How To Clean Ink From Sinks?

[tonydent84]

How do you guys clean your pens without getting ink staining the sink? I've been washing my pens in the bathroom sink for years, and there are patches of discoloration that don't go away no matter how much I scrub them. Do you guys have any pro-tips on how to wash out pens without staining the sink (hopefully without utilizing a whole station of buckets or cups dedicated to washing pens)? And any tips on how to remove ink discolorations from sinks?

[Bibliophage]

I've found that the ink stains in my sink go away with ammonia.

 

Most of the time I don't get stains - I do all the cleaning under running water, which keeps it dilute enough that it doesn't discolour. However, I have _not_ used some of the more interesting inks mentioned here.

[KaB]

I can relate to the problem. Noticed at some point that, although I cleaned under running water (risking loosing a nib in case that'd come off, which happened once), there was some discolouration left after cleaning the pen.

Ever since, my routine is: after cleaning the pen(s), I clean the sink. A good scrub with a scrubbing sponge does the trick uptil now. With a little more attention after cleaning out a document ink.

[silverlifter]

I use the kitchen or laundry sinks, which are stainless steel...

[Inkysloth]

Do you live in a hard water area?

 

The ink may have stained thin patches of limescale, rather than the sink itself. You could try dampening a cloth with vinegar and leaving it over the stain to see if it dissolves away potential scale.

[Monophoto]

A little hypochlorite bleach (ie, Chlorox) will remove any residual ink stains you might have.

[A Smug Dill]

I find cream cleaners (such as Jif) works very well in removing stubborn stains from porcelain. However, the key preventative measure — second after using an expendable container which you sit inside the sink when cleaning pens — is to clean the sink immediately after cleaning your pens, if you can spot any splotches or streaks of colour at all at the end of a session.

[BaronWulfraed]

I'm going to reveal my slovenly housekeeping efforts:

 

Ink stains in my sink is usually a sign that I have a build-up of toothpaste foam that needs to be scrubbed off...

[PAKMAN]

Clorox clean up spray works instantly for my sinks on any ink including BSB! Spray, sit for a little bit and rinse, done!

[DonM]

Comet Cleanser and a 3M blue scrubby pad works for me, including scrubbing the ink off my hands .

[inkstainedruth]

I don't work directly over the sink. I bought a cheap plastic dishpan and dump ink and flush into, then rinse that with tap water before dumping the contents down the drain. That helps keep the sink relatively unscathed.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[mulrich]

Or even easier, use a public sink, like at your office, and let someone else figure it out.

[silverlifter]

Or even easier, use a public sink, like at your office, and let someone else figure it out.

 

In most places I have worked over the last thirty-odd years, people are encouraged to be considerate of others and clean up their own messes, not expect someone else to do it for them...

[BaronWulfraed]

 

In most places I have worked over the last thirty-odd years, people are encouraged to be considerate of others and clean up their own messes, not expect someone else to do it for them...

Especially if the ink was brownish-red...

 

Otherwise you might have the personnel department looking for an unreported workplace accident.

[amberleadavis]

Here is my funny answer.

 

[amberleadavis]

My other answers:

 

For stainless steel sinks - Barkeepers friend or other powdered cleanser.

For porcelain sinks - Meyers dishwashing soap (though I've had good luck with any dish soap, and surprisingly I've done well with shampoo).

 

Eventually, all of my stains have come out of the sinks though I can't say the same for the oak floor.

[Enkida]

In my porcelain sinks, I just immediately clean up any stains I see with the rough side of a cheap kitchen sponge and a good squirt of "scheuermilch" --> milky abrasive scrubbing cleanser. I'm not sure if they have that in other parts of the world because I never saw those types of cleaners when I was living in the US. But, that being said, I've never had anything stain my sink if I cleaned it off immediately - not even that terrible Baystate Blue.

[A Smug Dill]

milky abrasive scrubbing cleanser. I'm not sure if they have that in other parts of the world because I never saw those types of cleaners when I was living in the US.

 

 

What about Jif^®, now known as Cif^® in some parts of the world?

[Enkida]

 

 

What about Jif^®, now known as Cif^® in some parts of the world?

 

 

That's probably it, because the bottle looks almost exactly the same to the countless other brands we have here that sell it (Frosch, Viss, Domol, Moc, etc). If it's white and grainy and cleans stuff up really well, but you wouldn't want to use it on glass, you got it. ;-)

[1nkulus]

I use the kitchen or laundry sinks, which are stainless steel...

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