NBR: Help! A pen exploded in my dryer, how do I remove all the ink from inside?!

MrsSinner402 · July 2014

DH must've left a pen in his work pants. The inside drum of our dryer is covered in ink. Thankfully his work pants are all dark navy and it hasnt gotten on any of our clothes. I need to get it out of there! I Googled and found rubbing alcohol and Magic Erasers should work. Has anyonr here done this before? Or have any tips/tricks to make it easier for me? I'm already hurting just thinking about being in the awkward position and scrubbing for more than 5 seconds. :-<

persephonerose · July 2014

I have no suggestions on how to clean it. But do you have some scrap clothing or junk towels you can put through a dryer cycle and try to get that to help you remove some of the ink?

Lauren1184 · July 2014

Oof, sorry, I don't have any tips/tricks, but those magic eraser things are pretty amazing and I would think that will work. I guess you have to train DH to empty his pockets at the end of every day!

ADH0906 · July 2014

I have a friend that had luck with the rubbing alcohol. Good luck!

MrsSinner402 · July 2014

persephonerose said:
I have no suggestions on how to clean it. But do you have some scrap clothing or junk towels you can put through a dryer cycle and try to get that to help you remove some of the ink?

Google suggested after using rubbing alcohol/magic erasers to take an old cloth and soak it in bleach/water and run it through to try and pull all the remaining ink out.

persephonerose · July 2014

MrsSinner402 said:

I have no suggestions on how to clean it. But do you have some scrap clothing or junk towels you can put through a dryer cycle and try to get that to help you remove some of the ink?
Google suggested after using rubbing alcohol/magic erasers to take an old cloth and soak it in bleach/water and run it through to try and pull all the remaining ink out.

Ugh, it sounds like an awful job. I'm sorry

Have any teenagers in the neighborhood you could pay to do it?

MrsSinner402 · July 2014

persephonerose said:

MrsSinner402 said:

persephonerose said:
I have no suggestions on how to clean it. But do you have some scrap clothing or junk towels you can put through a dryer cycle and try to get that to help you remove some of the ink?
Google suggested after using rubbing alcohol/magic erasers to take an old cloth and soak it in bleach/water and run it through to try and pull all the remaining ink out.

Ugh, it sounds like an awful job. I'm sorry

Have any teenagers in the neighborhood you could pay to do it?

Lol! I wish.. but I feel so bad lately having to delegate so much to DH, like the entire nursery construction. I obviously can't carry in a sheet of drywall and hang it. Or go on the roof to patch the leak. Or clean the litter box. I can't even mow the lawn because (don't judge) I've never used a push mower in my life. :-\" So I feel like this is a task I should take on to feel like I'm not being a slave driver. I hate honey-do lists.

Lauren1184 · July 2014

@MrsSinner402 Don't feel bad, I've never used any type of lawn mower before either. Maybe I'm old fashioned, but some stuff should just be left to the men. And while I do feel bad about making honey-do lists for DH, I need to, otherwise he'd just read or play computer games all day!

ohioloveyou · July 2014

Ugh that sucks. I use hairspray to get ink out of fabrics, but I don't know if that would work on the dryer!

ss265 · July 2014

MrsSinner402 said:

MrsSinner402 said:

I have no suggestions on how to clean it. But do you have some scrap clothing or junk towels you can put through a dryer cycle and try to get that to help you remove some of the ink?
Google suggested after using rubbing alcohol/magic erasers to take an old cloth and soak it in bleach/water and run it through to try and pull all the remaining ink out.

Ugh, it sounds like an awful job. I'm sorry Have any teenagers in the neighborhood you could pay to do it?
Lol! I wish.. but I feel so bad lately having to delegate so much to DH, like the entire nursery construction. I obviously can't carry in a sheet of drywall and hang it. Or go on the roof to patch the leak. Or clean the litter box. I can't even mow the lawn because (don't judge) I've never used a push mower in my life. :-\" So I feel like this is a task I should take on to feel like I'm not being a slave driver. I hate honey-do lists.

