can my couch be saved with Vinegaroon?

[teaners]

A friend of mine threw up on my brown leather couch and it seems permanently stained. I used baking soda to get the smell out and tried the normal leather cleaning products to no avail. I was thinking of vinegaroon'ing the whole couch to see if I could just make it black. What are your thoughts? I saw on here that I should try to avoid adding oxygen to the vinegaroon so perhaps I should brush it on vs using a spray bottle? Does the neutralizing with baking soda eliminate the vinegar smell? Should I add the baking soda it to the vinegaroon solution it's self or make a rinse afterwards? 

 

Thanks for your time. I know I have a lot of questions,

Kristina

[Northmount]

On 7/18/2025 at 11:53 AM, teaners said:

A friend of mine threw up on my brown leather couch and it seems permanently stained. I used baking soda to get the smell out and tried the normal leather cleaning products to no avail. I was thinking of vinegaroon'ing the whole couch to see if I could just make it black. What are your thoughts? I saw on here that I should try to avoid adding oxygen to the vinegaroon so perhaps I should brush it on vs using a spray bottle? Does the neutralizing with baking soda eliminate the vinegar smell? Should I add the baking soda it to the vinegaroon solution it's self or make a rinse afterwards? 

 

Thanks for your time. I know I have a lot of questions,

Kristina

Moved your post to Dyes, Antiques, Stains, Glues, Waxes, Finishes and Conditioners.

Check out vinegaroon in this forum, lots of posts and info.  Note it is not a dye.  It is a reaction between iron and tannins in the leather.  So the leather needs to be vegetable tanned, and, any finish removed so the veinegaroon can soak in and do its chemical reaction.

[Leather Repair Center]

On 7/18/2025 at 10:53 AM, teaners said:

A friend of mine threw up on my brown leather couch and it seems permanently stained. I used baking soda to get the smell out and tried the normal leather cleaning products to no avail. I was thinking of vinegaroon'ing the whole couch to see if I could just make it black. What are your thoughts? I saw on here that I should try to avoid adding oxygen to the vinegaroon so perhaps I should brush it on vs using a spray bottle? Does the neutralizing with baking soda eliminate the vinegar smell? Should I add the baking soda it to the vinegaroon solution it's self or make a rinse afterwards? 

 

Thanks for your time. I know I have a lot of questions,

Kristina

Hi Kristina, would you mind sharing a picture of the couch and stain?

[Constabulary]

If it was me I´d check with a professional leather cleaning / restoration service. DIY like "vinegaroon'ing" may work but it could get worse also. Again, I´d check with a Co. who is restoring / reconditioning leather. If you have one locally they may come to your house and check the damage. May cost some $ but a new leather couch most likely is more expensive.

Not on my end of the world but these folks f.i. offer telephone support:

https://clydesleathercompany.com/pages/about-us