Help!!! Theres Ink on My Couch :(

Updated on May 08, 2008
V.R. asks from Littleton, CO
37 answers

I know, I know... I was folding clothes in the bedroom and my son was in the living room alone. I came and sat on the couch and saw ink all over one cushion! My son was drawing and there are black ball point pen lines on it now where he ripped the paper. And I needed that paper he chose to draw on LOL. Its a brown faux suede-like and I don't know if I can get it off with anything that won't ruin it. Its also fairly new. Any ideas?

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K.J.

answers from Salt Lake City on

my grandma swears to dish soap. she might use pomalive. Anyways, it seems to work for her. I'm at the spit up stage. i use diluted lysol for good reasons. :)

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D.Y.

answers from Denver on

When I worked in retail we used cheap hairspray (think Auqanet) & sprayed it on the item till pretty damp-wet & then blot up the ink.

A.C.

answers from Pocatello on

I have microfiber couches and have gotten ink out of them successfully several times with one of those Mr. Clean Magic Erasers. You could also try hairspray, it takes ink out of fabric.

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J.J.

answers from Denver on

hi- I bought some stuff online from the manufacturer of couches called ink-lifter
I don;t know if it will work on faux-suede
Also i have used a leather repair guy named Leatherman
###-###-#### (my bulldog has eaten 3 couches!)he may have ideas,..
Good luck,...
Kimberly J.-Littleton

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L.M.

answers from Salt Lake City on

Hairspray does work, but leaves a residue you'll have to scrub off. Start with rubbing alcohol.

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C.J.

answers from Provo on

Dear V. R. I am not sure if it will work on your couch but I know that you can remove ink with hair spray on cloths. Good luck.
C. J.

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M.J.

answers from Pueblo on

If you haven't tried water or anything, use rubbing alcohol or Hairspray. Dab with a cloth. The Alcohol lifts the stain. This is also true with clothes. If you get pen on your clothes spray it with hairspray before it dries, and then you can wash it out

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T.B.

answers from Colorado Springs on

My son has done this more times than I want to count! I use a clean cloth dampened with Krud Kutter. You can get it at stores like Home Depot. Try it on a spot that is not seen. I have used it on different fabrics and even the carpet with no problem! This stuff even gets latex paint and gum out of carpet! No house with children should be with out it. No I do not have stock in the company ;-) just faith in the product!

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L.C.

answers from Denver on

I'm not sure if the brown faux suede will give the same result, but my daughter wrote in red ink on my taupe leather couch. I used Oxy Clean stain remover (the powder version), with some water and it came off.
Good luck1

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L.C.

answers from Denver on

I am not sure what the ramifications will be for the material on the couch but rubbing alcohol helps to remove ink (that's what is in hairspray to help remove it).

You might try googling it too.
L.

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L.B.

answers from Washington DC on

Rubbing Alcohal will take it out

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L.W.

answers from Colorado Springs on

Hi V.!

Home Depot carries a product called "Capture" (or close to that). I recently had a party where red wine was spilled on my carpet and area rug (my fault). My neighbor was kind enough to get her "Capture" ... it worked! You could go to HD and read the label to see if it's safe for fabric. Just a thought.

Good luck,
L.

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H.W.

answers from Provo on

I read the first couple of responses and saw that people were suggesting hairspray. The best hairspray is Aquanet, but it has the be the aerosol kind. I know that's bad for the environment and all, but it really does work. I've even gotten ink stains (from regular ballpoint pens - doesn't work with all kinds of ink) that had been washed and dries a couple of times.

Spray it on the underside of the couch or somewhere that will never be seen first to make sure you won't stain it and then go to town. If you can take the cover off the cushion that would be best, of course, so you're not getting hairspray into the cushion itself. But you really just soak it and rub it in and it totally dissolves the ink. You'll want to rinse it out after to get out the smell.

Good luck!

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T.S.

answers from Denver on

You might try the stain remover that comes in the dryel dry cleaning kit... I have used it and it worked great, just apply the stain remover to the affected area and blot with a cloth or towel. $10 for a dryel kit is not bad and it does do a great job on your clothes as well!
Hope this helps,
:)T.