MrsSinner402 said:

MrsSinner402 said:

I have no suggestions on how to clean it. But do you have some scrap clothing or junk towels you can put through a dryer cycle and try to get that to help you remove some of the ink?
Google suggested after using rubbing alcohol/magic erasers to take an old cloth and soak it in bleach/water and run it through to try and pull all the remaining ink out.

Ugh, it sounds like an awful job. I'm sorry Have any teenagers in the neighborhood you could pay to do it?
Lol! I wish.. but I feel so bad lately having to delegate so much to DH, like the entire nursery construction. I obviously can't carry in a sheet of drywall and hang it. Or go on the roof to patch the leak. Or clean the litter box. I can't even mow the lawn because (don't judge) I've never used a push mower in my life. :-\" So I feel like this is a task I should take on to feel like I'm not being a slave driver. I hate honey-do lists.

I don't know how uncomfortable you are feeling but I personally can't bend over long enough to clean my dryer if something like this happened. Make your husband do it.

And FWIW, I have never used a lawn mower and if my husband asked me to take over that task, I would happily pay someone to do it.

MrsSinner402 · July 2014

ss265 said:

MrsSinner402 said:

persephonerose said:

MrsSinner402 said:

persephonerose said:
I have no suggestions on how to clean it. But do you have some scrap clothing or junk towels you can put through a dryer cycle and try to get that to help you remove some of the ink?
Google suggested after using rubbing alcohol/magic erasers to take an old cloth and soak it in bleach/water and run it through to try and pull all the remaining ink out.

Ugh, it sounds like an awful job. I'm sorry Have any teenagers in the neighborhood you could pay to do it?
Lol! I wish.. but I feel so bad lately having to delegate so much to DH, like the entire nursery construction. I obviously can't carry in a sheet of drywall and hang it. Or go on the roof to patch the leak. Or clean the litter box. I can't even mow the lawn because (don't judge) I've never used a push mower in my life. :-\" So I feel like this is a task I should take on to feel like I'm not being a slave driver. I hate honey-do lists.

MrsSinner402 said:

persephonerose said:

MrsSinner402 said:

persephonerose said:
I have no suggestions on how to clean it. But do you have some scrap clothing or junk towels you can put through a dryer cycle and try to get that to help you remove some of the ink?
Google suggested after using rubbing alcohol/magic erasers to take an old cloth and soak it in bleach/water and run it through to try and pull all the remaining ink out.

Ugh, it sounds like an awful job. I'm sorry Have any teenagers in the neighborhood you could pay to do it?

Lol! I wish.. but I feel so bad lately having to delegate so much to DH, like the entire nursery construction. I obviously can't carry in a sheet of drywall and hang it. Or go on the roof to patch the leak. Or clean the litter box. I can't even mow the lawn because (don't judge) I've never used a push mower in my life. :-\" So I feel like this is a task I should take on to feel like I'm not being a slave driver. I hate honey-do lists.

I don't know how uncomfortable you are feeling but I personally can't bend over long enough to clean my dryer if something like this happened. Make your husband do it.

And FWIW, I have never used a lawn mower and if my husband asked me to take over that task, I would happily pay someone to do it.

Ive been quite uncomfortable. But I'm going to try my hardest.

Roseypants · July 2014

Good Luck... I have had ink on the top of my dryer for years that I can't get off. Magic erasers, scrubing and tooth paste do not work.

MrsSinner402 · July 2014

Roseypants said:
Good Luck... I have had ink on the top of my dryer for years that I can't get off. Magic erasers, scrubing and tooth paste do not work.

As long as it doesnt come off on my clothes I don't care if its in there forever!

bumpuser10309732 · July 2014

@MrsSinner402 Don't feel bad, I've mowed maybe once my whole life! My MIL even came over and mowed the lawn for me because DH has been gone a lot lately. Ok I probably just made myself look bad there... My #1 concern would be...will I fit in the dryer? Haha! Let me know how it goes, DH leaves pens in his pockets all the time.

persephonerose · July 2014

I am really surprised they don't make something for cleaning the dryer like they do for the washer.

