# Removing Ink Stain from Wood? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 4, 2003, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-ink-stain-from-wood/205584 "2003-10-04T20:02:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![moejuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@moejuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moejuck)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2003, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-ink-stain-from-wood/205584/1 "2003-10-04T20:02:16Z")
My son loves to draw, and his latest canvas was our very nice dining room table. He wrote about 5 words on it with a pen. Is there any way to get this out without ruining the wood? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2003, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-ink-stain-from-wood/205584/2 "2003-10-04T20:13:52Z")
It depends on the finish. If it’s varnished or polyurethaned, you can probably use very fine sandpaper or steel wool to gently get down to un-inked finish. If it’s naked wood or waxed, the ink may have gotten into the wood itself. Then you need to talk to somebody other than me. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2003, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-ink-stain-from-wood/205584/3 "2003-10-04T20:48:52Z")
What type of finish ? What type of pen ? Many inks are soluble in alcohol. So are some finishes. ---
**Author:** ![Bob55](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Bob55](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob55)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2003, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-ink-stain-from-wood/205584/4 "2003-10-04T21:09:29Z")
As Squink said - alcohol. Acetone can work too. ---
**Author:** ![moejuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@moejuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moejuck)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2003, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-ink-stain-from-wood/205584/5 "2003-10-04T21:36:33Z")
It’s a pine table. The pen is a regular black bic pen. Alcohol? I all ready tried hairspray and it only took a small amount of the ink off. ---
**Author:** ![herman\_and\_bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f1d935/32.png) [@herman\_and\_bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/herman_and_bill)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2003, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-ink-stain-from-wood/205584/6 "2003-10-04T21:37:08Z")
Dining room tables have a pretty durable finish, did you try scrubbing with a Scotch-brite pad? If indeed the stain is in the wood you will need to know what solvent to use and mix some up with fullers earth, let is set till it drys and do it again and again and again… ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2003, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-ink-stain-from-wood/205584/7 "2003-10-04T21:56:08Z")
Why hairspray ? Get out the vodka. If that fails, try rubbing alcohol (isopropyl). ---
**Author:** ![moejuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@moejuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moejuck)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2003, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-ink-stain-from-wood/205584/8 "2003-10-05T00:22:16Z")
Hairspray normally is great for getting ink out of things. My wife used it when I left a pen in jacket and washed it. Hairspray normally does a great job. I think my son pushed hard and it’s in the wood. Thanks for the ideas. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2003, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-ink-stain-from-wood/205584/9 "2003-10-05T06:15:33Z")
One way or another, you’re looking at a shallow depression where the ink damage is. You must slowly, gently remove the wood with the ink in it. Then you have to to restore the original finish. You can pick your removal method.