How to Get Ballpoint Pen off of Vinyl?

Updated on August 19, 2010
K.M. asks from Arkansas City, KS
37 answers

Our five year old daughter took a ball point pen to her seat in the van recently and drew all over the vinyl arm rest, the wall under the window and the back of the chair in front of her. Hubby tried getting it out with baby oil and it did nothing. I suggested hair spray and alcohol but he doesn't like the smell of either. Has anyone else had to deal with this? Also, how do you get melted crayon out of auto carpet?

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So What Happened?

OK, after a weekend of trying to get daughter's artwork off the van walls here's what I can tell you...nothing helped yet. I tried the Magic Eraser, hairspray, alcohol, fingernail polish remover, vinegar, toothpaste, baby wipes and Goo-Gone. These along with lots of elbow grease have not even lightened the area. So, the ink appears to be permanent. Thanks for all the great and often funny responses to my plea. If I ever find something that will work I'll let everyone know!

K.

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A.H.

answers from Biloxi on

Hi K..

Try a product called "Goo Gone". It works wonders!! It also gets out paint and varnish, gum, grease, tar, and glue! Good luck.

A.

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C.Y.

answers from Decatur on

Super clean works great even takes permenant marker off. As far as crayons iron and wax paper. Little things my mother in law showed me. By the way sence you do have very young children peanut butter gets Gum out.

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S.L.

answers from Fort Smith on

As far as the ink goes I have found that a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser takes care of almost anything. I also use Scrubbing Bubbles on my fabric upholstery. You might try Goo Gone for the melted crayon. Melaleuca oil is good for dissolving sticky stuff too so it might help.

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D.M.

answers from Lawton on

If your husband doesn't like the smell of alcohol or hairspray, he probably won't like this suggestion either. There is a product I love called Goof Off and is gets out crayon, pen, paint, grease, gum and countless other things. There is also a similar product called Goo Gone, but I don't care for it as much as the other. Hope this helps!

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P.K.

answers from Tulsa on

For the crayon on the carpet-Try a clean white cotton cloth with a warm iron over it. As the waxy crayon melts, it should bleed into the cloth, away from the carpet. Keep changing the cloth to a clean section until the spot is gone. Don't keep the iron too hot or hold it down in place for too long, or your carpet might burn. You might also try goo-gone. I think they carry it at bed, bath and beyond, and maybe walmart(not sure about walmart). For the ink-try nail polish remover or resolve. I once got black magic marker out of a cloth seat in car with resolve. Took several treatments, but it came out.

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C.H.

answers from Little Rock on

I agree with the magic eraser. That thing works on everything and it does not smell. Good luck

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R.J.

answers from Shreveport on

Maybe 409 and a toothbrush for the ink marks. And the melted crayon, if you can get an iron out to your car. I saw somewhere put a napkin(cloth) down over the area and heat it, it is easier to get up. I hope this helps.

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R.W.

answers from Mobile on

three words: Sol-u-mel from www.melaleuca.com ;
it's non-toxic and takes every stain out of anything for us!

R. Wells
www.athomecareermom.org

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N.M.

answers from Texarkana on

you can try hair spray it takes it out of clothes I have even gotten it out after it was washed once the hair spray I used was rayett but you can try any kind just spray it on and let it sit a couple of minutes then use a white cloth and try to rub it off then if it comes use a vinyl cleaner on it to soften it maybe a little soap on a rag and then rinse it the put the vinyl cleaner I can't think of the name of it, you use it on leather, vinyl and rubber good luck and the smell of hair spray will go away don't know what to tell you about the crayon might try peanut butter and the shampoo the spot after it gets gum out of hair

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L.B.

answers from Tulsa on

Magic Eraser works wonders with ink and crayon. I have used hairspray before to remove ink but you may want to test an area of the vinyl first.

To remove the melted crayon place a brown paper bag, such as a grocery bag, over the crayon area and cover with an old clean cloth. Take a medium to hot iron and iron over the top of this and the bag will absorb the crayon. I forgot to mention that you should use a spoon or credit card or something like that to scrape off any excess crayon before you start. This trick also works to get candle wax out of the carpet. Good luck!

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S.A.

answers from Dothan on

Try a product called Goo Gone or Goo Be Gone.

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A.H.

answers from San Luis Obispo on

Re crayon on carpet, or any fabric is you can iron; just put newspaper (2 sheets) on the spot and apply warm iron. It melts the crayon and the crayon melts into the newspaper...works like a charm and for candle wax too.

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C.T.

answers from Fayetteville on

I used soap and water and a terry washcloth and got ballpoint pen off my moms white leather sofa (compliments of my 2 yr old.) I got to it as soon as it happened so I'm sure that helped. Seriously, does your husband want the ink off the seat or not-the smell will go away, sometimes with kids we deal with a bit of discomfort-try child birth?? LOL

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M.

answers from Birmingham on

The ingredient in hairspray that gets out ink IS the alcohol, so rubbing alcohol alone works even better. Just put some on a cotton ball or cloth and rub the spot. It works on clothes too - I've never had an ink stain I couldn't remove (I accidentally wrote all over my favorite white pants one day when I didn't realize my pen was open). The smell goes away quickly, as alcohol evaporates so fast... If the smell doesn't go away, clean it afterward with something else.

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S.W.

answers from Tulsa on

try magic eraser for the pen.

