Pencil marks on fabric are a common occurrence. Whether you have children in the house who love to color or an office that uses colored pencils, getting those pesky marks out from your fabric can be a pain.
The good news is there are many ways to remove these stubborn stains, so you’ll never have to worry about them again! This post will discuss how to remove pencils from fabric using three different methods: stain remover, ironing, and bleach.
What is the Easiest Way to Remove Pencils from Fabric?
Contents
What You’ll Need:
- Pencil eraser
- White vinegar, bleach
- Cloth or sponge
Step one: Remove pencil marks with an eraser
The easiest way to remove pencils from fabric is by using a rubber or kneaded eraser. Simply rub the mark off your fabric, and it should come right out.
If you’re working on dark-colored fabrics, this method may not be ideal because the graphite in most types of pencil lead can leave behind faint grey marks. Then, they will show up against darker colors.
This step also works best when dealing with fresh stains that are still wet.
Step two: Remove pencil with white vinegar.
This step removes residual traces of light-colored marks left behind after rubbing them away with an eraser.
- Be sure to test this method on an inconspicuous area of your fabric first. This is to make sure the vinegar doesn’t cause any staining or discoloration
- Dampen a cloth or sponge (white vinegar diluted with waterworks)
- Then dab at any remaining marks
Step three: Remove the pencil with bleach.
If you have a more stubborn stain that won’t seem to disappear, then bleaching it may be your best bet.
- However, before resorting to this measure, always test a small amount of bleach on an unseen part of the fabric to ensure no adverse reaction (bleach can often damage fabrics)
- Once you’ve confirmed that it’s safe to proceed, mix one part of bleach with four parts of water
- Then, apply directly to the stained area using a cloth or sponge
- Let it sit for about five minutes, then rinse thoroughly with cold water
Final Tips:
- Remove any residue or marks left behind by the methods mentioned above with a clean cloth or sponge dampened with cold water
- Store pencils in a place that’s out of reach of children (or anyone else who may be tempted to use them on your clothes!) to avoid future accidents.
Other options for removing a pencil from fabric
Method one: Stain remover
Using a stain remover like Shout, remove the color from the fabric with an easy-to-use brush.
After applying your chosen cleaner, give it time to soak into the material for about ten minutes before laundering as usual.
To ensure you remove all of the pencil marks this way, start by rubbing them gently and then let them sit on top of it overnight.
Method Two: Ironing
If the fabric is small, you can remove the marks with an iron.
- Put the stained area of your fabric on top of a piece of parchment paper.
- Using an iron set to medium heat, move it up and down over the material until you remove all traces of color.
- If any pencil marks are left, repeat this process with fresh parchment paper underneath.
Do not use steam or let the water come into contact with your clothing during these steps.
Method Three: Bleach
If you have white clothes that colored pencils have damaged, bleach is another method for removing them effectively.
- Mix one tablespoon chlorine bleach with two cups of warm water, then put the solution in a spray bottle
- Next, apply it directly onto the stain using even strokes so as not to cause further damage
- Fill a bucket or bowl with enough bleach to cover the stained area
- Soak the fabric in the mixture for about 30 minutes before rinsing it clean
- Once complete, place the garment outside in direct sunlight to fade the bleach mark
Method four: Toothpaste
If you have a fabric that is not colorfast, remove the pencil marks with toothpaste.
- Be sure to test this method on an inconspicuous spot of your fabric first to make sure it doesn’t cause any damage
- Apply a small amount of toothpaste to the stained area and rub it in with your fingers. Let it sit for about five minutes before laundering as usual
Note:
Whichever method you choose, always test it on an inconspicuous fabric spot first to ensure no color loss or other damage.
Conclusion
You can remove a pencil from fabric with items readily available in your home. The key is to find the right technique for you and work it until it’s perfect!
Check out these techniques, pick one, and see how well it works on tough stains like old graphite marks or eraser crumbs. We hope this helps you get rid of those pesky little wrinkles in your favorite dress shirt too.