How and with what 100% guarantee can you wash a pen (gel, ballpoint) from a sofa made of fabric, leatherette or leather?
A cheap ballpoint pen or an expensive Parker are equally “good” at leaving imprints on the surface of the sofa.
A couple of careless movements and it will take a lot of money and time to remove the consequences if you don’t know what to do.
But many people face this problem, and quite often, so there are many ways to remove a handle from a sofa, and in this article you will get acquainted with them.
Let's look at it in detail: how and with what to wash traces of a ballpoint or gel pen from the upholstery of a sofa made of fabric, leatherette and leather.
Content
How to remove paste marks?
Ink on a leather sofa not as scary as on fabric upholstery, are removed faster and with less force.
The methods described below, both using folk remedies and specialized stain removers, are suitable for any products made from various materials:
- clothes,
- shoes,
- covers,
- etc.
Table salt and soap solution
Table salt, in addition to its food purpose, is a good cleaning agent. It is publicly available and all housewives have it in their pantry. If not, then going to a nearby store and buying a kilogram of table salt will take 10-15 minutes.
But for natural material it is better to use fine table salt in combination with a soap solution — large granules, when erased, can leave scratches and abrasions.
How to properly remove a handle from a sofa with salt:
- Apply 1-2 teaspoons of salt to the affected area of the sofa. It must be applied efficiently, without leaving open areas, otherwise the procedure will have to be repeated.
- Moisten the salt with a few drops of water. For greater effect, it is better to use household detergent - a few grams will be enough.
- Leave the solution to soak for at least 3 hours.
- Carefully remove the dried mass with a wooden spatula. Wipe the cleaning area thoroughly with a weak soap solution. Do not let the soap solution dry and wipe with a cloth soaked in clean water.
If the procedure does not help, then you need to try a second time, but moisten the salt applied to the surface of the sofa with plenty of water.
Vinegar
Vinegar is used in everyday life at least as often as table salt. But food vinegar is not as effective as a concentrated solution of acetic acid, which can be purchased at specialty stores.
You cannot use vinegar in its pure form; you must first prepare a solution:
- In 200 ml. Add 2 teaspoons of vinegar or acetic acid to clean running water and place carefully.
- Add at least 5 grams of laundry soap to the solution. To dissolve quickly, the soap should be cut as finely as possible.
- Stir the solution well again until the soap pieces are completely removed.
- To enhance the reaction, the vinegar solution can be slightly heated.
After preparing the solution in it, you need to moisten a clean rag and thoroughly wipe the handle on the sofa several times. Then wash off the solution with a rag and running water.
Milk and cornstarch
These two ingredients remove the handle from the sofa on par with expensive household products. The only inconvenience is that corn starch is not always easy to find on store shelves.
How to delete?
- Make a thick paste with 2-3 tablespoons cornstarch and as much milk as needed to achieve the right consistency.
- Apply a thin layer of paste to the ink and let it dry.
- A paste of milk and starch, after drying, takes on the form of a powder. To complete the procedure, the powder must be removed with a soft brush or dry sponge.
- To completely remove the effects of cleaning, wipe the area where the paste was applied again with a damp cloth.
Face cream is the best product for leather products and its substitutes
Face or hand cream is not only a life-giving and rejuvenating product for the skin, it is also a universal stain remover.
Method of application is standard: apply to the stain, wait a while, rinse with a damp sponge. Waiting time is within 3-5 minutes.
If you leave the cream for a longer period, it will remove the ink and be absorbed into the skin. The result will not be a cleaned sofa, but a new stain.
Instead of hand or face cream it is allowed to use pure glycerin in combination with alcohol. The proportion of this solution is: 1:1.
The method for removing stains is the same as with hand cream.
While hand cream is universal, glycerin with alcohol cannot be used for light skin - spots and stains are guaranteed.
Hairspray is a good product for eco-leather
Even hairspray can be used to remove ink from your couch. Just don’t get carried away with this tool - if you overexpose the varnish, it will lead to a new stain.
