How to Clean Blood Stains from Leather

Co-authored by Susan Stocker and Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: June 27, 2024 References

Blood stains can be pretty tricky to remove, especially when the stain is on leather. Don’t worry. As pesky as these stains may be, there are plenty of options at your disposal. We’ve tackled all your frequently asked questions, so you can get your leather back to working order in a jiffy.

Question 1 of 6:

How do you remove dried blood from leather?

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Guide the brush over the stain in gentle, careful movements, so you don’t scratch your leather in the process.^{[1]
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Question 2 of 6:

How do you get a fresh blood stain out of leather?

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Soak up as much as you can with gentle dabbing motions. Try not to wipe down the stain, or you might make it worse.^{[2]
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Question 3 of 6:

How do you remove the rest of the stain?

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Treat the spot with a leather cleaner and a leather conditioning product. Soak a clean, cotton cloth with leather cleaner. Then, move the cloth in circular motions over the stain. Let the surface dry off for at least 5 minutes; then, dip another clean, cotton rag into a leather conditioner. Lightly massage the product onto the leather, and let it sit for 5 more minutes. Afterwards, wipe off any extra conditioner with a cotton cloth.^{[3]
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- The Leather Institute recommends cleaning the spot with a leather cleaner, and following up with a combination cleaner-conditioner-protectant product.
- You can buy leather cleaners and conditioners online or from specialty stores.

Question 4 of 6:

What other products can you use to clean leather?

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Soak another clean sponge in a diluted mixture of cold, soapy water. Blot the damp sponge all over the pesky stain, and dab it dry with a dry, clean cloth.^{[4]
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Treat the stain with 3 drops of ammonium hydroxide and 1 L (0.26 US gal) of water. Since ammonium hydroxide is a really strong chemical, dip a clean sponge into the mixture and dab it onto a tiny section of the stain first. If the leather doesn’t look damaged, sponge down the rest of the stain with the diluted mixture. Then, blot the stain dry with a paper towel.^{[5]
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- You can buy ammonium hydroxide online or from chemical distributors.
EXPERT TIP

Mallika Sharma
Certified Leather Care Technician
Mallika Sharma is a Certified Leather Care Technician and the Founder of The Leather Laundry, a niche spa service for luxury leather gear in India. Mallika specializes in leather cleaning, coloring, repairing, and restoring for shoes, handbags, jackets, wallets, belts, and sofas. She holds a Master’s degree in Finance and Investment from the University of Edinburgh Business School. Mallika is a certified Professional Leather Care Technician and trained with the globally reputed leather care company, LTT in the United Kingdom.

Mallika Sharma
Certified Leather Care Technician

Large leather stains should be handled by professionals. Large discolored areas or stains that have fully set into leather furniture cannot be spot treated and removed. lf it has fully set, professional leather cleaning and repair experts can correctly color match the original shade and seamlessly blend the affected area back into the surrounding material.

Question 5 of 6:

What if the stain still doesn’t go away?

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Cover it up with leather polish. Pick a leather polish that’s a close match to your leather item. Then, apply a small amount of polish to the stain using a clean cloth, working the polish into the stain using circular motions. Once you’ve completely covered the stain, buff the polish into the leather with a clean section of cloth. Let the polish dry completely before using your leather again, whether it’s a jacket, sofa, purse, or something else entirely.^{[6]
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- You can pick up leather polish online or from certain big-name retailers. Check your leather polish bottle for drying recommendations.
- If you’re applying polish to a pair of leather boots or a leather handbag, hold the polish bottle up to the leather and see if it’s a good match.

Question 6 of 6:

Which products aren’t safe to use on leather?

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Certain chemicals and solvents aren’t safe to use. Products like high pH cleaners, abrasives, alcohol, butyl cellosolve, mink oil, wax, furniture polish, and glass cleaner may damage your leather in the long run. As a general rule of thumb, only use products that are specifically recommended for leather.^{[7]
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- Some sources suggest using saddle soap to clean your leather.^{[8]
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  Research source} However, other experts, like The Leather Institute, don’t recommend this.^{[9]
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Expert Q&A

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Question

Can I use vinegar to clean the leather?

Susan Stocker
Stain Removal Specialist
Susan Stocker runs and owns Susan’s Green Cleaning, the #1 Green Cleaning Company in Seattle. She is well known in the region for outstanding customer service protocols — winning the 2017 Better Business Torch Award for Ethics & Integrity —and her energetic support of green cleaning practices.

Susan Stocker

Stain Removal Specialist

Expert Answer

Vinegar may ultimately make a stain worse. It's safer to use dish soap and water to clean a leather surface.

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Tips

If you don’t feel comfortable cleaning your leather garments on your own, feel free to take them to a professional cleaner instead.^{[10]
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Warnings

Try not to apply cleaners and conditioners directly to leather. Instead, apply the product to a cloth, and then treat the stain.^{[11]
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For your own safety, always wear gloves when handling blood stains, especially if the blood isn’t yours.^{[12]
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