How to Remove Grass or Plant Stains from Leather

Rozfa said, “Hi, I think my yellow leather heels got some vine stains, can you please help me :(”

Table of Contents:

Removing the Stains
Additional Tips and Advice
Sources

Leather shoes are thought to be hardy, but like almost any surface, they can get stains. The reason that plants can so easily leave bright green stains is due to the chlorophyll in them that acts like a dye. Thankfully, there are some easy, though unusual, ways to remove them, even from leather. Follow the steps below.

Removing the Stains

You Will Need:

Molasses
Dish liquid
White vinegar
Water
A cloth
Isopropyl alcohol
Cotton swabs
Leather cleaner

Steps to Remove the Stains:

Spread some molasses over the stain, then gently rub it into the stain. Leave the molasses on the leather overnight, then wash it off with some soap in the morning.¹
Combine one part white vinegar with two parts water, then add a small amount of dish liquid to the solution and stir it to create suds. Dip a soft cloth in the solution and use it to gently rub away the stain.²
If the stain is stubborn, dip a cotton swab in some isopropyl alcohol. Test the alcohol on a small, hidden area of the shoe first to ensure it does not remove the leather dye, and if safe, use it to rub away the stain.³
Clean the area with a leather cleaner to remove any residue from the cleaning solutions, which could cause the leather to dry out.

Additional Tips and Advice

There are leather cleaners designed specifically made for ink or dyes that may also work on plant stains.
Do not try to use plain dish liquid or any other alkaline product to remove the stain. Alkalis react with the tannins in plant stains and can cause them to set.⁴