MrsSinner402 · July 2014

persephonerose said:
I am really surprised they don't make something for cleaning the dryer like they do for the washer.

Ya know... I wonder if vinegar might work?!

persephonerose · July 2014

MrsSinner402 said:

I am really surprised they don't make something for cleaning the dryer like they do for the washer.
Ya know... I wonder if vinegar might work?!

Vinegar is like the miracle cleaner. You will have to let us know if it does work.

ss265 · July 2014

persephonerose said:

I am really surprised they don't make something for cleaning the dryer like they do for the washer.

Wait, they make something to clean the washer? *Runs off to Goggle to check*

ADH0906 · July 2014

persephonerose said:

MrsSinner402 said:

persephonerose said:
I am really surprised they don't make something for cleaning the dryer like they do for the washer.
Ya know... I wonder if vinegar might work?!

Vinegar is like the miracle cleaner. You will have to let us know if it does work.

I almost suggested vinegar, only because my de facto cleaning regime is: "I'm not sure what to do here. Vinegar should work..."

persephonerose · July 2014

ss265 said:

persephonerose said:

I am really surprised they don't make something for cleaning the dryer like they do for the washer.

Wait, they make something to clean the washer? *Runs off to Goggle to check*

Yes they do! Tide and clorox both have a product specifically for cleaning the washing machine. I love it for our front loader.

ss265 · July 2014

persephonerose said:

ss265 said:

persephonerose said:

I am really surprised they don't make something for cleaning the dryer like they do for the washer.

Wait, they make something to clean the washer? *Runs off to Goggle to check*

Yes they do! Tide and clorox both have a product specifically for cleaning the washing machine. I love it for our front loader.

Now, I know what I am doing over the holiday weekend!

Roseypants · July 2014

MrsSinner402 said:

I am really surprised they don't make something for cleaning the dryer like they do for the washer.
Ya know... I wonder if vinegar might work?!

I will have to try that too!

staryb · July 2014

This happened to me a couple years ago in our brand new dryer! I think I used a bleach based bathroom cleaner and then wiped it down with water.

yoyopez · July 2014

rubbing alcohol is great for cleaning most ball point pen ink. i say run a fan for fumes and go at it with the alcohol and some rags. after you think you've got it all clean, throw in a few damp/wet scrap towels (preferably in a light color) and dry them to see if any ink gets on them. you could always call the customer service number for your brand of dryer and seeing what they say. good luck!

rhonda101014 · July 2014

That happened to our dryer when I was a teen and I think my mother had me clean it with acetone nail polish remover. It was a long job but it worked. Definitely run a fan for the fumes and maybe break it done into 15 to 30 minute times and take breaks so you don't get too uncomfortable.

Sockgnome78 · July 2014

@ MrsSinner402 how did you do?
Please update us.

LaDyBostonRN · July 2014

Sockgnome78 said:

@ MrsSinner402 how did you do? Please update us.

Yes, wondering if you got it out!

This happened to us and we used a combo of magic eraser and nail polish remover.

MrsSinner402 · July 2014

Nothing would remove the ink that I tried. I used a magic eraser with rubbing alcohol to get the excess off, then ran a few wet white towels through the dryer. None came off on the towels. I think it kinda baked on there.

Oh well, as long as its not coming off on my clothes I guess. @LaDyBostonRN‌ where have you been?!

LaDyBostonRN · July 2014

MrsSinner402 said:

Nothing would remove the ink that I tried. I used a magic eraser with rubbing alcohol to get the excess off, then ran a few wet white towels through the dryer. None came off on the towels. I think it kinda baked on there. Oh well, as long as its not coming off on my clothes I guess. @LaDyBostonRN‌ where have you been?!

MrsSinner402 Brutal. At least the dryer still works! I knoooooow I'm never on anymore. And when I am I only read posts from people I know ;-) Hope you're doing well!

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