Removing Felt Tip Pen from Clothing

Lee_Howden

Our 4 year old daughter has recently come home from school with what looks like Felt Tip Pen on her school uniform (Polo Shirt and Cardigan). We've put it through the wash a couple of times with some Stain Remover but this hasn't fully got rid of it.

Does anyone have any suggestions for removing it? I'm getting sick of having to buy new clothes because they're coming home ruined from school!

jackyann

1. Ask the school if they are using "washable" felt tips - that is the standard - and they usually put up a notice or put advice on dealing with stains in their information.

2. If so, soak in cold water and rinse thoroughly, as the stain spreads, BEFORE washing (sadly, detergent appears to "set" the stuff)

3. For other felt tips, etc (and it might be worth a go with these stains) try acetone. Ask for it at the chemist - I always have a bottle by.

4. Talk to the school - especially the governors about the provision of tabards.
I find it ridiculous that in the UK we have school uniforms, often the tops are sold by the school (so the more they sell the more they make). In most of the Western world, kids wear ordinary clothes and the young ones cover up with tabards - cheap & practical)

DollyDee_2

Just googled it and hand sanitizer gel (Carex or similar) is supposed to work. I haven't tried it though 'cos my 4 year old is now grown up! Might not work now as you've already washed it.

I once removed a bad blood stain from a pillowcase with WD40. OH has to take aspirin daily and if he nicks himself shaving he bleeds forever. I think I'd already washed the pillow case, not sure, but I covered the stain in WD40, left it to "soak" overnight. Hand washed it to get rid of the smell and then washed it again in the washing machine. The stain had completely gone.

cat4772

I tried this on Saturday and it worked!

Soak the stain in milk. I used a small bowl (ikea childs plate) and put some milk in the bottom. then putt he stain in the milk (so the milk pooled on the stain) and left if for 10 - 15 minutes by which time it had disappeared. then washed it as normal.

I have some old school blouses my daughter got pen on so I will try with those tomorrow night and report back whether it worked on an old stain or not.

Cat.x

OrkneyStar

Fairy liquid (washing up liquid not the washing liquid for the machine) massaged into the stain before washing. If you have already washed it then you can still try massaging some in and washing again. This works for me, I tend to wash school clothes at 30 or 40. I have only used real 'Fairy' so not sure if other washing up liquids will do the trick.

purple4mum

Ihave just removed red felt tip from my grandson t-shirt with would you believe it-hairspray.I just kept lightly spraying and dapping with a bit of kitchen towel and hey presto it disappeared!