend on how bad your stains are and what kind of leather surface they’re stuck on.
- Typically, if it is an unfinished leather (nubuck or suede), then this step should not take more than a minute.
- On the other hand, if it is on finished leather then you might need to soak for up to two minutes.
Step 3: Scrub The Magic Eraser Against Soda Stain
- In a very gentle manner, rub the magic eraser on the soda stain in circular motion until the stain is lifted off.
- If the stain is very stubborn, you might need to scrub it for a few minutes.
- From time to time, soak the magic eraser again in the water if it becomes dry and wring it out.
- Continue until all of the soda stain is lifted from your leather.
Step 4: Rinse The Leather Surface With Clean Water
- Once all of the soda stains have been removed, rinse off the leather surface by wiping it with a clean water-damp microfiber cloth.
- Follow up with a dry clean cloth.
Step 5: Condition Your Leather
- With the help of a cloth, apply some leather conditioner on the surface of the leather.
- In a circular motion, start applying the conditioner until it’s evenly distributed.
- Leave it to sit for a couple of minutes before buffing away any excess with a dry cloth.
Step 6: Air-Dry The Leather
- After cleaning and conditioning the leather, put it in a cool, dry place to air-dry.
- Do not expose your leather to direct sunlight as it might fade and damage the surface.
5. Using Toothpaste To Remove Soda Stain From Leather
Believe it or not, toothpaste is another household item that can be used to remove soda stains from leather.
It’s a method you would want to try if you do not want to spend money on any products. Everyone has some toothpaste at home and it’s such an awesome remedy for cleaning different types of stains from leather.
Below is a step-by-step guide on how to use toothpaste to remove soda stains from leather.
Things Needed:
- Toothpaste (Your Choice of Brand)
- Toothbrush
- Water
- Cloth
Procedure:
Step 1: Blot The Excess Soda Stain With Paper Towel or Rag
- As always, you want to start by blotting the excess liquid with a paper towel or rag.
- Do not rub only pat or dab to remove the excess soda stain.
Step 2: Apply A Bead Of Toothpaste To The Soda Stain
- Put a dab of toothpaste on the stain and let it sit for about 15-20 minutes.
- You do not want to put too much at a time.
Step 3: Scrub The Toothpaste In A Circular Motion
- With a soft cloth or an old toothbrush start scrubbing the toothpaste in a circular motion until the stain is gone.
- If needed, add more toothpaste to the cloth or brush as you go along.
Step 4: Rinse The Leather Surface
- Once all of the soda stains have been removed, rinse off the leather surface by wiping it with a clean water-damp microfiber cloth and dry it off with dry clean cloth.
