I have brought a bed and found felt tip pen all over the wooden part. Does anyone have any ideas on how to get it off?
By Katherine from Saltash, Cornwall, UK
Well, it depends partly on how old and worn the finish on the wood is. I would proceed cautiously in case the varnish is thin; if you start removing the ink and it smears you don't want to make it worse by spreading it onto bare wood.
Get a million q tips and some 90 per cent rubbing alcohol, at any large drug store. Most rubbing alcohol is 70 percent, but you can find the 90-91 percent. Have an old absorbent rag like a white t shirt also.
Dip q tip into alcohol and wipe with upward stroke and blot spot [on wood] immediately. See if anything happens. If it does loosen ink, proceed but don't push cloth onto other areas without ink, just use a folded little bit on the exact spot and always use a clean piece of the rag, never one that's been stained with previously removed ink. Slow and carefully, until you get the hang of it.
Alcohol could affect the varnish if it's an older varnish; not likely to if it's modern polyurethane.
Others here may know a better method, but this is where I would start. If it doesn't work you have a nice bottle of rubbing alcohol, good for a lot of things and a new stash of q tips.
A defective ballpoint pen left smudges of blue ink all over my oak desktop. I used nail polish remover (with acetone), putting a little on a paper towel and rubbing lightly, just enough to take the ink off. After I was finished, I polished the surface with Pledge and you'd never know anything happened.
How do you get ink stains off of a wood desk without damaging the wood? With alcohol? Thanks.
By Susan from Riverview, FL
Try a dab of hand sanitizer gel. It removes permanent marker pen from kitchen worktops.
Try it in an inconspicuous place first. Best of luck, Monique :)
How do I get ink pen off of solid oak furniture?
By Ruthie from Millersport, OH
Any ideas on how to remove pen stains from wood without damaging the wood?
Pete Ricks
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My child got a red paint pen stain all over my cherry wood desktop. I can't get off? Any ideas without ruining the wood?
Mike from Malvern, PA
By Marieaa65