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S.P.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Since he wont use alcohol, you could try toothpaste it works on a lot of things. It can't hurt try it, but I think rubbing alcohol would be your best bet and the smell goes away very fast.

The crayon I believe you are stock with unless a detail shop has something to get it out with.

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R.G.

answers from Shreveport on

I know it sounds crazy but try using toothpaste to remove the ink marks, and try putting ice on the crayon. It should make the crayon hard enough to crumble and vaccuum out. I have found that colgate toothpaste gets the ink marks out best but any should do the trick.

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H.

answers from New Orleans on

Hairspray...any kind. will liquify it and you wope it right off.

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T.W.

answers from Florence on

Hey K., you might try mean green, it has worked for me in the past. those magic erasers might do the trick if the mean green doesn't work..... good luck.... Terri

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H.C.

answers from Alexandria on

I am also a sahm. I have that baby wipes get ink out of a lot of things..so hope this work and helps..

H.

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T.H.

answers from Little Rock on

My husband has a MARS franchise that may be able to remove the stains and odor (if there is one).

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C.G.

answers from Dothan on

I'm afraid the baby oil will have set it in permanently, but Goo Gone is probably your best bet at this point.

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A.C.

answers from Lawton on

Well we discussed the crayon teh other day the best bet besides chemicals like goo gone or the other thing i cant remember, would be to take a paper bag or something similar and iron over it until the bag soaks it up, you may have to rotate the bag or change it a few times btu it willcoem out.

If your hubby hates alcohol so much does he like the stain better,lol. Alcohol takes pen or permaent marker out of everything, give it a try when he isnt home he wont smell it by the time he gets there =)Trust me i have done it many times without hubby evwen knowing the incident happened.

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J.J.

answers from Tulsa on

Lots of good ideas so far, the one I loved and haven't seen is the woolite POD I used it on the ceiling of our new van when my kiddo wrote with an ink pen TWO DAYS AFTER WE GOT IT!!!! My hubby would have freaked so while still at work I searched everything on the shelf it is all I saw that said ink, so I tried and it was amazing! Hope this helps! Good luck

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A.M.

answers from Fayetteville on

rubbing alcohol should do the trick- its worth the yucky smell to get the ink out!

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J.S.

answers from New Orleans on

Hair spray is probably the best bet. Ask hubby if he'd rather have a stain on furniture or a smell that's temporary. If he'd rather go with the stain, look into getting a scent-free hairspray.

Melted crayon may come out of carpet if you use a hair dryer to heat the area and then wipe it off with a cloth.

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D.B.

answers from Jackson on

Use acne medicine. The stronger the better. The softer the vinyl the faster it will come out. Could take a couple of weeks. Baking soda and light circular scrubbing motion will take out crayon, even from wallpaper. Be gentle, don't take out your anger on it. It could damage if press too hard. On Carpet try lots of paper towels and a warm iron. Then use ammonia to get out stain. Try a cup of hot water 1 teaspoon of dawn dishsoap and a scrub brush or toothbrush.

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M.C.

answers from Hattiesburg on

well first of all my mom got me a claire by Gudrun Legler for Christmas.Then the same for my little sister but a different doll.My sister lost her doll.Then 2 years later we were out of school and my sister had went to work with my mom.That night i looked over at the couch where claire was sitting and my little sister had taken a purple and green pen and wrote scribble marks all over her face inside her ears and on the bottom of her feet.the green pen came off but the purple pen not so much she still has purple pen marks on her face and ears.we have used mr.clean magic earaser,soap and a warm wrag,shampoo and a warm wrag,but nothing has worked.now i will try the hair sray and alcohol.

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L.W.

answers from Jonesboro on

Try a Mr. Clean magic eraser. If that can't take it out, then nothing can!!

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D.M.

answers from Oklahoma City on

You might try the Mr. Clean magic eraser. I've used this for all sorts of things, even marker on painted walls and it didn't take the paint off but did remove the marker. I also used them to get scuff marks off of everything including the outside of the cars when I wash them. They really are magic.

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P.G.

answers from New Orleans on

ammonia - but your hubby will equally not like that...as for the crayon - have not a clue.... (ammonia does work - pitched a whole container of india (permanent) ink on a white carpet - managed to clean the whole mess up)....it's a chemistry thing - having to do with the size of molecular particles - park the car roll down the windows and have a go....
good luck

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S.L.

answers from Tulsa on

If he refuses to use hair spray and alcohol, then it is his own problem. Alcohol WILL get it out. He is just being stubborn.

As for the crayon, cover it with a brown paper bag, and use an iron to lift it out- it will go right into the paper.

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A.M.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I have used Magic Eraser to get pen off vinyl in my car. Good luck!

A.

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K.F.

answers from Tulsa on

You might try fingernail polish remover on the ink. sounds like you have had lots of good suggestions. The one for the crayon using the paper bag and iron should work on the crayon. I have done that before on candle wax. Good Luck!

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R.S.

answers from Tulsa on

Hey,
Try Goo Gone on the marker..(try it in a small spot first)

and get some old rags and a hair dryer and heat the wax and dab with the rag until all the color is gone. May still leave a greasy spot, use the Goo Gone on the greasy spot.

Worth a try anyway.

R.

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G.C.

answers from Shreveport on

Have you tried Mr. Clean Magic Eraser?
G.

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R.F.

answers from Fayetteville on

The thing I have found that will pretty much remove anything is Clean and Clear Facial Astringent. I used it to take gentian violet (a purple dye)out of fake fingernails.

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