connieb Posted July 5, 2017 Report Share Posted July 5, 2017 I finally did it, I swore I'd never, but it happened. I thought I picked up the air erase pen but I actually picked up the gel pen that is the same color. I now have a horrible mark on a customers quilt. I need suggestions on what to use to get this out. I've used Sew Clean so far and it's taken some of it out but not all the way gone. Thank you Thank you for the suggestions. I tried Sew Clean but it was only working sort of. So I tried the Dawn dish soap and it didn't do anything. So I tried the rubbing alcohol and that didn't do anything. I was heading to the store and googled "how to get gel pen out of fabric" (I really didn't want to go to the store) and it said to mix equal parts rubbing alcohol and vinegar and apply to stain, leave for minimum of 5 minutes, then apply table salt and let set for 5 or more minutes. Then using old toothbrush scrub stained area. If it doesn't all come out repeat. It was almost all out so long story short I had to do the process a total of 3 times and the stain is gone. What a relief. dbams and Quilting Heidi 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InesR Posted July 5, 2017 Report Share Posted July 5, 2017 I googled and there are solutions out there, but thinking you are going to have to choose depending on what color the fabric is. One place said that gel ink is concentrated so may take multiple treatments. Hope you get this out. "( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iquiltit Posted July 5, 2017 Report Share Posted July 5, 2017 dawn dish washing liquid. Put a drop on the spot. rub it in, then use a wet wash cloth on the stain. Good luck Carol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ffq-lar Posted July 5, 2017 Report Share Posted July 5, 2017 Carbona Stain Devils formula for ink removal got gel pen out of a vintage top in the same situation. It was my item so I advanced through all the usual remedies and this one worked. Apply, back with a paper towel, and pat it with your finger to push it through the fabric. Repeat. It works best if it's just the fabric and not the batting and backer as well. It will need to be washed when you finish because it does have a solvent residual smell. It can be found on the laundry aisle in a rack of little yellow bottles and Joanns used to carry the line as well. Good luck! Quilting Heidi 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
connieb Posted July 5, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2017 Thank you all. I'll be trying this as soon as I finish quilting. I was in the middle of quilting this quilt and will treat when I can pull it off the frame and work with it. I'll let everyone know how it went. It's on a cream color fabric. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gator Posted July 5, 2017 Report Share Posted July 5, 2017 Hair spray works on a lot of inks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piecrust Posted July 5, 2017 Report Share Posted July 5, 2017 DH had a black ink gel stain on a white, dress shirt pocket. I sprayed it with "Greased Lightning", waited 15 minutes and threw it in the washer. Worked wonderfully. BTW-dispose of that pen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiltmonkey Posted July 11, 2017 Report Share Posted July 11, 2017 Ugh! SO glad you got that pen mark out of the quilt! The way I avoid this (for over 10 years now) is I keep all of my marking pens/pencils/chalks in one drawer and I keep all of my indelible pens in a separate drawer. That way I have to think twice before I open a drawer to use a pen. LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cagey Posted July 11, 2017 Report Share Posted July 11, 2017 Another method is to wrap all your permanent/indelible pens/markers with bright red or yellow tap. That way your eye immediately is drawn to the hazard of using this anywhere near fabric. Now to cross my fingers I never make this common mistake. Cagey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
connieb Posted July 13, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2017 It is horrifying. Was so glad it came out. And my customer was so gracious about it. RosemaryJ08 and Quilting Heidi 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloridaMissy Posted July 15, 2017 Report Share Posted July 15, 2017 Connie, I can feel your pain! I had this happen with a marking pen I couldn't get out. Worked on it for a week before I got it all out. I didn't dare wash the quilt as it had maroon fabric and white fabric and not sure if color safe. After that I keep a cup to hold my markers that I use on the quilts and it is kept on my long arm bed. No other pens are allowed in that area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RosemaryJ08 Posted July 15, 2017 Report Share Posted July 15, 2017 Connie, Can you please post what you actually ended up using and how you did it? I am so glad that you were able to get the ink out especially on cream color. I was very fortunate a while back too. The Hairspray trick worked for me, so I know the relief your feeling Thank you for the post, everyone is so much help on this site Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
connieb Posted July 15, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2017 On 7/4/2017 at 6:41 PM, connieb said: I finally did it, I swore I'd never, but it happened. I thought I picked up the air erase pen but I actually picked up the gel pen that is the same color. I now have a horrible mark on a customers quilt. I need suggestions on what to use to get this out. I've used Sew Clean so far and it's taken some of it out but not all the way gone. Thank you Thank you for the suggestions. I tried Sew Clean but it was only working sort of. So I tried the Dawn dish soap and it didn't do anything. So I tried the rubbing alcohol and that didn't do anything. I was heading to the store and googled "how to get gel pen out of fabric" (I really didn't want to go to the store) and it said to mix equal parts rubbing alcohol and vinegar and apply to stain, leave for minimum of 5 minutes, then apply table salt and let set for 5 or more minutes. Then using old toothbrush scrub stained area. If it doesn't all come out repeat. It was almost all out so long story short I had to do the process a total of 3 times and the stain is gone. What a relief. S 10 hours ago, RosemaryJ08 said: Connie, Can you please post what you actually ended up using and how you did it? I am so glad that you were able to get the ink out especially on cream color. I was very fortunate a while back too. The Hairspray trick worked for me, so I know the relief your feeling Thank you for the post, everyone is so much help on this site Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Primitive1 Posted July 16, 2017 Report Share Posted July 16, 2017 What an awful feeling when that happens. I spritzed a customer quilt once to get the purple air erase pen out faster...it was one of those Crabapple Hill color and embroider quilts and the micro pen she used to trace the pattern under the embroidery started running....it was awful and filled the whole block actually 3 blocks up with purple run ink. It included the batting and the backing as well. I sent her a picture so she knew what was happening and ended up unsewing the quilting and then removed the blocks from the quilt and soaked them in synthropol which removed the ink, also soaked the backing and replaced the section of batting....I then had to applique the blocks back together and re quilted them and it was "as if it never even happened" ...we were both so glad and fortunately she was ok with it, I gave her a good discount and she was happy with her quilt. She has sent me another sent then so I know it was all forgiven....but I sure did not make much on that one after all the time it took me to fix the ink run....lesson learned....I will never ever put any liquid on another customer quilt again...you never know what may run...even a permanent ink micro pen.....that was heat set..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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