Need laundry help

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The last time I worked, 2 weeks ago, a Sharpie marker broke in the back pocket of my jeans and leaked all over the pocket. By the time I got home I had forgotten about it and the jeans sat in the bottom of the laundry basket until this morning- I didn't even remember it until I saw the stain as I was dumping them in the washer. So, before I make a mistake that will result in the stain setting permanently, any suggestions? I realize that this was a "permanent" marker, so maybe I am stuck with the stain, but if anyone can help I will be so grateful (favorite work jeans!).

-- Elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), March 13, 2002

Answers

rubbing alcohol. Soak and rinse through as much as you can, put in the wash before it dries.

-- Dave (multiplierx9@hotmail.com), March 13, 2002.

Hi Elizabeth,

I never had to deal with a Sharpie stain, but for regular ball point pen ink, I've sprayed and sprayed and sprayed it with hairspray and it seems to lighten. Make sure you wash in cold water. Let us know what works. Or what doesn't work.

-- Charleen in WNY (harperhillfarm@yahoo.com), March 13, 2002.


My husband recently did the same with a denim shirt. One of those nice ones from Lands End that had been a gift. I just kept spraying it with Shout and rinsing it in cold water over and over till I got out as much as I could. It didn't all come out but it's barely noticeable on the denim now. Try air drying it as dryers will set the stain and it will never come out. Perhaps over several washings and airdrying, it will be mostly gone. I really do like shout for stains like that.

-- Barb in Ky. (bjconthefarm@yahoo.com), March 13, 2002.

I'd try hairpray or shout. Also do the air drying. Yes, please let us know what happens.

-- Kelly (homearts2002@yahoo.com), March 13, 2002.

I have a product I bought at the Dollar Store, it's called Mean Green and I have used it to get out a black permanent marker stain in my daughters new pink shirt, and it was a stain that had been there a while, also try oxyclean, it gets out all kinds of things, just mix as directed. I tried hairspray, rubbing alcohol and all the other things and non of it worked but this, and it didn't remove the color of the shirt. Rub stain with a toothbrush or blot to remove after letting cleaner sit on it for about 1 hour.

-- Susan (dreamer@BonBon.net), May 02, 2002.


Dye them black.

-- Robert Mauk (LittleLeroy@outdrs.net), October 21, 2002.

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