Removing biro ink from upholstery ?

Ian_Edwards

Ian_Edwards

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I've got a short line of blue biro ink on one of the cushions in the salon.
The material is a light leather look and has a suede effect finish, although the material is obviously synthetic.
I’ve tried; “Vanish” stain remover, carpet shampoo, pet stain remover (some sort of biological stuff) and IPA.
The IPA works best, the other products have no visible effect.
If I wet the stain with IPA, and then dab the mark with a paper tissue, some of the ink is transferred to the tissue, I’ve repeated this process many time, to the point where the stain is starting to lose its colour and no visible ink is transferred to the tissue.
But the stain is still there and clearly visible.
Anyone got any clever ideas on how to get rid of the residual stain?
 
"Stain Devil for Ballpoint Ink and Felt Tip"
but check the compatibility with the fabric in question and test in an inconspicuous corner
 
Make a quick call to Prochem Scotland 01475 892111 and ask for Alec.
Ask him for some Inksolv from Prochem and follow instructions on the bottle.
Or cheap hairspray works well!
 
The biro ink needs a solvent - you could try white spirit or nail varnish remover.
BUT test on a obscure area first. Solvents could fade the colour. If the fabric is a flock construction rather then some sort of weave, then solvent colud result in the lifting of the pile of the fabric leaving a bald patch.
Alternatively, consult a good professional upholstery cleaner, eg Servicemaster or a member of NCCA.
 
I've tried a solvent, that's what IPA is, not beer! but Isopropyl alcohol, and yes it does work to an extent, as I said in the original text, it dissolves the ink and I can soak it up with tissue paper. But I'm having difficulty removing all the stain.
I'll try "Stain Devil for Ballpoint Ink and Felt Tip" when I can get hold of some.
 
Slightly off the track, but many years ago I caught one of my daughters (she was 5 at the time)starting to write on the interior with her new biro.

The biro went straight overboard, as I was slightly annoyed. To this day it's the only thing she can remember about the holiday.
 
Traditional biro ink is vegetable oil based. If you still have the offending biro try this on a hidden piece of the fabric.

Saturate the area of the stain with a light vegetable oil such as Sunflower oil. Use the back of a teaspoon to work the oil into the stain. It will hopefully dissolve the pigment.
Now use a degreaser such as swarfega to dissolve the oil. Soapy water removes the emulsified oil.

Swarfega works brilliantly for removing oils stains in the carped caused by bike maintenance in the kitchen when SWMBO is away.

But the above may not work if you've already used a solvent as it will have spread the pigment into the fabric.
 
In the past I have used meths as a safer alternative to white spirit with success. Meths has some colouring and oil but this should wash out with water.
 
johnalison said:
In the past I have used meths as a safer alternative to white spirit with success. Meths has some colouring and oil but this should wash out with water.
Click to expand...

It should now be possible to obtain meths ( or CDA as it is now called) without the violet dye and added oil. The formulation was changed in 2013 although the option exists for suppliers to continue to add the dye if users require it.

Bioethanol presumably conforms to the new formulation.
 
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