How to Get Ink Off of Wood

It's certainly easy enough to get ink onto wood. A ballpoint pen leaking onto a table, a person writing off the page onto the desk or a kid scribbling on furniture--all leave you with the problem of how to get the ink off the wood. Fortunately, there are several possible solutions that can work without damaging the wood. Use a soft cotton cloth, cotton ball, cotton swab or your finger to apply these solutions.

Things You'll Need

• Cotton cloth, cotton ball or cotton swab
• Baking soda
• Water
• Hairspray
• Toothpaste
• Lemon juice
• Magic Eraser
• Rubbing alcohol
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Nail polish remover

Instructions

1. Mix a little baking soda with a dab of water to form a thick paste, and rub that on the ink. This substance has the best success of getting ink off wood.

2. Spray hairspray onto a cloth or a cotton swab, and then rub it on the ink mark. Hairspray is the best ink remover for fabric and can work wonders on wood as well.

3. Use a little toothpaste to remove the ink. Brands that include baking soda are especially helpful.

4. Try lemon juice, which sometimes will get ink off of certain types of wood.

5. Give the Magic Eraser from Mr. Clean a try. This is one product that also may remove gel ink from wood.

6. Try some harsher solutions if nothing else removes the ink and you are willing to risk damaging the wood or taking the finish off. Possibilities include rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide and nail polish remover.

7. Sand the area and re-stain the wood if all else fails.

Tips & Warnings

• If the ink stain is large, begin with a very small area rather than trying to wipe all the ink off at once. Trying to rapidly clean a large area of ink can make the situation worse. After working to remove the ink, clean the area with a little water on a soft rag and then wipe dry.

• Begin with a very small area that is not noticeable, in case it takes the finish off. Ink left by gel pens is very difficult to remove, and none of these solutions may work.