Removing ink from vinyl

August 29, 2006 11:55 AM

How do I remove ballpoint pen ink from vinyl?

I purchased a really cute purse recently from Queenbee, after finding out about this company from a previous askmefi post.

I've had it about a week now. It's cream colored vinyl (bad choice, given that I'm a clumsy, mucky pup) and I've somehow managed to get small but noticeable ballpoint pen stains all over it.

I've tried soapy water, and I've tried rubbing alcohol. No luck.

Any suggestions? Someone suggested hairspray, but I'm worried about ending up with a sticky mess of a purse, still covered in ballpoint pen. Has anyone here actually tried this and had a successful result?

posted by kar120c to home & garden (9 comments total)

I haven't personally tried it for this, but according to the WD-40 2000 Uses List which I discovered just last night, WD-40 can remove ink from lots of surfaces, including vinyl.
posted by davcoo at 11:59 AM on August 29, 2006

Has anyone here actually tried this and had a successful result?

My mother used hairspray to remove ink from a vinyl car seat in 1990 or 1991. I watched her and it worked flawlessly. Unless the recipe has been changed, it should be worth a shot.
posted by Mayor Curley at 12:12 PM on August 29, 2006

The Queen Bee website recommends taking it to a dry cleaner. They also suggest automotive vinyl cleaner.
posted by blueskiesinside at 12:29 PM on August 29, 2006

Thanks all. I'll see if my mother-in-law has some hairspray, and try that first. Mayor Curley, your experience seems to suggest that it might work.

If it doesn't, I'll try some of the other suggestions, and try to be more careful in future.
posted by kar120c at 12:34 PM on August 29, 2006

Has anyone here actually tried this and had a successful result?

Never on vinyl, but aquanet is a surefire way to remove ballpoint pen ink from bluejeans, at least in my experience.

Mmm...solvents. (Spot-test first!)
posted by dersins at 12:59 PM on August 29, 2006

Methanol dissolves ballpoint like magic. Fondue fuel should work if you don't have any other form.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 1:32 PM on August 29, 2006

Hairspray will remove ballpoint pen ink from just about anything.
posted by elvissa at 2:11 PM on August 29, 2006

Try spraying it on a clean, white cloth and rubbing the vinyl, rather than spraying it on the vinyl directly.
posted by clarkstonian at 2:23 PM on August 29, 2006

Hmm now I realize I have some ballpoint marks on my own QB bag...gonna have to try this y'all!
posted by radioamy at 8:56 AM on August 30, 2006