How to Clean Brush Ink on Plastic

Brush ink stains on plastic can be easily cleaned, but you still need to be careful. Some effective cleaners such as acetone can damage plastic surfaces, especially when left on plastic for too long. This article will show you many ways to clean brush ink from plastic surfaces. However, keep in mind that some stains may be too deep to be completely removed.

Table of Contents

Clean ink stains with whiteboard pens

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Find a whiteboard pen. Any palette pen will do, but you might want to use a slightly darker color. This method is very effective for whiteboards and safe for smooth plastic surfaces. However, for textured surfaces this may not work; Instead, you should consider using rubbing alcohol or baking soda and toothpaste.

Use a marker pen to paint over the ink stain. Blackboard pens contain solvents that help dissolve markers.

Wipe the dirty area with a clean rag. The marker ink will come off along with the marker pen ink. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Use glass cleaner if you can’t get the pen ink off. If for some reason the marker ink dries out and can’t be wiped off (and that won’t remove the marker ink either), try spraying glass cleaner on the ink stain and wiping it off with a paper towel. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Clean ink stains with magic eraser (Magic Eraser)

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Buy magic mop. You can find this type of sponge at the cleaning product counter in the supermarket. The magic mop is shaped like a white brick. Be sure to choose a sponge that doesn’t contain additives, such as bleach.

Cut the sponge into small pieces. This will make it easier for you to manipulate, and it will be more beneficial to do it little by little.

Dip the sponge in the water. If the stain is too stubborn, you can use rubbing alcohol instead of water. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Use a sponge to scrub the ink stain with a circular motion until clean. Do not press too hard. It may take you 5-10 minutes to start seeing results. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Clean ink stains with alcohol

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Find some rubbing alcohol, hand sanitizer, or acetone. All three of these products help dissolve the chemicals in the marker ink and make cleaning easier. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of each type:

Alcohol is the safest, but may not be very effective, and it will take a few tries to get the ink off. The higher the alcohol content, the better. You should look for alcohol with a concentration of 90% or higher. ^{[5] X Research Sources}
Hand sanitizer is very effective when used on curved surfaces, as it holds its texture better and doesn’t drip as much. The effect of hand sanitizer is similar to rubbing alcohol.
Acetone is the strongest and most effective. It may remove paint and melt some surfaces, so it is not recommended for painted surfaces and soft plastics. You should test it on an inconspicuous area first by soaking a cotton ball with acetone and pressing it for a few seconds and then wiping it off. If the plastic is deformed or discolored, do not use it. Try rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer instead of acetone.

For curved surfaces and small ink stains, you can dip a cotton ball in alcohol to wipe it. If using hand sanitizer, simply place a few drops on the stain and rub it with your fingers to cover the entire stain.

Wipe the ink stain with a cotton ball. This is suitable for cleaning curved surfaces as well as keyboards and phones. If the stain still won’t come off, use a new cotton ball dipped in alcohol and press it for a few minutes before wiping it off. Do not use this method for acetone; Acetone can melt plastic if the contact time is too long.

With flat surfaces and large ink stains, you can pour rubbing alcohol on top. Use your fingers to rub to cover the entire ink stain.

Wipe off ink stains with a paper towel. For stubborn stains, you should leave the alcohol on the surface for a few minutes. Again, do not leave the acetone on the plastic for more than a few seconds, lest you damage the plastic surface.

Continue wiping the plastic surface with alcohol-soaked cotton wool until the stain disappears. The ink stain after the first wipe is mostly clean, but there may still be some traces left. Remember that the longer the ink stain stays on the plastic, the harder it is to remove; In some cases, the ink stain can penetrate too deeply into the plastic, and you may still be able to see a faint shadow of the ink stain.

Remove ink stains with baking soda and toothpaste

Clean stains with other products

Try tea tree oil. The oil will help dissolve the marker ink; The smell of tea tree oil is also much more pleasant than rubbing alcohol or acetone. Simply soak a cotton ball in tea tree oil and rub it on the ink stain until it’s clean. For very small areas, you can replace the cotton swab with a cotton swab. Wipe clean again with a paper towel.

If there is still oil on the plastic surface, wipe it off with an alcohol swab.

Remove ink stains with a pencil eraser. Make sure to use a good quality rubber pencil eraser. This will work best for matte ink stains and smooth surfaces. Simply rub the eraser on the ink stain until it disappears. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Try using sunscreen. ^{[8] X Source of Research} Sunscreens contain oils that help dissolve the chemicals in the marker ink. Note that the oils in sunscreen can also stain some surfaces, so it’s a good idea to test on a hidden spot first.

Consider using baking soda and vinegar. Sprinkle some baking soda on the stain, then spray white vinegar on it. Leave the mixture to foam on the ink stain for a few minutes, then wipe it off with a towel. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Try hydrogen peroxide. Be sure to buy hydrogen peroxide in a dark vial from the first aid counter in the pharmacy. Soak a cotton ball in hydrogen peroxide and wipe it over the ink stain. For large ink stains, you can pour hydrogen peroxide directly onto the surface and wipe it off with a paper towel. ^{[10] X Research Source}

Use a hairspray. The chemicals in the hairspray will dissolve the ink stain and make it easier to clean. You just need to spray the ink on the spot and wipe it off with a paper towel. Remember that some chemicals in hairspray can damage some plastic surfaces. You should test on an inconspicuous area before spraying on the ink stain.

Use oil-based cleaning products with caution. Products like Goo-Gone and Goof-Off can be very effective at cleaning sticky stains or stains, including indelible marker ink. ^{[11] X Research Sources} However, the chemicals in these products can also damage some surfaces, especially glossy ones. You should read the manufacturer’s instructions and consider testing first on an inconspicuous angle. After wiping, there may be some oil left on the plastic surface. Use a cotton ball soaked in alcohol to clean it.

Advice

Depending on whether the ink stain is new or old and the intensity of the ink stain, you may need to clean several times.
Try using a pencil eraser to remove marker ink from cellophane, it works!

Warning

Always test first on an inconspicuous area of plastic, especially when you’re using chemicals like acetone, sunscreen, and any oil-based product.

Steps