Upholstery and Fabrics - Removing an unknown stain from a Leather Couch

Hi. I just noticed two stains on the arm of my leather couch that must have happened over the holidays. Problem is, I have absolutely no idea what the stains are......Could be almost anything --- coffee? red wine? not a clue...

Any ideas on how I can remove the stains? The couch is a dark brown and is a grainy kind of leather (not the really soft supple kind), and the two stains are very dark and about the size of two quarters.

Any suggestions? I just don't know what to do... Should I try to rub them off with a damp cloth, or might that leave a water mark? Not sure if this helps at all, but here is a link to the sofa that I have... High Quality Suva Leather Sofa, Love Seat, Chair, Ottoman Show Home Furniture Canada (http://www.showhomefurnitureedmonton.com/product_info.php?cPath=7_12&products_id=29)

Thanks for any advice that you an offer.

Marie

There are too many types of leathers, dyes, and finishes to recommend a DIY cleaning method or stain removal method. It is always best to follow manufacturer's instructions.

Suva by American Leather from Leather Furniture Shops 2 in Philadelphia, PA, states that they "offer a vast assortment of leathers on every item. Most require just a damp cloth or mild leather cleaner. Some finer leathers are more susceptible to staining, and may require further care. We’ll explain the differences, and help you select a leather that is perfect for your lifestyle."

Contact info:

31 N. 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Phone: 215-592-1440 Fax: 215-592-8298
Monday - Saturday: 9:30 -5:30
Email: info@leatherfurnitureshops.com (info@leatherfurnitureshops.com)

It would be helpful to have sofa style info in hand before calling. There may be an identification label beneath cushions if you do not have the paperwork. Perhaps you can identify your sofa on the website at Leather Furniture Shops 2 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Montgomery, Bucks, Delaware, Chester, and Sofa Furniture Retail Store (http://www.leatherfurnitureshops.com/faq.php)
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I was hoping that perhaps someone would respond that has the same, or similar, Suva sofa to mine, and had personal experience with removing stains on leather.

Have you ever tried to remove a stain on a leather couch? If so, did blotting it with water harm, or take any of the colour out of the leather, at all? Please let me know what worked for you. I would be very interested in hearing people's 'personal' experiences with stain removal from leather. Thanks.

Yes - I could call the company that made the sofa. However, I would expect they would try to sell me a very expensive cleanser. For this reason, I am seeking personal opinions.

As for double-posting, after posting in the 'upholstery' forum, I discovered this 'stain removal' forum, which I decided was more appropriate. Who is it that decides which forum a message should be posted in? Is it not possible that it could be beneficial to post in two forums --- namely, both the Cleaning and Stain Removal forum and the Upholstery Fabric forum? After posting in the Upholstery forum, I decided posting in the Stain Removal forum might glean more replies of a personal been-there done-that nature. Was that a foolish decision on my part?

I would suggest still contacting the manufactor.....most will give you straight up answers. If its a high quality piece im sure your statsfaction means alot to them. Personal experiences can vary since many may not have anything similar to what you have.

Some leathers will lighten when wet but then return to the orginal color. I would say a very damp cloth well wrung may be a good start. Most pieces have a test panel under the cushions or skirts...try any cleaning attempt there first and see what it does.