Biro in wash :(

poppett

Can anyone help? I have just washed hubbys shirt and it had a ball point pen in the pocket, now his white shirt is splattered in ink. Does anyone know of anything that will remove it? I am just about to put it back in with Vanish but if it's still there when it comes out I'm after any OS removals. Thanks

Bongedone

Milk removes biro. You need to soak it for a few hours and the ink lifts. I am not sure if your washing it may alter it though.

I am not mad. New Scientist had a question in its tips section.

EDIT: Here is the article: -

http://www.newscientist.com/blog/lastword/2007/10/milk-white.html

Quote "It probably has something to do with the fat content of milk. Pen inks are made with an organic solvent which evaporates upon writing. This means that the pigments in the ink are soluble in lipophilic materials - the fat in the milk falls into this category. Soaking the clothing in milk slowly returns the ink into solution, thereby removing it from the shirt."

lil_me

I use hairspray on biro after failing when trying to use milk to get it off a leather sofa

Dill

I remember using methylated spirits to get biro off an acrylic skirt. (Just put some on a cotton wool pad and dabbed it off, - the biro marks came off completely)
I haven't tried it on cotton, though, but it might be worth a go?

superpup

I'll second the methylated spirits. I've used it before but I must admit, it was only to get a few 'one liners' off (but they came off completely). But really, you've nothing to lose trying anything, as the shirt is stuffed as it is.

The milk sounds interesting, I'd try that one just out of curiosity. I may go and scribble on something to test it (DD's, not mine, just in case)