Any hints on how to remove red permanent ink from a tan leather sofa without wrecking the sofa?
16 month old toddlers and permanent ink pens don’t mix
Try a little hairspray in an inconspicious corner, if it doesn’t affect the leather, spray some on the ink, let it stand for a few minutes, then wash it with a mild soap. The next day use a leather conditioner.
Good luck.
Permanent marker ink is generally soluble in alchohol. Try some on an inconspicuous spot first. Plus what picunurse said about leather conditioner and luck.
My first thought was to recommend scissors. 
IIRC, raw acetone (not the watered down stuff in nail polish, the good stuff at the hardware store) is best for dissolving permanent marker ink. Then again, its good for dissolving leather tanning, too.
Test with a q-tip in an inconspicuous corner.
Assuming that you have the offending marker, take a scrap of fabric, mark it, and then experiment. Acetone, Naptha, Isopropyl alcohol, Methyl ethyl ketone, and a few others are commonly sold. Sadly, 1-1-1 trichloroethane is impossible to find any more-it’s a great cleaner and solvent.
Thanks for the replies everyone. I went with a quick rub down using rubbing alcohol and then wiped off with a damp rag repeatedly. The ink isn’t completely gone but not noticeable unless you know where to look. Thus far the leather color hasn’t changed or anything.
I’m out of the rubbing alcohol but may try again in a couple of days if it’s still irritating and the sofa hasn’t faded.
Told chinawife we aren’t buying a new sofa set until the bambina’s are out of the house - and that’s many years down the road.