A question about Ink Spots. Not the musical group, the stain.

June 7, 2008 10:41 PM

I got black ink on a birch wood bookshelf from Ikea. Help me get it out.

Cheap pen. Too much heat. light colored wood. Now I have a bunch of small stains all over my nice cabinet. Worst case scenario? I'll make it into the floor end for this thing as it's one of those cube deals that can be either side. But I'd rather get it out. Any suggestions for black ink on birch wood?

posted by rileyray3000 to home & garden (9 comments total)

I have successfully used a baking soda and water paste mix to get rid of ink stains on wood. Scrub very gently.
posted by trixare4kids at 10:46 PM on June 7, 2008

Solid birch? You could sand it out. If birch-colored or a thin veneer.... what trix said.
posted by rokusan at 10:49 PM on June 7, 2008

Methanol dissolves most inks. Problem is it can leave a wider, lighter stain. Try it with a Q-tip on a small area, and blot immediately with a paper towel.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 10:56 PM on June 7, 2008

We've used a hemp-based soap called Compound 420 to get stains out of untreated birch counter. Worked a treat.
posted by Dipsomaniac at 12:01 AM on June 8, 2008

Magic Eraser worked for me, but I don't know what kind of pale wood I had.
posted by spasm at 2:07 AM on June 8, 2008

wood bleach.
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 6:12 AM on June 8, 2008

Determine first whether the ink is actually soaked in, or just crusted "on top" of the finish? If it's just crusted on, scrape it off.

If it's soaked in, be aware that your birch might be a veneer and the actual birch is only a 16th of an inch thick. You might find yourself sanding right through it.

Good luck.
posted by gjc at 3:25 PM on June 8, 2008

Try Lysol, when I worked in a furniture store, thats what we used to remove ink.
posted by wongcorgi at 6:17 PM on June 8, 2008

Try Lysol, when I worked in a furniture store, thats what we used to remove ink.
posted by wongcorgi at 9:17 PM on June 8 [+] [!]

Probably because of the alcohol in the Lysol... Methanol works, as noted above. Isopropyl will work nearly as well, and is possibly already in your house. Similarly, ethanol (unflavored vodka) will also work.

Follow weapons-grade pandemonium's advice:
"Try it with a Q-tip on a small area, and blot immediately with a paper towel."
posted by IAmBroom at 7:03 AM on June 9, 2008