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C.W.

answers from Provo on

I have a green suede couch my daughter did the same thing 6 months ago. Test on an area not easily viewed, but the mr. clean magic eraser worked for me. I just got the eraser wet, sqooze (sp?) it out good, and then wiped with a damp rag to remove any residue after. It took it all out and you can't even see where it was now!

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E.W.

answers from Salt Lake City on

cuticle remover or hairspray/rubbing alcohol work well on many surfaces. I would test in a small spot. Cuticle remover works best on leather, hairspray works on carpet and walls and tile.

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J.R.

answers from Salt Lake City on

I am a firm believer in letting the professionals do work I don't want to take a chance on. If your sofa is really new and it is very important to you that it be done right with someone else to take responsibility for the final ruination (I don't think that will happen, but...) call a professional upholstery cleaner and see what they say. The cost may be a little more than a can of something, but if you're really worried about doing more harm by cleaning it than by leaving it, it may be a good idea....My son did the same thing with a ball point pen on my great grandmother's perfect condition antique coffee table. We now just tell a good story when someone (like grandma) asks what happened. Such is life....Good Luck...

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Y.R.

answers from Denver on

Hi V., We have had great success with eucalyptus oil. I am not sure how easy it would be to get over there (I am in New Zealand) but I normally purchase it at a chemist/pharmacy. If you can get it in a large spray can, all the better but even a small bottle of pure concentrated oil should do the trick. Use a cotton bud to apply it to the line, don't over saturate and make sure you test on a small inconspicious area first to test for color fastness. This is also very safe to use on painted walls and wallpaper as it evaporates quite quickly. It can be a bit pricey but believe me, its worth it. My daughter was a very enthusastic budding artist when she was a toddler. She is now a teenager and has artwork displayed at our art institute, so I can forgive her nost of those moments of inspiration LOL.

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K.B.

answers from Boise on

You can use Sol U Mel from melaleuca, it is wonderful. If you are interested, please respond to this email.
K.

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K.T.

answers from Billings on

Look for a product called Quick-N-Bright, I've used it for years and it is safe for suede. I used to find it at K-mart. I have always purchased mine from my friend's mom who sells it at fairs. Her # is 1-###-###-#### (Gloria Allwin). You may also try online. It's amazing stuff, non-toxic and has a million uses. Good Luck.
K. T.

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D.W.

answers from Colorado Springs on

I'm a hairdresser and when I went through school we had to wear white uniforms for school. Of course of all colors to wear!!! So, whenever we got hair color on us, we would use hairspray to spray on the color on our uniform to get it out. The alcohol in the hairspray would help the color not permently settling in the clothes and it would work. Now, I'm at home with my kids arranging age from 17 yr old to 5 yrs old, we've had issues with ink also and we always spray whatever it is with hairspray then wash it and it comes out with no problem.One time my neighbor was out doing errands and her dog got a hold of a ink pen and went up on her couch with it and started to to naugh on it and of course it rupture and got it all over her couch. She came to me about it and told her to use hairspray and most of it came out.
I hope this will help you out and good luck!!

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C.T.

answers from Salt Lake City on

My twin nephew and niece did that to my leather couch last year...I used hairspray and a soft cloth to get it off and everything came up...maybe that would work for suede too? Good luck.

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J.S.

answers from Colorado Springs on

I do know of some great products that will help get ink, permanet marker, food, wax, etc out of pretty much anything. I had ink on my couch too...only I'm the one that did that one! I can't even blame it on my 2 year old. LOL!!!

Anyway, I'd be happy to go over your options if you're interested. You can email me at ____@____.com or request more info on http://www.saferisbetter.com/jmej7 which is my personal website. Thanks.
J.

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K.M.

answers from Boise on

Definitely hairspray. I use Paul Mitchell Freeze & Shine and it works everytime!

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T.G.

answers from Denver on

I'm not sure if this will help but hairspray gets ink out of clothing. Sounds strange, but you spray on hairspray and then water and it comes right out.

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S.L.

answers from Fort Collins on

Contact the manufacturer and see what they recommend. You could also call a local furniture store and tell them what time of material it is and ask their recommendations. On the upside, the faux suede is usually quite easy to clean and very resistant to everything. If you are going to try a chemical cleanser, be sure to try it in an inconspicuous area first to make sure it doesn't harm your couch. (I'm thinking under a cushion!)

