Getting ink off a wood table. Any suggestions?

[BlondGirl]

My son drew on a wood table with an ink pen. He has the job of getting the ink off. He worked on it last night for th eentire evening and first thing this morning. He will continue to work on it Mommy Dearest style until the table has no trace of the ink. (Can you guess where he is now?)

He has used:
Windex
Rubbing alcohol
Hair spray
409
another all purpose cleaner

Please give suggestions. I really don't want dinosaur tracks on my table forever.

 

[Moridin187]

Does the table have a finish on it? or is it rough?
is it real wood, or plywood with a kind of plasticy wood surface over it?
regular bic pen ink?

 

[Gilly Bean]

Have you tried Goo Gone?

Wondrful product, you can find it in the hardware department of any department store. Rite Aid even sells it, I have seen. If that doesn't work, call a furniture store, and ask if they can recommend anything. I know you can buy 'wood crayons' that cover it up with the same color tone, but I have never seen them used, so I am not sure how well they work.


Good luck.

 

[phrodeau]

If rubbing alcohol didn't do it, there's not much hope besides sanding. It's not likely to respond to WD-40 or Goo-Gon. Stronger cleansers are likely to remove whatever finish is on the wood. Which might be the best course of action. You probably already need to restore the finish from what's been done before.

 

[JaymesBlond007]

You're probaly going to have to sand the table down and re-finish it. Ink on wood just isn't good. (...cool that rhymed...) I'm assuming he's probably not quite old enough for this one. So chalk one up for the youngn'.

P.S. Let him know I said to draw under the table next time. Mommy doesn't look there.

 

[patient1]

I fear he's correct

If rubbing alcohol didn't do it, there's not much hope besides sanding. It's not likely to respond to WD-40 or Goo-Gon. Stronger cleansers are likely to remove whatever finish is on the wood. Which might be the best course of action. You probably already need to restore the finish from what's been done before.

A quick investigation points to alcohol or dry cleaning fluid( which would probably harm the finish)

those furniture crayons are just hard wax that matches the finsh, better for chips& scratches than stains.

 

[JaymesBlond007]

I know I just posted, but I wanted to throw somthing else in...

I would never tell anyone how to raise/discipline their child, (Christ, I can't even discipline myself...), but if he has a desire to create, I beg you to fan that spark. Who knows? You might have the next Picasso on your hands!

 

[batter]

after all the other stuff you have tried, i am not too sure.

i used some Avon bubble bath on some ink on an end table once.
i poured it on and let it sit for about a half hour and reapplied until it disappeared. i just blotted it up with a paper towel. i
didnt have to mix water with it.

good luck!

 

[SweetCherry]

Orange Glo wood cleaner. It's like that stuff you see on tv with Oxy Clean. You can get it at walmart. It works wonders.

 

[Andreina]

lemon juice & citric acid (if available) mixed together, leave it to soak on the ink spot.... also baking powder mixed with only a few drops of lemon juice...

 

[Draco]

Orange Glo wood cleaner. It's like that stuff you see on tv with Oxy Clean. You can get it at walmart. It works wonders.

The voice of experience......(and drop dead sexy that voice is too)

 

[SweetCherry]

The voice of experience......(and drop dead sexy that voice is too)

Hey, the monkeyboy took a black permentant marker to my new diningroom table. THat stuff got it off, luckily for him.

(And quit with the sexy voice stuff. Geez, you'd think I called you last nite or something.)

 

[MissTaken]

I never give up on those little marks and misplaced artwork until I have tried Dawn dish detergent.

It gets out some amazing things.

Nail polish remover does well.

I am not sure about how well the finish would be left, but it might be worth depending on what the table is worth to you.



Kids!

 

[BlondGirl]

Thanks for the suggestions. I intend to go through them one by one and try them all. If WE end up refinishing this OURselves, it can't hurt to do this in the first place.
Believe it or not, the finish still looks as beautiful around those dino-prints. Part of the problem is that he pressed the pen down and left small ruts where he did the drawing. I have him using a brush now. I figure that the undoing will prevent any future doing again.

007,
My "budding Piccaso" and I are taking art classes. He just learned last night that he has to enter something for the rodeo. He has 3 months to finish his project. I might suggest he do something on wood.

Thank you again, everyone.