How do I Wash Out Bic Highlighters?

HIghlighters are great, but what can you do when your Bic Highlighter stains your furniture or clothing?

Highlighters have bright ink and look particularly glaring when they stain a wall, a piece of furniture or article of clothing. There are some methods that may fade or remove highlighter stains. Test each method on an unobtrusive area first.

Clothing

Since Bic highlighters use a water-based ink, the recommended stain removal substance is a multi-purpose cleaner. Test the cleaner on an inconspicuous part of the clothing, like a hem. If safe, soak the stain with the cleaner. Use a paper towel or rag under the item, and blot with a towel. Then, launder the clothing as usual.

Hard Surfaces

According to BIC, the most reliable and safe means of removing highlighter stains from hard surfaces is to spray with a multipurpose cleaner and wipe. Test a cleaner with bleach on a small area first--if it is safe, try it on the stain. Experiment with a variety of cleaners if the first type doesn't work.

Backup

Some fabrics and surfaces react differently to inks, even water-based inks. If the stain is particularly stubborn, another method is to place the item in the sink and pour boiling water over it, soak in liquid laundry detergent, use non-acetone nail polish remover, and then spray it with Dawn Power Dissolver.

References

• BIC FAQs: Ink Correction or Stain Removal
• Fibers: How to Get Highlighter Stains Out of a T-Shirt