How to remove a handle from a sofa using hairspray:
- Spray the varnish exactly over the stained area. There is no need to bring the can close; it is best to use it at a distance of 15-20 cm from the stain;
- wait no more than 2-3 minutes;
- thoroughly wash off the varnish with a sponge soaked in soapy water;
- Wipe the cleaned area with a rag and clean water.
How to remove marks from dark and light (white) artificial leather?
Stains on the upholstery of a sofa made of light leather and eco-leather are too noticeable, but they are also wiped off quickly without leaving marks.
There are 2 good, proven remedies:
- hydrogen peroxide,
- a solution of glycerin and ammonia.
Directions for use: moisten a rag (cotton swab) in peroxide or solution and remove ink from the surface with gentle movements.
After no traces of the handle remain, you need to wash the cleaning area again with a damp cloth.
For dark leather and eco-leather, glycerin should not be used., which, although it will remove ink, will leave streaks, and to remove streaks you will need an expensive stain remover.
The best solution for removing ink from dark skin is rubbing alcohol. Simply apply a little rubbing alcohol to a cotton swab and wipe away the pen marks.
A high-quality effect is guaranteed, but the alcohol does not leave streaks or stains on dark skin.
How to remove ink stains from eco-leather?
Leatherette in its structure is not very different from natural leather and for removing stains from the handle All of the above methods are perfect.
You need to act with such products carefully and first test them on areas of the sofa hidden from view - the back part or the place under the ottomans.
Another reliable way to clean eco-leather is car shampoo.. It removes old handle stains and leaves the upholstery clean and streak-free.
Just use the shampoo not in a diluted form, but in a concentrated form. 30-50 ml is enough. onto a small ink spot.
How to use: apply to the stain and let it absorb, leave for 10-15 minutes then wipe with a cloth dampened in clean water.
How to remove a handle from fabric upholstery
The main methods of cleaning natural leather have been discussed, now you should pay attention to the fabric upholstery of the sofa and its ability to absorb ink.
It must be said right away that all the methods of these two materials are very similar; soda, table salt, vinegar and a paste of milk and corn starch are also used here:
- Salt. The method of preparation and application to the surface of the sofa is the same as in the case of leather. You can experiment with salt as much as you like, the main thing is to carefully remove the solution after absorbing the ink using a damp sponge.
- Vinegar. Fabric does not react as painfully to vinegar as skin. But vinegar can leave its traces on dyed fabric.
- Milk and cornstarch. You can use it without fear for the safety of your sofa: milk and starch remove stains efficiently and accurately, do not “kill” the color of the upholstery and are easily wiped off with a damp sponge.
Special household stain removers
Some housewives prefer to purchase a specialized product once rather than rush around and look for something to remove ink from the sofa.
A short list of special and fairly effective stain removers will help you quickly deal with the problem:
- Big D Multipurpose Foam Cleaner. A universal stain remover that can be used for both leather and fabric upholstery.
It even copes with old stains of aggressive substances such as coffee, red wine, ink, etc. Average price: 170 rubles.
- HG Stain spray Extra strong. It is used not only to remove stains from sofa upholstery, but also to clean car interiors, carpets and other surfaces.
The HG formula includes enriched oxygen, which destroys the structure of even old stains. Average price: 630 rubles.
- Dr. Beckmann "Pen and Ink". A good combination of productivity and affordable pricing. Stain remover Dr. Beckmann Pen and Ink is specially formulated to combat ink. Average price: 180 rubles.
As you can see, not all special stain removers are expensive; some products are sold at a very reasonable price.
Video on the topic
How to remove a handle from a leather and leatherette sofa upholstery:
Conclusion
Many generations of housewives have faced the problem of removing ink from sofa upholstery and many ways to remove it are described in this article.
Some of the funds will have to be bought in the store, but others are always at hand. The main thing is to prepare them correctly and use them carefully, following the instructions above.
And if you are interested in ways to remove various stains and odors from sofa upholstery, we recommend taking a look at this section.