Ink stains are one of the peskiest of problems that we encounter in our daily lives. From getting our clothes dabbed in ink to spilling it on the wood, dealing with the ink is every affair. While every other TV advertisement might be claiming the best solution for the ink stain removal from clothes, there might be none giving you solutions on how to remove ink from wood.
Wood is all around. And the role of ink is all-pervading. The furniture that makes our homes a lively affair and even the office cabinets where we spend a considerable part of the day is most likely to be wooden. But why does it become a frustrating task when it comes to removing ink stains from the wooden surface? Most probably because we do not know the right way of doing it.
What if we tell you that we have prepared a step-by-step guide on how to remove ink from wood effortlessly? Would you still be freaking out the same way you always did after finding out ink adding a new (untoward) color to your wood accessory? We hope the problem stands sorted here. We surely can’t gain complete control over the ink, but the ink stain, that can surely be taken complete control on.
Step-by-step guide on how to remove ink from wood
There is no cap on the number of ways that one can get the wooden accessory stained by ink. It might be the folly of the kids, the haste of your partner, or even your carelessness that can end up leaving unsightly marks on the wooden thing. Be it any reason, the ways of discarding the scuffs are certainly present. Next is a list of five ways that you can always resort to, whenever ink takes over.
Step 1: Use baking soda (Sodium Bicarbonate)
Suppose that you accidentally break or crack the nib of your ball pen and spill the ink over the table. Do not panic! Use a baking soda solution in the right way and restore the look of the table to ink-free.
- Mix it thoroughly.
- Dab the stain with the solution.
- Using a toothbrush, rub it gently without pushing it further.
- Let the solution sit on the stain for at least five minutes and allow it to penetrate.
- Clean it off using a cotton ball or a cotton cloth.
- Repeat the process until you finally remove the ink stain.
Step 2: Using White Spirit
Using white spirit is one of the most effective solutions on how to remove ink from wood. But before we dive deeper into the method of using it, one word of precaution is to test white spirit on a comparatively smaller area of wood. This is to eliminate the chances of worsening the problem further arising out of adverse reactions. If using white spirit on a smaller surface area does not damage the topcoat, then there goes a green signal to white spirit.
- Soak a piece of cloth in white spirit.
- Wipe the ink stain with the spirit-soaked cloth.
- Keep on wiping it until you find the scuffs fading.
- Dab the surface using a clean cloth.
- Repeat the process using a freshly dampened cloth until it is all clear.
Step 3: Using bleach
Bleach is known to have myriad uses in our daily life. From keeping sheets cleaner and whiter to disinfecting the toilets, common household bleach doesn’t fail. But do you know you can use bleach to get rid of ink marks from wooden accessories as well? Here is a guide on how to remove ink from wood using powdered bleach.
Words of Precaution
1. Make sure you are using proper protective clothing and gloves.
2. Ensure adequate ventilation of the room.
3. Wear a mask to keep your lungs safe.
- Before using oxalic or chlorine bleach, clean the surface using denatured alcohol.
- Apply the bleach that you are having at your disposal.
- Leave the stain smeared with bleach for at least 15 minutes.
- Clean the spot using clean water, dabbing it with a cotton ball/ cloth.
Step 4: Using nail polish remover
You may not have white spirit or bleach at your home, but when it comes to a nail polish remover, the chances of having it at your home are certainly higher. Using this solvent, which is chemically acetone, is pretty easy to use.
- Pour the liquid over a cotton ball.
- Rub it on the surface of the stain.
- After rubbing, leave the stain for a few minutes. (Though you can already see that the stain has considerably faded by now).
- Now wipe off the surface using a clean, lightly wet cloth.
Step 5: Using a dishwasher solution
While using a dishwasher solution may not be a strong solution for age-old ink stains, it is certainly the best and easiest solution for fresh ink stains. It’s the fat-eliminating properties of the solution that make it a stain-removing agent.
Follow these steps on how to remove ink from wood using a dishwasher solution:
- Take a tablespoon of a dishwasher.
- Mix it well in a few milliliters of warm water.
- Stir the mixture well until it starts foaming.
- Dip a cotton ball or swab into the solution and rub it across the stain.
- Keep on doing until the stains vanish.
The above-mentioned five ways are going to help you strike off the ink stains from your perfectly aesthetic wooden furniture. Also, you might be surprised to find out that even toothpaste can be an effective tool against stains. There is no technicality involved in its usage. You simply have to roll out half a spoon of it, and just scrub it across the stain. Keep on doing that, and eventually, it would go away. But yes, it does take time.
Conclusion
Resorting to any of these measures on how to remove ink stains from wood can be a fun thing. Do ensure to take necessary precautions for yourself as well as the accessory while handling the chemicals.
Happy cleaning!
