Bicycle Mechanics - Chain grease on a honey brown brooks saddle

Well, it happened.

I was stupid and now there's a big ole' patch of black on my nice honey brown saddle.

Is there anyway to clean it off? It seems absorbed into the leather, simple green does nothing.

If not, what's a good way to just make the whole thing black? Dowse in bike grease or shoe polish? What won't rub off on jeans and shorts?

Go to a dry cleaners that specializes in leather and suede. That's the best and safest bet if you want to minimise any possible color change but yet clean off the grease. Or go to a leather shop and buy their Leather Degreaser.

Other methods, with testing on an unseen area first for color changes: Dawn Dishwashing Liquid, Clorox Cleanup, sprinkle the area with cornstarch or talc powder and cover with a wet towel for a few hours and repeat as necessary, etc etc.

First use saddle soap, to clean the leather. Then use Pecards or Brooks Proofhide.

I don't think you'll get the grease out of the leather once it has soaked in. You could soak the whole thing in oil to even out the color. Sheldon Brown describes how to soak a brooks in oil on this page:
http://sheldonbrown.com/leather.html

You can remove the dye from a leather saddle with laquer thinner. I "pre-aged" a green saddle that way and sold it at a bike swap for more than I paid for it new.
http://thumb9.webshots.net/t/53/553/9/83/62/2880983620068014369oOLccb_th.jpg (http://sports.webshots.com/photo/2880983620068014369oOLccb)

I've applied dark brown permanent hair dye to a couple of my honey colored Brooks. Doesn't rub off.

On the other hand, like soiled bar tape, scuffed & stained saddles add some character to your bike. :D

Just go ahead and ride it. You might be surprised at the color you'll end up with, a lot of Character.
Mud

I would'nt worry too much about grease stains on your Brooks. Get as much of it out as you can, then proffhide it and ride it like you stole it. It wont take long for that honey color to darken considerably after a few months of sweaty butt cheeks, getting caught in the rain, and applications of proofhide.

Agree, just ride it- also no one can see the spot if your butt is on it

Agree, just ride it- also no one can see the spot if your butt is on it
I was going to make a joke about subtle and discerning butts. But then I decided not to.

It adds character.

Well, some butt sweat today seemed to lighten it a bit but I think there's now way to get it out so I might as well just ride it.

It doesn't look like a poo stain so that's a plus.

I may try the hair dye thing if I want to get this to match my black bike and get a different brooks for the orange/blue/white one.