Thread: Advice please for how to remove mechanical pencil stains from a quilt.

Originally Posted by frannella

[QUOTE I made the same mistake! Soaked the quilt in Biz, the went over any remaining marks with a toothbrush and blue Dawn. Did finally remove them. (my pencil was a #2 , most came out fine it was just a few that were extra stubborn)

I second the Biz recommendation. If you use this enzyme product in a granular form, make a strong solution of it by completely dissolving the Biz powder in boiling water. I have soaked items for 3 days or more and it has done the trick. As an enzyme cleaning agent, and not a bleach, I have never experienced fading or color loss of whatever I am soaking. The only time Biz has failed me is after I inadvertently ironed and indelibly set blue Chako registration lines on a heavy cotton weave. It's amazing stuff. Good luck.[/QUOTE]

I had to look online for where to buy Biz. I looked at Food lion and then a Walmart close by with no luck. I found Biz at another Walmart on the other side of town. I pretreated the marks with a strong solution of Biz and used a brush to
saturate the lines. I soaked the quilt for 3 hours. Most of the marks came out. A few darker lines remain. I forgot to dissolve the Biz in Boiling water. I did get out a few stubborn marks with an eraser after washing in Biz

Originally Posted by Jan in VA

Next time try these pencils for quilt marking. I've used them for 15 years to mark my quilts for hand quilting and wash the quilt afterward with no problems removing the marks.
http://www.amazon.com/Sketch-Wash-Pe...d+wash+pencils
They are also often available at Michaels. You will want a very good, sharp, handheld pencil sharpener.

Jan in VA

Jan, I went to Amazon and read up on these pencils. When used for sketching on paper they bleed like water colors right? Does this not happen on fabric when water is applied or is it that in washing so much water is used that the marks come all the way out? When I'm using a water soluble quilt marking pencil (the blue one) I can dab a damp cloth on the mark and it will come out. It appears that I might not be able to do that with this. Could you please clarify some more on this. I'm intrigued by this and value your expertise.

Originally Posted by Jan in VA

Next time try these pencils for quilt marking. I've used them for 15 years to mark my quilts for hand quilting and wash the quilt afterward with no problems removing the marks.
http://www.amazon.com/Sketch-Wash-Pe...d+wash+pencils
They are also often available at Michaels. You will want a very good, sharp, handheld pencil sharpener.

Jan in VA

I use them too without any problem.
They are also available in the art section of Ben Franklin. I get mine there.

I use blue Dawn and one of the Carbona stain removers. I get them at WalMart. They are in yellow bottles and are specific to the stain. I hope this helps.

I never use a pencil on fabric. I use a water soluable or air soluable pen.

I heard Mr Clean magic eraser works but you might want to test on a fabric scrap first.

This works on regular pencil marks so give it a try.
3 parts rubbing alcohol
1 part water
1 generous squirt of CLEAR dish detergent
Pour solution into a jar, tightly covered. This will last a long time.
When ready to remove the pencil marks, saturate a cotton ball with the solution and rub over the pencil mark. When dry, the pencil mark should be gone.

I was going to recommend the magic eraser, too. I just used it yesterday to remove some pencil marks. But, as rhilkey recommended, test first.