Sadly, inks don’t just spill on carpets-they can also spill on the wood of your furniture. When I was a child, I remember discoloring furniture with ink using permanent markers (mom still gets mad when recalling those days).
So today’s blog will focus on how to remove ink stains from wood materials. Remember there are homes whose walls and floors are made from wood. You can also use the described methods to remove ink stains from pieces of products that are made from wood.
The items used are similar to the ones we used for removing ink stains on carpets. Previously, for removing stains on carpets, we HIGHLY emphasized not to rub carpets or else it would only worsen the stain further. This time it is the opposite-you HAVE to scrub the area that has been marked with ink. Not doing so will not allow the ink to disappear. So be sure to rub hard when using the suggested materials that are described below.
There are a total of 8 ways to remove ink from wood. Near the end, there is a short question-and-answer section for you that may give you further insight on removing ink from wood.
How to remove ink stains from wood by using alcohol
The classic way to clean ink is to use Alcohol. The alcohol we are referring to is called Rubbing Alcohol, also known as Isopropyl alcohol.
Damp a piece of soft rag cloth with some rubbing alcohol and rub it on the stained surface of the wood really HARD. You may have to rub for a while, maybe for 1-2 minutes and you will see that the ink stain is no longer present on your wood.
Rubbing alcohol is commonly used for wiping and cleaning ink stains. It is a common ingredient used for cleaning supplies, perfume, and paint.
For this reason, it is very important that you do not EVER swallow rubbing alcohol as it can be deadly. Rubbing alcohol is also very flammable so make sure when you are applying it onto your wood for cleaning, your furniture is not near any fire.
Remove ink stains by using vinegar & toothpaste.
In the case of vinegar, you can pour a little on the wooden surface and run the area with a soft wet cloth that was drenched in water.
For toothpaste, put some toothpaste on the wooden surface and let it stay for a while. Then rub the surface hard with a soft cloth or rag to wipe the stain off the table.
Remove ink stains from wood by using baking soda.
In a small bowl create a paste by putting 1 teaspoon of baking soda and some water. Now mix it well.
Pour this baking soda mixture over the wood area that has been stained with ink. Leave the mixture on the area for a while. Then grab a piece of cloth and rub over the surface in a circular motion. You may have to rub the surface for a minute or two before the stain disappears.
How to remove ink stains from wood by using sun-screen
Put some sunscreen on the surface of the wood and grab an alcohol wipe (or a soft cloth) and clean the surface.
Try hand-sanitiser & window cleaner
Hand-sanitiser is another alternative for removing ink stains on wood. Rub some hand-sanitizer onto the wooden area. Let it stay for half a minute and then rub it off with a piece of cloth.
Window Cleaning spray can be sprayed over the area and wiped away with a piece of cloth.
Deodorant can also help you
On the wooden surface, run your deodorant over the area that is stained with ink. Now use a soft cloth to rub the deodorant off the surface.
Girls! Try nail polish remover to clean your wood furniture
Just as described before, wet a piece of soft rag with some nail polish and then rub against the area in a circular motion. Don’t be surprised if the ink does not go away instantly.
You may have to remove the ink by rubbing the wood by re-wetting the cloth with more nail polish and rubbing with force. When you are done and the ink has come off, use a wet cloth soaked in water to clean the surface to ensure the area is fully clean.
Try rubbing for a minute and if that does not work, then try the next solution for removing ink stains from wood.
Remove ink stains from wood with shaving cream
Personally, I prefer using Barbasol Shaving cream to clean ink stains.
To use shaving cream, apply some onto the area and let it sit for a minute or two. Then use a soft cloth and rub the surface in a circular motion.
After you have cleaned the surface, spray some water onto the wooden surface. Now use a soft cloth to wipe the area dry. You can repeat the process again if this solution does not work the first time.
Don’t worry, as this is very common. If it does not work the first time then try again and if it does not then try the next solution.
How to remove ink stains from wood by cheating
Now, this is a trick that no blog has spoken of. I personally implemented this trick when I was a child as I was scared of what mom would say (I didn’t just mark on furniture, I also drew on walls).
