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Can You Remove Ink from Porcelain? (How To)

Plates and cups

Porcelain is a common material used for tiles, and crockery. Ink can get on them and once it’s completely dry it won’t come off by wiping it with a damp cloth. In this article, I will explain if ink can be removed from porcelain.

As a general rule, ink can be removed from porcelain. Ink stains can be liquefied using either hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, or nail polish remover. Apply one of these to a cotton bud and rub it into the ink. Then remove the wet and diluted ink using a paper towel.

There are few different cleaners that you can have in your home. Below, I will cover which ones work to remove ink, and which don’t. As well as, the best method to remove ink from porcelain using each of the different cleaners or products you can have around the home.

Can You Remove Ink from Porcelain? (How To)

Ink from a pen or marker can get accidentally on porcelain, and once it dries it won’t rub off using a bit of water. However, there are also certain types of ink which are labeled as permanent. So, here’s whether it’s possible to remove all types of ink from porcelain.

In general, you can remove ink stains from porcelain. Ink stains are easiest to remove using nail polish remover, also called acetone, hydrogen peroxide, paint thinner, mineral spirits, or rubbing alcohol. Apply one of these to a cotton bud and wipe the ink with it.

Any of these liquids will mix with the ink, and turn it back into a liquid. It can then be wiped up using a paper towel, toilet tissue, or an old cloth. Typically, it will smear around the porcelain. So, you need to do it a few times to completely remove all of the ink.

Can You Remove Ink from Porcelain with Bleach?

Things to use to remove ink

Bleach is well known to work great for removing colored dye. However, it does have a range of uses. Here’s if it can be used to remove ink from porcelain.

In general, bleach does remove ink stains from porcelain. The easiest method is to apply some bleach to a cotton bud. Then wipe the ink stain with it. The ink will turn into a liquid and soak into the cotton bud. The liquified ink can be wiped off using paper towels.

When you rub an ink stain with bleach it will turn most of the ink into a liquid. As you wipe it up it will spread around the area you’re wiping.

But, provided you wipe up a little bit each time all of the ink will get removed. It can take repeating this process 3 or more times to completely remove the ink.

This article and its contents are owned by Ready To DIY and was first published on 07/27/2022.

Can You Remove Ink from Porcelain with Baking Soda?

Things to use to remove ink

Baking soda is known to work well to remove many different types of stains, and as a general all purpose cleaner. Ink is a unique liquid that is generally very difficult to remove without a proper cleaner. This is whether baking soda will work to remove ink from porcelain.

As a general rule, baking soda works to remove ink stains from porcelain. Make the baking soda into a paste with water. Apply it to the stain, and scrub it using a dish sponge with a scouring pad for rough porcelain like tile. For fine porcelain such as cups use an old toothbrush.

Use either a cup, or small bowl and pour about a quarter of a cup of baking soda into it. Then add a very small amount of water. Just enough to wet it.

Then mix it into the baking soda and add a little bit more water until it turns into a paste. A thick or thin paste will work fine. Apply it onto the ink stain using a spoon.

Then scrub it using an old toothbrush, or plastic bristle brush. Doing so, will turn it into a liquid, and it will mix with the baking soda paste. Then wipe away the ink and baking soda paste mixture.

Baking soda doesn’t work the best to remove ink stains from porcelain. In general, it’s better to use acetone, paint thinner, or rubbing alcohol. It will be much easier to remove the ink stain.

It’s also easier to wipe away the liquified ink from the porcelain. This is because the baking soda paste starts to dry after a while, and has a grainy texture which is difficult to wipe off.

Can You Remove Ink from Porcelain with Acetone?

Things to use to remove ink

Acetone works great to remove various types of stains. It has a special chemistry which causes it to liquify even hardened paint like nail polish. But, here’s if it can be used to remove ink from porcelain.

Overall, acetone works very well to remove ink stains from porcelain. Apply acetone to a cotton bud and rub it onto the ink. It will make the ink turn into a liquid that can be wiped off using a paper towel. Repeat until all the ink is gone.

Acetone (nail polish remover) is one of the best cleaners to use to remove ink from porcelain. It also has the added advantage of being available in virtually every store.

And you will always find it in supermarkets in the aisle that has face wash, shampoos, and deodorant, nail files, and nail polish. However, it has quite strong fumes, so be sure to make sure the area where you’re using it is well ventilated.

This article and its contents are owned by Ready To DIY and was first published on 07/27/2022.

Can You Remove Ink from Porcelain with Vinegar?

Things to use to remove ink

Vinegar is a very common cooking ingredient to have around the home. But, because it’s a mild acid it also works well as a cleaner. This is whether vinegar works to remove ink from porcelain.

In general, vinegar will not remove ink from porcelain. Vinegar is not the right chemical mixture to turn the ink back into liquid form. In general, hydrogen peroxide, bleach, rubbing alcohol, or nail polish remover (acetone) work the best.

Vinegar can work OK, but generally it will require much more scrubbing and take a very long time to remove all of the ink from porcelain. Therefore, one of the other liquids mentioned above is a much better choice.

Can You Remove Ink from Porcelain with Alcohol?

Things to use to remove ink

Alcohol is very versatile around the home, and is also an ingredient in a range of different products. The most common forms around the home are isopropyl alcohol (IPA), and methylated spirits. Here’s the long and short of how well it works to remove ink from porcelain.

Overall, alcohol works to remove ink from porcelain. It’s best to use rubbing alcohol. Apply it to a cotton bud and rub the ink stain with it. The ink will turn into a liquid which can be wiped up using a paper towel. Repeat this process until all of the ink has been removed.

