Removing Ink Stains From Old Doll

Does anyone know how to get ink pen stain off baby dolls? My almost 2 year old daughter drew on my favorite doll, I had as a child. I am heart broken. Orange cleaner, nail polish remover, nothing is working. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Elisabeth needs help from Sanford, N.C.

Answers:

Removing In Stains From Old Doll

I would try a tiny dab of any brand hand sanitizer (you know, the clear liquid stuff in the see-through bottle that evaporates quickly you can use to wash your hands). I would test a tiny area first. I have used it at work to get black ink off my hands (when my pen leaks) and off my desk, too. At first it "bleeds" and looks like it's getting worse, as does hairspray when you use it for this, but continuing to wipe the area with it will remove it completely. I would use it as quickly as possible so as not to dry out the doll's face at that spot (I don't know that it would--just a precaution). (12/11/2004)

By songbird100

Removing Ink Stains From Old Doll

I have used cheap old Aqua Net hair spray for this purpose before. Just spray small amounts and wipe till gone. (12/12/2004)

By Jessie

Removing Ink Stains From Old Doll

Thanks so much for everyone's suggestions -- what worked was putting an acne medication containing benzoyl peroxide on it and putting it under a desk lamp for several hours. I had to repeat it a few times, but after 4 or 5 'treatments' the ink stains have faded to almost non-existent. It will make the gift much more special -- thanks to all who replied. (12/13/2004)

By Cheryl

Removing Ink Stains From Old Doll

Hairspray and hand sanitizer work because of the alcohol they contain. If you have it, just use rubbing alcohol. (12/22/2005)

By beanygurl

Removing Ink Stains From Old Doll

I've always had great luck getting out ink stains with hairspray. Spray it on the stains, then dab with a clean white cloth. Good luck. (12/23/2005)

By Connie in Colorado

Removing Ink Stains From Old Doll

I would try spraying the ink spot with hair spray. Then use soft cloth to remove the spot. Second choice would be WD40. It is good for many things. (12/23/2005)

By oredwine

Removing Ink Stains From Old Doll

Thank You All! I was able to get all the ink off my baby! I rubbed butter on it and left her in direct sunlight! It took a few days, but it works! (12/29/2005)

By Elisabeth's mom

Removing Ink Stains From Old Doll

Try bleach, I just used it on my hands and the stains came off.

By Desi.

Editor's Note: Personally I'd try peroxide or oxiclean before using bleach. (06/25/2006)

Removing Ink Stains From Old Doll

Thank You so much for the idea of acne cream. It really works! My 4 year old borrowed an American Girl Doll and decided to give her and the doll a tattoo on their foreheads with ink! I was so upset, I went on line and read all the stories about other people with the same problem, ink on a doll's face! I used Clean and Clear acne cream.

I put it on the ink and laid the doll on my trampoline in the sunlight for about a hour and when I brought the doll in the ink was gone! Thank you again! I wish I would have checked on this web site last year because I threw away a couple of really good dolls that my daughter drew on their faces with pen and I could not get it off! (08/02/2007)

By Stephanie

Removing Ink Stains From Old Doll

I tried the acne cream, but it hasn't worked. The ink is purple so I'm not sure what kind of pen it was, but I am desperate at this point. Does anyone else have any suggestions. I have tried magic eraser, hairspray, acne cream, and finger nail polish remover. I think that is it thus far.

Thanks (05/20/2008)

Removing Ink Stains From Old Doll

My 2 year old daughter gave her very special Madame Alexander several "tattoos" with a pen she found and I tried everything to remove it. I tried hairspray, nail-polish remover, acetone, Mr. Clean, and was about to give up when I read about the acne cream. I tried what I had at home (salycilic acid) and it didn't work, but then read an article about using 10% benzoyl peroxide and leaving it under a lamp for 2 hours.

When I tried it I saw some results, so I decided to apply more of the cream and put it in direct sunlight. After 15 minutes the ink was totally gone! (07/03/2008)

By adriana

Removing Ink Stains From Old Doll

There is a product out there sold in most stores called OOPS!. I used it to remove permanent marker from my child's Fisher Price doll house. It worked when nothing else did. (07/08/2008)

By Erin

Removing Ink Stains From Old Doll

My 5 yr old drew a unibrow on her brand new Christmas doll that had the most precious face! She did it within 24 hours of receiving it! Anyway, I freaked out and headed to google. I found all the info about the acne cream and thought it was nuts but I had tried nail polish remover, magic eraser, soap, alcohol, and probably more. So I bought some Clearasil. What I had read was that it had to be 10% benzoyl peroxide and some of the new acne stuff had something else.

I liberally applied it to the unibrow and stuck it under a lamp for about 4 hours, right near the bulb but not touching as it was extremely cloudy so no sunshine available. To mine and my husband's amazement, it disappeared totally. That was several days after she had done it and it was quite a thick unibrow! I mean every bit of it is gone! The baby is beautiful again. Trust me, this nutty idea really worked!

Lisa (01/07/2009)

By Lisa