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

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

rileyray3000 — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 22:41:42 -0800

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?

By: trixare4kids

trixare4kids — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 22:46:38 -0800

I have successfully used a baking soda and water paste mix to get rid of ink stains on wood. Scrub very gently.

By: rokusan

rokusan — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 22:49:34 -0800

Solid birch? You could sand it out. If birch-colored or a thin veneer.... what trix said.

By: weapons-grade pandemonium

weapons-grade pandemonium — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 22:56:47 -0800

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.

By: Dipsomaniac

Dipsomaniac — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 00:01:47 -0800

We've used a hemp-based soap called Compound 420 to get stains out of untreated birch counter. Worked a treat.

By: spasm

spasm — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 02:07:44 -0800

Magic Eraser worked for me, but I don't know what kind of pale wood I had.

By: Green Eyed Monster

Green Eyed Monster — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 06:12:09 -0800

wood bleach.

By: gjc

gjc — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 15:25:36 -0800

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.

By: wongcorgi

wongcorgi — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 18:17:15 -0800

Try Lysol, when I worked in a furniture store, thats what we used to remove ink.

By: IAmBroom

IAmBroom — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 07:03:44 -0800

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."