How to Remove Ink Stains From Felt-Tip Pens and Markers
Removing a felt-tip or marker ink stain can be difficult. But don’t panic; with suitable detergent and patience, you should be able to get through it.
Here’s how to clean a felt-tip or marker ink stain depending on the nature of the fabric or surface stained.
Cleaning felt-tip and marker stains on leather
To remove a felt-tip pen stain from leather:
– For fresh stains:
◦ Warm milk in a saucepan or microwave.
◦ Dab the stain with a cloth dipped in warm milk.
– For old stains:
◦ Spray a little hair spray on a square of paper towels.
◦ Place the square on the stain, which will thin on contact with the product.
◦ Immediately wipe with another clean square of paper.
◦ If the leather has faded, apply a nourishing balm.
Another effective detergent: rubbing alcohol at 90°.
On suede
To remove a felt stain on suede, apply a little warm milk to the stain and rub.
Other effective detergents: alcohol at 90 °, lemon.
On nubuck
To remove a felt stain on the nubuck, rub the stained area with a paper tissue soaked in lemon.
Other effective detergents: rubbing alcohol at 90° and milk.
Removing ink stains from felt-tip pens and markers on fabric or clothing
On a synthetic textile
To remove a felt-tip stain from a synthetic blouse, for example:
– Rub the stain with vinegar.
– Apply a sponge of soapy water.
– Absorb with a cloth.
– Put the garment in the washing machine.
Caution: Do not use vinegar on a fabric containing acetate.
On cotton
To remove a felt stain on cotton:
– Soap the stain.
– For white cotton, dab the stain with a cotton pad moistened with diluted bleach.
– For colored cotton, rub the stained area with a cloth dampened with rubbing alcohol.
– Put the cotton in the washing machine.
Other effective detergents: are lemon juice and milk.
On jeans
To erase a felt stain on jeans:
– Rub the stain with a cloth soaked in soapy water.
– Then rub the stain with a cotton pad soaked in lemon juice.
– Run a laundry detergent.
Other effective detergents: are alcohol at 90° and milk.
On linen
To remove felt stains from linen:
– Rub the stains with a cloth soaked in soap and water.
– Then, apply warm milk with a washcloth.
– Machine wash.
Other effective detergents: lemon juice and alcohol at 90°.
On silk
To get rid of a felt-tip pen stain on silk:
– Rub the stain with a cloth soaked in rubbing alcohol.
– Wash with clear water.
On satin
To remove a felt stain on satin, polish the stain with a cloth soaked in lemon juice.
Other effective detergents: are alcohol at 90° and milk.
On velvet
To remove a felt stain on velvet, rub the stain with a cloth soaked in warm milk.
On wool
To remove a felt stain from wool, rub the stain with a cloth soaked in lemon juice.
On goat or sheep hair or skin
To remove a felt stain from a sheepskin rug: spray a carpet stain remover spray.
On natural fur
To remove a felt stain on natural fur, rub the stain with a cloth moistened with rubbing alcohol.
Other effective detergents: lemon and warm milk.
On synthetic fur
To clean a felt stain on fake fur:
– Apply vinegar to the stain with a cotton ball.
– Apply hair spray.
– Press a tissue on the stain.
– Sponge.
On oilcloth
To remove a felt stain on waxed canvas, rub the stain with a cloth soaked in lighter fluid.
Another effective detergent is hair spray.
Cleaning a felt-tip pen or marker ink stain on wood
On white wood
To remove a felt-tip pen stain from white wood:
– Rub with lemon juice.
– If there are still traces, rub them with a cloth moistened with rubbing alcohol.
Another effective detergent is hydrogen peroxide with ammonia.
Note: It is impossible to remove this stain if it resists lemon juice.
On waxed wood
To pull felt stains from waxed wood:
– Rub the stains with a lemon wedge mixed with salt.
– If the stain remains, rub it with a cloth soaked in rubbing alcohol.
On painted wood
To remove a felt stain on painted wood:
– Rub the stain with rubbing alcohol on a cloth.
– Gently wipe with a square of sandpaper to complete the treatment.
On teak
To clean a felt stain on teak furniture:
– Dab the stain with a cloth soaked in turpentine.
– Finish this treatment by rubbing gently with a ball of steel wool.