The simple trick is not to remove the stain at all. Instead, you PAINT over the stain with a color that matches the color of your wood.
When all fails, this is probably the last idea that will save your furniture. Personally, I used oil paint, the ones used for painting on paper for artistic purposes.
You do not have to just brush over the area-you simply brush over the area that is stained only. I would use a regular paintbrush (the ones used for painting on paper) to paint the areas marked in ink. You can also use paint used for painting wood.
Painting over the inked area makes the mark more invisible. Avoid painting the areas that are not marked at all as this may make the paint seem obvious.
FAQ on removing stains from wood.
What brand of nail polish remover should I use?
If you want to use Nail Polish Removers to remove ink stains from wood then know that brand is not a fact here. You can use any kind of Nail Polish Remover. However, an Acetone-based nail polish remover will more likely give you the best result as they work like rubbing alcohol.
I am afraid that the wood might get damaged. What should I do?
A lot of the chemicals suggested above are actually quite strong. We recommend testing an area first before going straight in.
Rubbing with force does not remove the ink stains, what should I do?
Just Apply the recommended solution to the surface and leave for a while. Then instead of a plain soft cloth, use a wet sponge to rub the surface with force. Hopefully, this will work. Otherwise, try another ingredient to remove the ink.
The wooden surface is stained with permanent markers-what should I do?
You can use our recommended solution for ball-pen ink or even permanent markers such as Sharpe markers. You can also use the above-recommended solutions for plastic that has been stained with ink or permanent markers.
Can I use liquid dish-soap to remove wood stains?
Well, you can give it a try. The effectiveness of this idea depends on what type of ink and the type of wood.
It does not harm to try. This idea will less likely damage your wood but dish soap will less likely work for removing stains on wood. This is because dish soap is not chemically as strong as rubbing alcohol.
I do not have shaving cream right now. Any alternatives?
Do you have any AFTER-Shave lotion? You can try that as well. Just as we described above for shaving cream, apply some after-shave lotion onto the surface of the inked area and wait for a while. Then use a cloth to rub the area in a circular motion.
Then spray some water onto the surface and wipe clean the area with a soft cloth. If the process does not work then repeat the process again or try other methods suggested above.
Another alternative is to use hairspray. Simply spray the area that has been injured with the dark ink and leave it for a while. Then use a soft cloth to wipe the area clean. Repeat if the process does not work once.
Will my wood be damaged by using these solutions?
Yes, it is possible for the wooden surface to be damaged. So test an area before you proceed. I cannot stress how important this is.
I once attempted to empty the container of my lip gloss bottle. The small and thin lip gloss container was made from plastic. I decided to use nail polish remover for the best results.
I was surprised, the walls of the plastic reacted and literally made the walls rough like a damaged road. So always test a small area before you fully start cleaning.
Can I use baby wipes to clean the surface with the solutions you suggested?
That’s a BRILLIANT idea!
Yes, using baby wipes will work BETTER since it already has substances for cleaning. Whereas a plain soft cloth is without any moisture and simply wipes the area dry.
You can also use makeup wipes for wiping the surface clean(i think they are also called wet tissues). In addition, you can use a soft wet sponge to clean the surface with force.
Do not use Sandpaper to scrub the area as it will damage the wooden surface especially if the wood is unpolished.
It’s not just wood- It can be used in other places as well.
Bear in mind that a lot of these items can be used to remove ink stains on plastic-not just wood. Some of the items may work better than others.
One of my friends once mentioned the use of hair shampoos and perfume for removing ink stains but we have not tested this out although perfumes contain Isopropyl alcohol.
Keep in mind that none of these above-mentioned products ever CLAIM to remove ink stains from furniture-these are just ideas that people have experimented with and have passed on these ideas (all of which we have tried and have worked.)
If you are also searching for a way to remove an ink stain from your carpet then try this How to Remove Ink Stains from Carpet. It has amazing ways to shine your carpet like a new one.