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M.C.

answers from Salt Lake City on

I once got ball point ink off of satin with rubbing alcohol and it didn't leave a mark. It might work with your faux suede couch, just try it on a corner where no one will see, first. Put the rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball or cotton round and dab the spot. If you can, then have a rag behind the spot to blot with. Good luck!

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S.B.

answers from Salt Lake City on

My friend's daughter did the same thing with BRIGHT RED LIPSTICK!!!! She used a little bit of dish soap on a cloth. It all came out great! She borrowed a carpet cleaner with an attachment from me to get rid of all the soap afterwards and her couches look good as new. They were the same fabric and an ivory color, I think. Good luck!

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H.W.

answers from Provo on

This has happened to me more than once. I suggest trying hairspray. Just spray some on and then scrub it with a wet rag. You may have to do that several times. If that doesn't work, there is a product called Advantage. I don't know if it is available in stores. I actually got it from a door to door salesman. The reason I bought it was because he came in and took an ink stain and crayon stain right out of my couch. It works amazing. I have never been sorry I bought it. I clean my whole house with it.

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J.G.

answers from Dallas on

Try "Folex...Instant Spot Remover"

I use it for everything from baby drool that leaves stains on clothes to tar my husband tracks in onto the carpet to spit up whan the dog has a tummy ache. It all comes out.

You can get it at Lowes.
It's a 32oz white spray bottle with deep purple writing.

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L.M.

answers from Denver on

Hairspray may work, it works on leather.

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M.M.

answers from Great Falls on

oh I am sorry....
if NOTHING helps, you could buy the similar color fabric
and sew a cover for this couch, or this one cushion,
and cover it...

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A.T.

answers from Colorado Springs on

You may try calling the place you purchased the couch from and see what they recommend. When we purchased our "Enduro-suede" couches from Sofa Mart they gave us kits for each piece with cleaning solutions (one for light and one for heavy soil)for times just like that! And they could probably also refer you to a professional that they work with. Good luck!

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B.N.

answers from Salt Lake City on

V. , here is a little abuot myself, i am a stay at home mother with one little boy that is two years old and he gets into anything he can. i also work from home i know of this stuff that works wonders and it even gets permanent marker off of my walls . It is called Sol-u-Mel. here is the thing though. I purchace it pany through the comany that i work . I work with a team of motivated mothers that referr people to malaleuca. This company is awesome and the products are out of this world . they are nontoxic, healthy and safe for the environment also. their quality are better than anything you will find and they gaurantee their products 100% i don't want to try to sell you but i promise once to try it you'll never be happier. this stuff cleans old stains out of my clothes, staines out of my carpent, my husband works in asfalt and it gets that black tar out of my carpet marker off tables and walls. if you are interested please contact me at ###-###-#### or you can visit my site athttp://www.myspace.com/brandy_with_motivatedmoms click on my banner for motivated mothers and input your information. i can get you on a fifteen minute call that will explain everything and how you can find out how to get this sol-u-mel and much more. did i mention that all of the products are non toxic healthy and safe for the environment?

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S.S.

answers from Provo on

Hairspray will get ink out. I'm not sure what kind of couch you have, but we have a microsuede and I've used hairspray on it to no ill effect. Just spray the hairspray on the ink, let it sit for a minute or two, then wash it out with soapy water. I then rinse the soapy water out with a hot wet washrag. It works like a charm without damaging the couch.

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E.G.

answers from Denver on

Try rubbing achohol, put it on a cue tip and rub just the lines that were made. Then use the upholstery part of a steam cleaner on it. It may take a few times but it should come out. My 18 year old daughter had a art project where they were using indian ink as the base medium, and I was told by the teacher nothing could get that out. Then I though I use rubbing achohol at work to get off permenant marker of my equipment when other people use it. So I tried it on the indian ink. It took about 8 times of both but it did come out. Pen ink should come out easier. Hope it works for ya.
E.

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J.H.

answers from Billings on

Flip the cushion over. In my experience, ball point pen is impossible to remove...

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