We all know it’s important to check your pockets before putting clothes into the laundry, but in reality, it’s easy to forget. Usually, the consequences are no worse than having to pick little bits of Kleenex off your clothes, or perhaps fishing some coins out of the bottom of your washing machine.
But what if you leave a pen in your pocket, and it goes unnoticed not only through the wash cycle, but through a cycle in your dryer too? The heat of the dryer and the tumbling motion can cause the ink to spread—all over your laundry and the inside of your dryer as well!
Don’t freak out just yet though—you’re not doomed to get ink all over your clothes every time you dry a load of laundry. There are a variety of easy, effective methods you can use to remove ink from your dryer—read on to find out our top tips!
The type of ink makes a big difference to the best way to remove it, so find out what type of ink has stained the interior of your dryer. Find the rogue pen that ended up in your dryer to figure out what type of ink you’re dealing with, then refer to the list below to learn which solvent or cleaning product works best to remove it.
Once you’ve identified the type of ink, the next step is to clean away all visible ink on the dryer’s interior. Follow these steps:
If any spots still remain from step two, you’ll need to use something more abrasive. Our favorite choice is a firm sponge, such as a Magic Eraser. They’re made with melamine and are designed to work like fine sandpaper to gently abrade away stains.
Although the interior of your dryer may look perfectly clean, you’ll need to be sure before you put more laundry in there. You don’t want to end up ruining perfectly good clothes, after all! To ensure the ink is gone, follow these steps:
If you do find ink stains, it means that there is still some ink remaining. Repeat this process until the towel comes out completely ink free!
If you prefer to only use natural products on your laundry, there are some alternative methods for stain removal you can try. The most effective is to use white vinegar on the stains. Follow the method below.
If you’ve tried all the above tips and you still have ink in your dryer, you can try wiping down the ink stains with a bleach and water solution. This should be a last resort, as bleach can easily stain your clothes and it can be hard to ensure it’s gone from the machine.
First, dip a cloth or rag in a mixture of one part bleach to four parts water. Wipe down the interior of the machine and let the mixture sit for ten minutes. Then, thoroughly wipe the interior with a dry cloth. Finally, run the machine with an old towel for at least an hour to ensure all the bleach residue is gone.
Remember, the best method by far is prevention! Try putting a sign up in your laundry area, reminding yourself to check all the pockets before washing your clothes—you’ll thank yourself later!
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