When you apply alcohol to ink the ink turns back into a liquid and mixes with the alcohol. You can then dab up the ink and alcohol mixture using a paper towel or similar to remove it.

Not all of the ink can be removed at once. So, you need to apply it at least a few times to remove all of the ink.

This article and its contents are owned by Ready To DIY and was first published on 07/27/2022.

Can You Remove Ink from Porcelain with Mineral Spirits?

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Mineral spirits also called white spirits, or turpentine works well at removing various liquids that have hardened or don’t come off with water alone. Porcelain is typically light in color so if ink from a pen, or marker gets on it, it can be very noticeable. Here’s whether mineral spirits works to remove ink from porcelain.

Generally, mineral spirits can be used to remove ink stains from porcelain. It works very well and turns the ink into a liquid. The liquid can be wiped up using paper towels or toilet tissue. Apply mineral spirits to the ink stain using paper towels or a cotton bud.

For hardy porcelain such as tiles, and a toilet bowl, you can use a scouring pad on a dish sponge. However, don’t use steel wool. For very delicate porcelain such as tea cups, it’s best to err on the side of caution.

It’s virtually guaranteed a scouring pad won’t scratch it. But, it’s better to take your time, and use a soft plastic brush such as an old toothbrush, if it’s particularly stubborn.

Can You Remove Ink from Porcelain with Mineral Oil?

Confused woman standing

Mineral oil is different to mineral spirits because it’s non-toxic, and doesn’t have a strong odor. It’s known to be good at removing certain types of paint. Here’s whether it works to remove ink from porcelain.

As a general rule, mineral oil will not remove ink from porcelain. It can help to remove some of the ink. But, it is not very effective. The best things to use are rubbing alcohol, mineral spirits, nail polish remover, or bleach.

These can be applied to a cotton bud and wiped onto the area. Doing so will turn the ink back into liquid form. It can then be removed by soaking up the ink using paper towels, toilet tissue, or an old cloth.

Can You Remove Ink from Porcelain with a Microwave?

Things to use to remove ink

Microwaves are a very interesting appliance that appears to work like magic to heat food. Only solid food, and liquids that are in a microwave safe container such as porcelain should be put in a microwave. But, will a microwave soften or liquify dried ink, or otherwise remove it?

In general, a microwave will not remove ink from porcelain. Acetone, mineral spirits, bleach, or rubbing alcohol work very well to remove ink from porcelain. A porcelain cup or piece of crockery that has an ink design on it won’t come off or run in the microwave.

When either of these liquids mixes with dried ink it will turn it into a liquid. This mixture can then be wiped off of porcelain using paper towels. It typically takes repeating this process a few times to remove all of the ink.

Can You Remove Ink from Porcelain with Microfiber Cloth?

Things to use to remove ink

Microfiber cloths are much better than a typical cloth because they don’t leave streaks. They also have a sense weave that works well to gently remove debris from surfaces. Ink can accidentally get on porcelain such as cups and plates, so here’s how well a microfiber cloth works to remove ink from porcelain.

As a general rule, ink can be removed from porcelain with a microfiber cloth. However, a cleaner such as hydrogen peroxide, or acetone is required. It will ruin a microfiber cloth, and microfiber cloths are reasonably expensive. In general using cotton buds, and paper towels is better.

When you use hydrogen peroxide or acetone it will turn the ink into a liquid. And the ink will transfer to a microfiber cloth. Once the ink gets onto a microfiber cloth it will need to be removed.

However, cotton buds, or paper towels work just as well as microfiber cloth at removing ink. And after using either of these they can be thrown away. Therefore, it’s less hassle to use cotton buds, or paper towels instead of a microfiber cloth to remove ink from porcelain.

This article and its contents are owned by Ready To DIY and was first published on 07/27/2022.

What Can You Use to Remove Ink from Porcelain?

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Once ink dries, most types won’t come off with water. Therefore, special liquids or cleaners are required to remove it. If you accidentally get ink onto porcelain this is what can be used to remove it.

Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on July 27, 2022.

Rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, bleach, paint thinner, and nail polish remover (acetone) will remove ink from porcelain. Dip a cotton bud into one of these and rub it onto the ink stain. It will dilute the ink, and turn it into a liquid which can then be wiped off using paper towels.

In general, all of these options work the best, however, bleach does not work as well as the other options. It will take longer to remove the ink stain. Nail polish remover is typically the easiest to buy and is available in virtually all stores, even small corner stores.

How to Remove Ink from Porcelain Correctly

Confused man standing

Ink is a relatively permanent liquid, and doesn’t come off surfaces very easily. With the right products it will come off very easily. This is the general procedure to completely remove ink from porcelain.

Overall, it is best to rub the ink stain using a cotton bud dipped in either hydrogen peroxide, bleach, isopropyl alcohol, rubbing alcohol, or nail polish remover. As you rub the ink stain it will liquify the ink and smear it around. Then, take a paper towel and wipe it off.

Only a small amount of ink will come off at a time. Also, when up the ink using a paper towel it won’t completely remove all of the liquified in. Provided you repeat this a few times, eventually all of the ink will be completely removed.

Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on July 27, 2022.

As a general rule, you can remove ink from porcelain. The following liquids will turn dried ink back into a liquid, acetone (nail polish remover), rubbing alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, and hydrogen peroxide. Dip a paper towel or cotton bud into one of these and rub it into the ink stain.

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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on July 27, 2022.

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