Removing superglue stains from leather

Superglue on leather is an accident with limited solutions. We briefly show what is possible and what is not.

IMPORTANT: Realistic expectations

Even with a quick response, superglue stains on leather, artificial leather or plastic usually cannot be removed completely. Many commercially available cleaners attack the leather colour and leave stains themselves. Colourlock Sek-Off is a specialist cleaner offering the best chances on pigmented leather and artificial leather. However, complete removal without traces is not guaranteed.

First step: determine the type of leather

Pigmented smooth leather:

Pigmented smooth leather has a colour layer on its surface. A rubbed-in drop of water does not soak into the leather, but beads up. Pigmented smooth leather is usually satin-matt and has a grained surface.

Aniline leather:

Aniline leather is open-pore smooth leather. A rubbed-in drop of water soaks in and darkens the moistened area.

Suede leather:

Suede leather has a velour-like surface. Nubuck leather has a very fine nap. Suede leather has a coarser nap, like the reverse side of leather.

PU leather:

PU leather, also known as Bycast leather, is split suede leather with a polyurethane coating applied to make it look like smooth leather. PU leather can be recognised by its gloss and plastic-like feel.

For aniline and suede leather, please first contact us before taking action; these types of leather are very sensitive, and an incorrect attempt at cleaning generally increases the damage.

Instructions for pigmented smooth leather and artificial leather

Before removing the stain, clean dirty leather over a large area from seam to seam with Colourlock Leather Cleaner mild.
Drip Colourlock Sek Off onto a clean, soft cloth, not directly onto the leather.
Test in a concealed area to see whether colour detaches or staining occurs.
Rub carefully in the stained area until the adhesive dissolves. For older stains, allow it to act for some time and repeat the process if necessary.
Always rub only when lightly damp. If the surface becomes too sticky, allow it to dry briefly.
CAUTION: Excessive rubbing can damage the colour layer.

After removing the stain, protect the leather again in the treated area with Colorlock Leather Shield.

If the stain cannot be removed completely, it can be colour-matched with our Colourlock Leather Fresh smooth-leather tints in a suitable colour.