Received: ID <C410TR30@CMU-CS-A>; 21 Dec 83 13:04:53 EST
Date: 21 Dec 83 1304 EST (Wednesday)
From: Thomas Rodeheffer@CMU-CS-A (C410TR30)
To: Harry Bovik@CMU-CS-A
Subject: ballpoint ink spot removal
Message-Id: <21Dec83.130403.TR30@CMU-CS-A>

I had a white cotton/polyester shirt with a mark on it caused by a blue
ballpoint pen.  Soliciting help from the community yielded the following
suggestions:

	1.  apply drycleaning solvent (e.g.  K2r), or
	2.  apply rubbing alcohol, or
	3.  saturate with hair spray, then wash.

Ivor Durham loaned me a little purse book entitled "Removing Spots and
Stains," (Dell Publishing Co., 1983, 64pp., 69 cents.)  I highly
recommend this book.  It discusses various methods of removing stains
and lists a hundred or so specific types of stains with a specific
recommendation for each.  For the case of "ink, ballpoint" it says:

	Apply a drycleaning solvent to the stained area (see page 10).
	Continue applying the solvent until all bleeding stops.  Then
	apply a small amount of alcohol (see directions, page 11) or a
	hairspray that contains alcohol.  (Note:  do not use alcohol or
	hairspray on acetate; simply continue treatment with the next
	step.)  If stain remains, use a solution of detergent and
	ammonia (see directions, page 8); then, if necessary, use a
	solution of detergent and white vinegar (see directions, page
	8).  If stain persists, use bleach (see pages 12-17).  Keep in
	mind that removal of a ballpoint ink stain is a slow, tedious
	procedure.

I tried K2r Spot Lifter (R) by Texize (R).  K2r contains
perchloroethylene and trichloroethane:  you spray it on; it dries to a
power which you brush off.  The ink mark just laughed.  After six
applications, there was no visible effect.

I tried Touch and Go (R) by Carbona (R).  Touch and Go contains
trichloroethane:  you rub it on like a large marking pen; then let it
dry.  Ah ha!  The ink mark was getting noticeably fainter.  After about
two dozen applications the ink mark was invisible.  Unfortunately, due
to poor experimental technique I transferred a weak impression of the
ink mark to the back of the shirt (Removing Spots and Stains warns
about this), so I had a second opportunity to improve my skill.

I noticed that Touch and Go left a light-yellow colored ring around the
area of the fabric permeated by the solvent.  Removing Spots and Stains
says, "Sponge the stain irregularly at the edges to lessen the chance
of a ring," but I got a ring anyway.  Fortunately, the ring washed away
with soap and water.  I also experimented and determined that K2r would
take away the ring.

	-Tom Rodeheffer