Blue jean dye transfer stain removal on leather & vinyl

Blue jean dye transfer stain removal on leather & vinyl

Dye transfer from jeans or other clothing on leather is a common issue in modern day automotive and furniture leather. This is obviously more noticeable on light coloured leathers like white or Ivory. The discolouration is caused by unfixed dyes from a wide variety of clothing and accessories like jackets, trousers, pants and belts. Denim, jeans, stretch fabrics and other types of fabrics may transfer dyes that are not fixed.

Dye transfer from jeans on a leather car seat

Heavy dye transfer on a leather seat in a Mercedes ML .
Dye from belts transferred onto leather car seat
Dye from jeans, denim and discolouration from a belt on car seats.

In most cases as long as the dye and color transfer is dealt with quickly, it can be removed by regular cleaning process. If you wait too long, the dye penetrates through the top coat and into the paint layer. At this point, the stain is no longer just on the leather surface - this makes it impossible to remove such stains with conventional water based leather cleaners, as most leather cleaners do not dissolve the clear coat or top coat (the protective coating for the paint layer on leather)

As with anything, it is best to attempt cleaning with the least aggressive product first. We recommend trying with Geist. Rapid Leather Cleaner PRO and Geist. Leather Cleaning Brush initially to remove dye transfer stains. You can also try using the dedicated Geist. Ink & Dye Remover. If these do not remove the staining, it is likely the dyes have penetrated the clear coat or top coat. You will need one of our solvent based cleaner called Geist. Dissolve. This product dissolves the clear coat very gently to remove all staining.

Lightly damp a white cloth with Geist. Dissolve and carefully clean the stained areas. Golden rule - Always test in a hidden area first! Make sure the cloth has enough product and wipe gently. Repeat this process multiple times until the staining is removed. Ensure the surface is moist as Geist. Dissolve leaves the surface feeling tacky as it evaporates. When tacky, avoid rubbing as this can cause the colour layer to peel off causing more damage. During cleaning, if any colour or paint is removed or staining is still visible it can always be touched up and recoloured with Geist. Easy Colour Restorer. 

To avoid further dye transfer stains in future, the leather should be regularly protected with Geist. Dye & Friction Blocker. The Blocker offers excellent protection against dye transfer. 

RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS

    • Geist. Rapid Leather & Vinyl Cleaner PRO, is a water based but high pH cleaner that offers excellent performance against stubborn staining. 
    • Geist. Leather Cleaning Brush - Helpful against discoloration and dirt in the grain structure.
    • Geist. Dissolve - Solvent based cleaner against stubborn stains. Please follow the instructions!
    • Geist. Dye & Friction Blocker, for final sealing and to reduce new discolouration.


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