Why Does Leather Turn White? (7 Facts)

Leather is one of the most popular materials for furniture, bags, shoes as it is durable, long lasting and looks good!

Here Is Why Leather Turns White:

The short answer is that oils within the leather can sometimes move to the surface which can change the colour of the leather. The other reason is to do with mold. This shows on the surface of the leather and is normally why it looks white in colour.

In this article we are going to discuss in more detail why your leather turns white and what you can do to fix it up!

Why Does Leather Turn White?

Leather typically turns white for two reasons.

The first is when mold or mildew starts to grow on the leather, giving it a white, splotchy appearance and causing an unpleasant smell.

The second potential cause of whiteness on leather is known as ‘fatty spew’, which is when fats or oils within the leather start to move to the surface and crystallize because of a change in temperature.

Whether it is caused by something growing on the leather or the emergence of something from within, you won’t be able to miss leather turning white.

Both mold and fatty spew appear like a sort of rash, covering the leather in continuous patches.

Fatty spew is usually only ever caused by a change in humidity that pulls the oils within the leather to the surface, but mold or mildew will start to grow if the leather absorbs moisture from the air, or if you neglect to clean it properly.

How Do You get white residue off leather?

You should attempt to remove white residue from leather as soon as you notice it in order to minimize the damage as much as possible.

If the residue is caused by fatty spew, you should clean the leather all over with a wet cloth and then apply a cleaning product called spew remover.

If you follow the instructions correctly, this should suppress the oils in the leather and stop them from coming to the surface again.

Sometimes, white residue can just be cleaned off by wiping the item down, which indicates that it is not caused by something like fatty spew or mold.

You should try to wipe down leather products on a regular basis to avoid residue of any colour forming on it.

Once you have removed white residue by either of these methods, apply a leather conditioner to the item.

This will protect it against any future stains and help to ward off anything that tries to grow on the surface of the leather.

Using a leather conditioner will also help if you’re experiencing dry or cracked leather because it works well to soften the material.

How Do You Get A White Spot Off A Leather Purse?

Leather purses are often expensive because the material has such a long and complex production, so you’ll want to clean off any white spots immediately to stop them from spreading and spoiling the look of your purse.

Rubbing alcohol remains one of the surest ways to remove white residue, but if you are just looking to treat a single white spot, limit the cleaning to just that area.

Use a cotton ball dipped in rubbing alcohol to dab the white spot until you notice it lifting.

Once you’ve cleaned white spots off leather, make sure that you also carefully dry the material with a towel.

Leaving any moisture on leather will only encourage white spots to come back, so completely drying the material and then using a leather conditioner will keep it in top shape.

For an item as delicate as a leather purse, you should hang it up, wrap it up, or store it in a place where it is well ventilated and won’t become moist from humid air.

How Do You Remove Mold Or Mildew Off Your Leather?

For mold or mildew, you should start by wiping down the item with a wet cloth.

Then, you can choose between using a solution of equal parts cold water and rubbing alcohol, or using diluted vinegar. Treat the leather carefully and don’t rub too hard because you might cause damage to the leather.

It’s easy to notice mold or mildew starting to grow on leather even if the white spots are not noticeable yet because they will cause the item to smell bad.

Mold will usually smell musty, even after you’ve taken the leather product out into fresh air.

An environment with excessive moisture will cause it to settle on leather and start to absorb, so it is in your best interest to catch it as soon as possible to prevent it from spreading completely across the item.

To prevent mold and mildew from infecting your leather products, try to avoid having too much moisture in the air around them.

If you own leather clothing, such as a jacket or a hat, hang them up and give the material freedom to breathe.

If you own a larger leather item, like a piece of furniture, you can always purchase a dehumidifier to get rid of moisture in the air, or ensure continuous ventilation by keeping your windows open.

Here is a good article on how to remove mold from your leather bag.

Related Questions:

Why Does Leather Turn Green?

Leather is an interesting material that can become discolored for many different reasons. If you notice your leather turning green, it is most likely due to the dye used in its creation.

The dye in leather can fade and go a greenish shade when it is exposed to excessive sunlight, though this will usually prevent itself in patches rather than encompassing the entire leather item.

Fatty spew can sometimes appear greenish instead of white as well, so the problem with your leather might be caused by a change in temperature drawing out the material’s internal oils.

Fatty spew can be treated, though green fatty spew is less likely than white fatty spew and may suggest that the problem is worse.

Though mold on leather is most commonly white, green mold is also a possibility. This color mold is also caused by the material soaking up too much moisture, as well as if it spends too long in dark conditions.

You should remove green mold the same way that you’d remove white mold, taking care that you’ve properly disinfected the fabric to kill the mold spores and remove every trace of mold.

Why Does Leather Turn Blue?

Another unusual color that leather products can turn is blue, though this is almost always to do with the product itself and is not caused by any mold or mildew.

Blue stains are more likely to occur on leather items that have been dyed black.

Things like water spillages can cause the dye to run a bit, spreading a lighter shade across the material (in this case, a blueish shade bleeding out from the darker black dye).

Another cause of blue stains on leather is copper components, such as a zipper on a leather jacket or accessories on a leather hat.

An adverse reaction between copper and leather will cause the former to turn parts of the latter blue, or even green.

It is best to avoid leather products with copper embellishments because they do not match well together.

Other potential causes include accidental damage, such as blue ink leaking from a pen inside the bag or color transferring from clothing you are wearing that has come into contact with the fabric.

In those cases, clean off the leather as soon as possible and get the item professionally cleaned if you cannot remove accidental damage stains by yourself.

Sometimes, it will take several attempts to fully remove blue stains caused by colour transfer because cleaning will just gradually lighten the blue until it is no longer noticeable.

Why Does Leather Turn Black Or A Darker Color?

You’re most likely to notice black or darker spots forming on leather if something has made contact with its surface.

For example, excessive moisture can clog up the material’s pores, and this can come from wet weather, body oils, or too much leather conditioner.

Remember, even though it is a durable fabric, leather needs to be able to breathe too to avoid clogged pores, just as our skin does.

Dye can also be transferred onto leather from clothes and other things that the leather makes contact with regularly.

Just as with other discoloration, such as blue stains on leather, you will notice black marks caused by black dyes on other items.

Sometimes water will cause the dyes to run and bleed other colors onto your leather products, but simply making physical contact with leather can cause dark dyes to run, depending on how they were produced.

As with blue stains, you can also notice leather starting to darken in places due to accidental damage.

Black ink is one of the main offenders, as is oil, and it is easy for items that you use on a daily basis, such as jackets or car seats, to become discoloured.

Darkened leather can be just as much of a hassle to treat as faded leather, but it is possible to restore items to their previous condition if they start to turn black.

Lighter leathers are more likely to darken, but they can be re-dyed if you want to fully restore them.

Letting leather that has slightly darkened get some sunlight will also help to counteract darkening effects, as will letting the fabric get fresher air to avoid congestion of the pores.

It is easiest if you catch darkening leather early on, the same as it is if you notice leather starting to lighten.

You’ll be able to tackle the problem faster and stop your leather item turning a completely different colour