For more than twenty years and more than 54 gallons per capita each year, soda was the number one drink in the United States according to industry tracker Beverage Digest. People love their pop! As with any popular drink, a spill is inevitable. So, what do you do if you spill some Coke on your favorite leather jacket or briefcase? Whatever you like to call it, here’s a simple and efficient way to remove a dreaded soda stain on leather.

Just like any stain you come across, the quicker you can clean up the mess, the better your chances of completely removing the stain. Start with a clean cloth or some paper towels and gently dab the spill to get as much of it up as you can. Do not rub the stain since leather is porous by nature and has a good chance of retaining a stain if you do. Once you’ve gotten the initial spill cleaned, mix some mild soap into some warm water, making it really bubbly. Using another clean, soft cloth, take some of the suds (be sure to use only the suds) and apply them to the stain, again dabbing instead of rubbing. After that, wipe the area with a dry, clean cloth to remove any residual moisture and apply a leather conditioner, like Chamberlain's Leather Care Liniment No. 1, to restore the leather to its proper place. Keep in mind that any time you use a leather conditioner or cleaner, try a small amount on an inconspicuous part of the leather with a white cloth and let it dry before you use it on the whole thing. If there’s no discoloration in the leather, excessive rub off on the cloth, or any other negative side effects, you’re good to go.

But what happens if you notice the stain after it dries? The problem is that leather tends to absorb liquids, so getting out a dried soda stain on leather is next to impossible. Regularly using a leather conditioner over time will color the stain in a way so as to appear nearly invisible on the leather. A soda stain on leather can be a bit tricky, but like I’ve said, the quicker you can attack the stain, the better your chances of getting it completely removed from leather products.

Now you can enjoy your favorite soft drink, worry free, knowing you now have the tools to tackle any soda spill that might rear itself on your favorite leather bag! After you’ve cleaned that coke off your leather, why not pop out a soda to celebrate? You deserve it!

Contributors
Dwight Ball
Beverage Digest

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