Cleaning ink-stained fingers and pens

[Hetty]

I discovered this cleaning tip accidentally when removing make-up! I was taking make-up off with a make-up cleansing wipe, in my case, one for sensitive skin but still able to remove eye make-up, and I had very inky fingers. When I had finished my face I noticed that the ink had come off my fingers, too. I have also tried this on a pen where I had got red ink on the threads of the barrel where the cap screws on and the wipe also helped remove ink from there. I wiped the ink, then rinsed under cold water and the pen was very much cleaner. If fingers are very inky the wipe plus shampoo works very well, or hand cream, wipe, then wash with shampoo or soap.

 

Hetty

[JMX]

Thanks for the tip! 

 

What kind of ink were you using at that time?

 

 

[Hetty]

Now youe're asking! It would probably have been Diamine, or Herbin, I think. I was also trying out a couple of Private Reserve colours last week, too, but the first two are the most likely.

[FPFan]

Wow! I don't use make-up, so have no remover so what kind should I get? I have an Omas Bibliotheque Nationale which is a kind of light creamy white with ink stains in the screw grooves I'd love to have clean again. Nothing I've tried so far has taken the green ink off.

 

Thanks for the tip.

[Iranna]

I don't really mind ink-stained fingers but when my iron gall Montblanc leaked all over the place I really wanted to throw away the whole bottle. It ruined a shirt, a pair of trousers and socks, plus stained the floor which I luckily managed to get perfectly clean... I really hope gall soap will clean the garments.

 

I don't know what's wrong with that bottle, but no matter how tight I close it, it leaks. I didn't even have time to use the ink before the accident! That's definitely the first and last MB ink for me.

[PJohnP]

I've got a plastic jar of Ink Nix at the office for this problem which works well, but it's not cheap.

 

I was working in a refinery late last year where their washrooms were equipped with Gojo pumice hand cleaner which took ink right off about as well as Ink Nix (and it smelled like oranges !). This stuff sells by the gallon at Sam's Club and in smaller containers at hardware stores. Works like a charm on almost any ink, I've discovered.

 

Pens can be cleaned more easily than fingers in my experience...

 

 

 

John P.

[park]

Wow! I don't use make-up, so have no remover so what kind should I get? I have an Omas Bibliotheque Nationale which is a kind of light creamy white with ink stains in the screw grooves I'd love to have clean again. Nothing I've tried so far has taken the green ink off.

 

Thanks for the tip.

 

So it's not just me!

 

Green ink seems to be the hardest to get off - hands, pens, counters... I have green splotches everywhere.

[Iranna]

Wow! I don't use make-up, so have no remover so what kind should I get? I have an Omas Bibliotheque Nationale which is a kind of light creamy white with ink stains in the screw grooves I'd love to have clean again. Nothing I've tried so far has taken the green ink off.

 

Thanks for the tip.

 

So it's not just me!

 

Green ink seems to be the hardest to get off - hands, pens, counters... I have green splotches everywhere.

 

Funny - I feel the same about purple inks. Last time I flushed it it was such hard work that I decided to leave purple ink alone for a while!

[Terry Brack]

Dial Complete Foaming Hand Soap, that comes in a pump style plastic bottle works quite well at removing ink quickly and conveniently from stained fingers. The trick is to apply the foam to dry hands and let the foam work for a while then lather up and rinse. It cleans 100% - 90% of the ink off my fingers when I use it this way.

[thosialg08]

Gojo pumice hand cleaner which took ink right off

 

This stuff cleans pretty much everything! That pumice works wonders

[brownargus]

I always get ink on my fingers when cleaning/filling pens and I have tried all sorts of things to remove it, including household bleach. However, today I used some Cillit Bang Power Cleaner/Degreaser in a spray and this removes about 95% of ink (Quink and Diamine Sapphire Blue) and only leaves a faint smell which can soon be removed by soapy water. What's more, it's cheap and readily available in the UK.

 

John

[ticoun]

I've got a plastic jar of Ink Nix at the office for this problem which works well, but it's not cheap.

 

I was working in a refinery late last year where their washrooms were equipped with Gojo pumice hand cleaner which took ink right off about as well as Ink Nix (and it smelled like oranges !). This stuff sells by the gallon at Sam's Club and in smaller containers at hardware stores. Works like a charm on almost any ink, I've discovered.

 

Pens can be cleaned more easily than fingers in my experience...

 

 

 

John P.

 

that's exactly the stuff i use to remove ink stains on my fingers. removes almost all the ink and leaves my hands smooooooth.

i wouldn't try it on pens though, since it contains pumice and is very abrasive.

[perrins57]

If used promptly, I have discovered the wet wipes for ones derriere are similarly effective and removing fountain pen dye ink (like normal Diamine) but not Registrars ink.