Removing ink stains from felt-tip pens and markers on a floor or wall
On natural fibers (sea rush, jute, coconut)
To remove a felt-tip stain from a burlap carpet (for example), treat the stain with a carpet stain remover spray.
On sisal
To remove a felt stain from sisal flooring:
– Sprinkle the stain with carpet stain remover powder.
– Allow to soak in.
– Vacuum.
On carpet
To remove a marker stain from carpet:
– Place a tissue on the stain.
– Rub with a cloth dampened with white spirit.
– Rinse.
– Dry.
Other effective detergents: white vinegar, lemon juice, hair spray, and rubbing alcohol.
On lino
To clean a felt stain on linoleum:
– Try erasing the stain with a clean eraser.
– If the stain resists:
◦ Apply a little turpentine.
◦ Run a damp sponge to remove the detergent.
◦ Wipe clean.
On tile
To remove a felt stain from tile:
– Sprinkle the stain with plaster of the same color as the tile.
– Leave it on for a few hours.
– Remove the plaster with a brush. If the tile is white, you can use talcum powder without the risk of discoloration.
On cement or concrete
To remove a felt mark on concrete, rub the stain with a used toothbrush soaked in diluted oxalic acid.
On terracotta or brick
You can remove felt-tip or marker stains on terracotta using a cotton ball soaked in bleach.
On wallpaper
To remove a felt-tip stain on paper:
– If washable, dab a cotton swab on the stain soaked in white spirit.
– If it is not washable: gently rub a bread crumb on the stain. The result is not guaranteed!
Another effective detergent is an eraser.
Cleaning a felt-tip pen or marker ink stain on a smooth surface
On plastic or rubber
To permanently remove a felt-tip stain on rubber, apply a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol to the stained area.
Other effective detergents: lighter fluid and hair spray.
On a window, glass, or crystal
To remove a felt-tip mark on a window:
– Let the ink dry.
– Scrape the stain with a scraper.
Another effective detergent in hot vinegar.
On ceramic, earthenware, or porcelain
To clean a felt mark on a ceramic pan
– Boil diluted vinegar in the bottom of the pan.
– Rinse.
On enamel
To remove a felt mark on enamel, rub the stain with a cloth soaked in hot vinegar.
Removing ink stains from felt-tip pens and markers on metal
On stainless steel
To get rid of a felt-tip marker stain on stainless steel: treat the stain with a special stainless steel stain remover.
Another effective detergent is white spirit.
On copper
To remove a felt-tip mark on copper:
– Immerse the copper in a bath of water and hot vinegar.
– Let it work for a few minutes.
– Put on gloves.
– Rub the remaining stain with a cloth moistened with salt water.
– Soap and rinse.
On brass
To remove a felt stain from brass, polish the stain with a cloth soaked in hot vinegar.
Removing felt stains from stone
To remove a felt-tip or marker stain from stone:
– Prepare a compound paste:
◦ Spanish white;
◦ a little water;
◦ sodium perborate.
– Let the paste sit on the mixture; the ink should stick to the detergents.
– Remove the detergent with a stiff bristle brush.
– Rinse with clean water.
On marble
To remove a felt stain on marble:
– Mix ammonia with hydrogen peroxide.
– Rub the stain with a cloth containing this mixture.
– Rinse.
On stoneware
To clean a felt stain on a stoneware floor, rub the stain with a cotton cloth soaked in household alcohol.
On granite
To get rid of a felt mark on a granite floor, dab a bit of diluted lye on the stain and pour it onto a cloth.
Cleaning a felt-tip pen and marker ink stain on skin
To erase a felt-tip pen stain on the skin, rub the stain with a cloth soaked in rubbing alcohol.
List of detergents for cleaning felt-tip stains
– Can of rubbing alcohol
– Hydrogen peroxide
– Spanish white or Meudon white
– Bottle of sodium perborate
– Table salt
– Stainless steel stain remover spray
– Alcohol at 90
– Talcum powder for babies
– Dry shampoo for carpets and rugs
– Powdered shampoo for carpets and rugs
– Steel wool/iron wool brush
– Hair spray
– Lighter fluid can
– Can of bleach
– White spirit
– Turpentine
– Ammonia
– White vinegar
– Sandpaper
– Oxalic acid (sorrel salt)
– Sodium hydroxide can
– Bag of modeling plaster
– Bottle of milk
– Lemon
– Soap
– Household alcohol
– General cleaning product
